Volunteer roles
Volunteering for Sense
Sense is a leading disability charity with extensive knowledge and expertise in delivering personalised, creative and flexible support for disabled people with complex needs. Our tailored approach ensures that every person is empowered to live fully at every stage of life.
Due to the nature of the role, we require all applicants to be aged 16 or over. You must have a UK address to volunteer with Sense.
What your role will involve
You’ll get the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of activities, including:
- Welcoming and assisting customers, providing great customer service, helping create a wonderful shopping experience.
- Receiving donated items from the public, thanking them for their support.
- Sorting, steaming and preparing donations for sale.
- Helping to display stock in eye-catching and exciting ways.
- Keeping the shop floor clean, safe and tidy.
- Talking to customers about Sense and the work we do.
When you’re ready, we’ll provide you with additional training to:
- Serve customers on the till in a warm and friendly way.
- Put sales through the till, packing them and thanking the customer for shopping with us.
- Talk to customers about Gift Aid and other fundraising initiatives.
If you’re interested in taking on additional responsibilities, you can train to become a Key Volunteer, helping the shop manager by:
- Helping supervise the shop and other volunteers.
- Supporting the shop manager to make sure customers have a great experience.
- Opening and closing the shop when needed.
- Cashing up at the end of the day.
Will the role suit me? Yes, if you are:
- Passionate about Sense’s work to support disabled people with complex needs.
- Calm, kind and have a friendly personality.
- A team player who enjoys working with others.
- Enthusiastic, motivated and someone with a positive attitude.
- Respectful of others.
What can Sense offer me as a volunteer?
- Full training with ongoing support and guidance from your team.
- A chance to meet new people.
- A great way to develop new skills and share your existing skills.
- The feeling you get knowing you’re making a difference to the lives of disabled people with complex needs.
- A reference to support future applications for paid or voluntary roles.
- Support from our Mental Health First Aiders, should you need it.
About Sense
For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to offer personalised support to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. Our experts offer support that’s tailored to the individual needs of each person, whether that’s at our centres, through our holidays and short breaks, or in people’s own homes. In addition to practical support, we also provide information to families, and campaign for the rights of people with complex disabilities to take part in life.
Volunteers add real value to Sense, bringing their passion, enthusiasm and fresh perspectives to the work that we do. We believe that volunteers enable us to bring people together, and provide opportunities for people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world.
We include. We collaborate. We find a way. We challenge. We celebrate.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for volunteers who can spend time with our clients in and around Central London. Meetings are regular over a period of 6 months; weekly or fortnightly. Many volunteers stay involved for much longer but only because they enjoy what they do!
Befriending is a simple way to make a positive difference to someone who is lonely or socially isolated and your gift of time, will give them, and you, something to look forward to. As one of our volunteers once told us, “this is an easy, very meaningful way to help someone and is immensely rewarding and fun!”
Your meetings could be in the local community, having chats in a coffee shop, visiting places of interest, or in our client’s home; all activities are risk assessed so what you do together will depend on the results of this, and / orour clients abilities and interests. Most of our clients are older 1st and 2nd generation Scots living in London who simply want to do the activities that most of us take for granted but have no-one to do them with.
ScotsCare works across London and beyond so we're looking for volunteers who live in the area or can travel to the following areas; Lambeth, Islington, Camden, central London and Broxbourne EN10. We may have clients in more locations so please contact us to learn more if you want to be involved in this rewarding and impactful activity.
We provide training before you start, ongoing support once you are matched, out of pocket expenses, references, social events and newsletters to keep you informed.
This could be the ideal opportunity to gain practical experience of working with adults in a health and social care setting, or for anyone who enjoys meeting new people and making their lives a little brighter.
Please note, this is an unpaid voluntary role and applicants must be living in or around the London area.
Please contact us for more information, and a very warm welcome!
Skills & Characteristics Required for Befriending are:
- English spoken, good communication skills for listening and talking
- Friendly, warm, non-judgemental
- Honesty, reliable and committment to helping others
- Empathy and patience
- An ability to follow policies and procedures
We will process a DBS check for all successful applicants and request two references.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
PLEASE NOTE: This role is only required for the Christmas period initially, however we are also seeking a podiatrist volunteer for our year round service.
Each person who'd like to volunteer needs to sign up individually, and volunteers are not permitted to bring friends, family members, or children along with them on shifts.
If you plan to apply for this role, please note you will need your HCPC registration number and PLI certificate to hand.
You will contribute to ending homelessness by
Crisis Podiatry Volunteers provide a range of treatments and advice for our guests. When you are homeless or insecurely housed, access to healthcare is challenging.
As part of our preventative health work, you may provide general footcare advice and guidance. You may also treat corns and calluses, mycotic and gryphotic nails, blistering and maceration.
You will be volunteering at our Health & Wellbeing Day(s). These events are an opportunity for members to access a range of health & wellbeing services from the safety and comfort of our Skylight. All treatments are clothed.
You will be part of a specialist volunteer team which may include: Hairdressers, Masseuses, Optical Care and GPs.
Our training will show you what to expect when running sessions and the type of sessions that work best for our guests.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
PLEASE NOTE: This role is only needed for the Christmas period
Each person who'd like to volunteer needs to sign up individually, and volunteers are not permitted to bring friends, family members, or children along with them on shifts.
If you plan to apply for this role, please note you will need to provide evidence of your qualification OR a reference from your current employer.
You will contribute to ending homelessness by
Our Crisis nail bar gives guests a chance to feel pampered and confident and, along with salon and massage, is one of our busiest and most popular services.
Nail technicians offer a shape, buff and polish service and can also offer hand massages. We do not offer shellac or nail extensions.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
PLEASE NOTE: This role is only needed for the Christmas period
Each person who'd like to volunteer needs to sign up individually, and volunteers are not permitted to bring friends, family members, or children along with them on shifts.
If you plan to apply for this role, please note you will need an electronic copy of your recognised qualification and PLI certificate to hand.
You will contribute to ending homelessness by
Our massage service gives our guests a rare chance to release tension, relax and totally unwind. If you are a qualified masseuse, come and share your skills and make a real difference to homeless people this Christmas.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
PLEASE NOTE: This role is only needed for the Christmas period
Each person who'd like to volunteer needs to sign up individually, and volunteers are not permitted to bring friends, family members, or children along with them on shifts.
If you plan to apply for this role, please note you will need to provide evidence of your qualification OR a reference from your current employer.
You will contribute to ending homelessness by
Giving Crisis at Christmas guests a chance to feel pampered and confident. Our Crisis salon is one of our busiest and most popular services at our Health & Wellbeing Days.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
PLEASE NOTE: This role is only needed for the Christmas period
Each person who'd like to volunteer needs to sign up individually, and volunteers are not permitted to bring friends, family members, or children along with them on shifts.
You will contribute to ending homelessness by
Performers bring festive joy, create a warm and inviting atmosphere in our centres and help guests relax and have fun.
If you are a performer, magician, caricaturist or have some other special skill that is entertaining and appropriate for our centres, we want to hear from you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
PLEASE NOTE: This role is only needed for the Christmas period
Each person who'd like to volunteer needs to sign up individually, and volunteers are not permitted to bring friends, family members, or children along with them on shifts.
You will contribute to ending homelessness by
This role is fun and varied, assisting drivers with delivering hampers to members to help make their Christmas a bit more special.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
PLEASE NOTE: This role is only needed for the Christmas period
Each person who'd like to volunteer needs to sign up individually, and volunteers are not permitted to bring friends, family members, or children along with them on shifts.
You will contribute to ending homelessness by
- Based from our Christmas storage and packing space, our Driver Volunteers are integral to the delivery of Crisis at Christmas.
- You will be driving our deliveries to our guests who may be staying in various forms of accommodation including Hostels, B+B's and other forms of Temporary Accommodation.
- You will be using your own car.
- You will volunteer alongside a driver's mate.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community Engagement Volunteer
Why we want you
As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.
What you will be doing
· Organising and attending awareness and fundraising events within the community
· Identifying new fundraising and awareness opportunities
· Helping at events
· Delivering presentations to community groups, schools, etc through
· SSAFA’s speaker programme
· Event administration
· Social media marketing
The skills you need
· Friendly and approachable
· Happy to help
· Basic IT skills would be an advantage
What's in it for you
· Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
· Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
· Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
Disclaimer
SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community Engagement Volunteer
Why we want you
As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.
What you will be doing
· Organising and attending awareness and fundraising events within the community
· Identifying new fundraising and awareness opportunities
· Helping at events
· Delivering presentations to community groups, schools, etc through
· SSAFA’s speaker programme
· Event administration
· Social media marketing
The skills you need
· Friendly and approachable
· Happy to help
· Basic IT skills would be an advantage
What's in it for you
· Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
· Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
· Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
Disclaimer
SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community Engagement Volunteer
Why we want you
As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.
What you will be doing
· Organising and attending awareness and fundraising events within the community
· Identifying new fundraising and awareness opportunities
· Helping at events
· Delivering presentations to community groups, schools, etc through
· SSAFA’s speaker programme
· Event administration
· Social media marketing
The skills you need
· Friendly and approachable
· Happy to help
· Basic IT skills would be an advantage
What's in it for you
· Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
· Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
· Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
Disclaimer
SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community Engagement Volunteer
Why we want you
As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.
What you will be doing
· Organising and attending awareness and fundraising events within the community
· Identifying new fundraising and awareness opportunities
· Helping at events
· Delivering presentations to community groups, schools, etc through
· SSAFA’s speaker programme
· Event administration
· Social media marketing
The skills you need
· Friendly and approachable
· Happy to help
· Basic IT skills would be an advantage
What's in it for you
· Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
· Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
· Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
Disclaimer
SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community Engagement Volunteer
Why we want you
As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.
What you will be doing
· Organising and attending awareness and fundraising events within the community
· Identifying new fundraising and awareness opportunities
· Helping at events
· Delivering presentations to community groups, schools, etc through
· SSAFA’s speaker programme
· Event administration
· Social media marketing
The skills you need
· Friendly and approachable
· Happy to help
· Basic IT skills would be an advantage
What's in it for you
· Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
· Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
· Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
Disclaimer
SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community Engagement Volunteer
Why we want you
As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community. To ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.
What you will be doing
· Organising and attending awareness and fundraising events within the community
· Identifying new fundraising and awareness opportunities
· Helping at events
· Delivering presentations to community groups, schools, etc through
· SSAFA’s speaker programme
· Event administration
· Social media marketing
The skills you need
· Friendly and approachable
· Happy to help
· Basic IT skills would be an advantage
What's in it for you
· Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others
· Support in your role from the team at SSAFA
· Develop your experience and skills which you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
Disclaimer
SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.
Our vision A society in which the Armed Forces, veterans and their families can thrive.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.