Volunteering Management Volunteer Roles

Our fundraising and engagement team at Teddington RNLI lifeboat station are a successful, motivated and very welcoming group who work brilliantly together as well as closely with the crew and water safety teams at Teddington.

The current fundraising lead is looking for someone to work alongside her and/ or take the lead on specific events and projects - it's all very open to discussion and we are very flexible. Current events range from comedy nights to duck races to station open days and chip suppers but the team are always looking for new ideas and are keen to develop what they do.

Meetings usually happen once a month at the lifeboat station and last about 1.5 hours. We would estimate the commitment, time wise, being around 3-6 hours a week. Some weeks there might be very little to nothing, the week of an event it might well be more like 12 hours, but it really is flexible - we want people to be able to volunteer around existing commitments. 

No particular experience is necessary, but strong people skills are important, as are communication skills. Some experience in event management or fundraising would help, but really, this can be taught and learnt - it's much more important to us to find someone who is keen to join us, happy to muck in with everything from manning a duck race in the rain to booking venues for an event, to brainstorming event ideas over a cup of tea. 

If you'd like to apply, or just come along to a meeting to see what you think, join us for an event as a one off or have an informal chat about the role contact Hannah via this ad.

Thank you for your support

Replenishment and Merchandising Volunteer -  New Volunteer Oppportunity in Acorn's Children's Hospice Superstore - Recently Opened 

The Role 

Acorns have a network of shops across the West Midlands that generate a substantial level of income to enable us to care for children and their families. Our empowered Replenishment and Merchandising Volunteers support the team by replenishing stock on the shop floor and by merchandising it in an eye catching and engaging fashion.

How much time will it take? 

Our shops are open Monday to Saturday (some open on Sundays too), 9am to 5pm. You can volunteer the hours that suit you, but ideally we’ll need you to be available for at least 3 hours per week. 

Why volunteer at Acorns? 

• To help a local charity 
• To make a difference in your local community
•  To connect with like minded people and make new friends
•  Boost your CV 
• Opportunities to progress to other roles 
• All training will be provided

Am I right for the job?

For this role, you'll need to:

• Be welcoming and friendly 
• Have a good eye for merchandising 
•  Be a team player that thinks of others 
• Be sensitive to the needs of our customers/donators

Do you want to support the running of a longstanding, free and highly-effective counselling service for young people?

You could be a trustee for Bracknell-based charity, Youthline.

Set up in 1988, now a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee, we have just celebrated 35 successful years, offering more than 600 counselling hours to young people every month. Demand and complexity of services continue to increase, and we have thus improved space and availability to meet that demand.

Our anniversary year meant a new logo, and in 2023/24, our income was maintained at £220k, with a successful funding bid. Of course, income-generation remains a high priority, as for all charities.

The role and what we are looking for in a new trustee

Trustees are the people who make the top-level decisions for our charity. Our Board includes people with experience and skills in governing a youth counselling charity, and we require new trustees to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. 

You don’t necessarily need prior experience of charity trusteeship, as full induction and guidance from our trustees and staff will be provided, including access to external training, as needed.

We are looking for new trustees with some skills or experience in:

• Income-generation
• Employee & volunteer support/HR
• We also are looking for ‘general’ trustees who are interested in our mission and services

If you are unsure your abilities or experience fit our needs, please ask: we’re flexible how people can contribute to our charity. If you can think strategically and plan long-term, you have the primary skills needed by our trustees; you’ll also need to be able to work collectively with other Board members. Support from our paid employees is always available, as they deal with the day-to-day running of the organisation.

We are a charity not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds to join our Board, and want to expand the diversity of our board, in all meanings of the word, strongly welcoming applications from people from less-represented groups. 

We ask for up to five hours of your time per month, less at some times of year, which includes all meetings, discussions, etc.  You will need access to digital communications, as some of our charity’s business is run that way, with quarterly Board meetings face-to-face in Bracknell.

How to apply  

This appointment is being managed for us by inVOLve Community Services, a charity-support organisation, who offer a no-obligation discussion by video or phone, and assistance with your application. A detailed Role Description and Person Specification can be made available to you upon request.

Trustee appointments are subject to satisfactory references and completion of a Safeguarding course. 

Your CV or similar will be read by our existing trustees, and an interview offered as soon as mutually convenient.

I need to know more 

Contact Mike Allen via Quick Apply below, for more information and arrange to have a no-obligation initial informal discussion (Teams/Zoom/phone)

Are you a parent, grandparent or have experience of caring for children?

Do you have 2-3 hours per week to spare? Use your experience to support a family facing challenging times.

Our Home-Visiting Service supports families who are experiencing difficulties or suffering stress and who have at least one child under the age of five years.

Our aims are:

To increase the confidence and independence of the family by:

Offering support, friendship and practical assistance

Visiting families in their own homes and in their community, where the dignity and identity of each adult and child can be respected and protected

Reassuring parents that difficulties in bringing up children is not unusual and encouraging them to enjoy family life.

Developing a relationship with the family in which time can be shared and understanding can be developed. This approach is flexible to take account of different needs.

Encouraging parents’ strengths and emotional wellbeing – for the ultimate benefit of their children.

Encouraging families to widen their network of relationships, and to effectively use the support and services available within the community.

Introduction

The English-Speaking Union (ESU), is a charity and membership organisation that works to give young people the speaking and listening skills and cross-cultural understanding they need to thrive. The ESU’s speech and debate programmes and international exchanges improve young people’s attainment, self-esteem and social skills, helping them to fulfil their potential and to change their lives and communities for the better.

We are looking for volunteers to help support and judge our competitions, please find details below:

• Schools’ Mace - The oldest debating competition for schools in England and Wales (ages 11-18)
• Public Speaking Competition - The largest such competition for schools in England and Wales (ages 13-16)
• Performing Shakespeare Competition - Students express their passion and imagination and compete for a chance to perform at Shakespeare’s Globe (ages 11-14)

You don’t need to be a debater or public speaker yourself – you just need to be enthusiastic about encouraging and inspiring young people to be the best they can be. There are opportunities throughout the year, each requiring around 4-5 hours’ commitment from late afternoon onwards. Full training is given, and it’s great fun, with students often covering thought-provoking topics from obesity and the NHS to Churchill and what defines happiness.

We look forward to welcoming you soon and can't wait to get you started!

Following the decisions of the 2023 Conference, the Methodist Church seeks to appoint additional members for its Nominations Committee.

The purpose, role and remit of the Nominations Committee are set out in the report on Oversight and Trusteeship to the 2023 Conference. The Committee exists to ensure that the nominations which are made to the Conference or the Methodist Council (from 2024, the Connexional Council) for appointment to the Connexional Council, the Missions Committee, the Ministries Committee, the Resourcing Committee and any other bodies the Conference or Council refers to it are brought as a result of processes which conform to the requirements for the body concerned and in accordance with the church’s principles for Justice, Dignity and Solidarity.

 Members of the Committee are appointed annually by the Conference and would usually serve for a period of four years. 

The Nomination Committee has four main responsibilities:

• To scrutinise and to sign off the (volunteer) role descriptors for a member of the Connexional Council or one of the committees in order that a seat could be advertised.
• To agree that the process of recruitment for a particular role has been followed correctly and in line with HR recruitment policies and the JDS strategy.
• To work with the chairs of the bodies concerned on a periodic review of those appointed to such bodies to ensure that the committees continue to function appropriately. The Nomination Committee will also advise the Connexional Council on matters concerned with training of those appointed to such bodies.
• To bring nominations with reasoned statements to the Conference or Connexional Council as required in each case.

Expectations

• Attendance at monthly meetings. The committee meets online and usually for no longer than an hour each month
• Willingness able to read and comment on draft paperwork for recruitment processes.
• Willingness to respond promptly to e-mail communications to sign off paperwork between meetings as necessary.
• Willingness to share particular expertise and experience in the fields of recruiting, discernment and EDI.
• Willingness to serve on interview panels or participate in other ways in a discernment process.

The Committee requires a range of experience and expertise, including the knowledge of HR, recruitment and discernment processes; experience of serving on connexional committees in the Methodist Church; understanding of protected characteristics and the diverse gifts that potential candidates for roles might offer.

To apply: Please read the supplementary documents (see the above link and below) andfill in an on-line Expression of Interest Form via this website.

The opportunity has no set deadline for when applications will close.

Applications will be reviewed an ongoing basis.

Interview date: tbc

CHILDREN’S BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT VOLUNTEER

Job Title: CHILD HELPER

Hours: 8.15 - 16.30 Saturday and 8.15 - 17.00 Sunday. We would expect you to commit to at least 3 weekends a year  

Reporting to: Clinical Lead

Based at: Sittingbourne (5 weekends a year) and Broadstairs (1 weekend a year), Wrotham (2 weekends a year), Bexley (1 day programme twice a year), Sheppey (1 day programme twice a year)

Job role:  

To work 1-1 with a bereaved child/young person

Duties and responsibilities:

This role is working alongside a child/young person on one of our bereavement support weekends.   Ideally you will have experience in working with children and have the ability to communicate effectively at all levels and be able to support children and young people in distress and remain calm.

You will be working therapeutically with your allocated child.  You will have a group leader who will guide you through the structure of each day. There is also a program manager who will oversee and facilitate the whole weekend program.

You will also be expected to attend a debrief at the end of the weekend and also complete detailed documentation on the child/ young person you have been working with.

Lunch and refreshments will be provided during a weekend.  We will pay 40pence per mile to cover your travel expenses. We will provide training (Safeguarding Children, Volunteer Induction Day and other specialist training days).

You will also have the opportunity to observe a weekend programme in action before you work with a child / young person. We will pay for your DBS check and provide you with a uniform.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care. We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising team leaders have the exciting and varied role of inspiring our fundraising volunteers to plan and deliver local fundraising events. Using their passion and imagination, they oversee a small team of fundraising volunteers who come together to raise the vital funds needed to cover costs such as veterinary bills and food. Our fundraising team leaders support their team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure our volunteers are happy, confident and supported.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Supporting and encouraging a team of fundraising volunteers
• Planning fundraising events and activities with your team
• Allocating tasks before and during fundraising events
• Keeping financial records from fundraising events
• Encouraging and promoting a professional image of Cats Protection 
• Following policies and guidelines and ensuring licences and permits are obtained for events

A bit more information about this role and the team

• This is a flexible role. The amount of time you offer can work to your availability and convenience.
• There may be opportunities for your activities to be fully remote and/or admin based if you'd prefer.
• You will need your own transport if you wish to attend events, ideally a car or van since items, stock and equipment will usually be needed.
• We ask that you complete training to support you in your role. This can be completed online if you have access to the internet and the necessary device (computer/laptop/tablet etc). Support can be offered or paper versions of much of the training if needed.

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by helping raise funds and awareness through organising local events. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• Great people skills and the ability to bring out the best in others
• Excellent organisational skills
• The ability to prioritise and delegate
• An appreciation of the importance of handling money and charity resources responsibly
• Fine-tuned communication skills and a passion for engaging with people within your local community
• Basic IT skills to use Cats Protection systems - training and support can be provided
• Committee volunteers need to be aged 18+

Time expectation

Our fundraising team leaders usually spend three to four hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.

Babyzone is a charity which aims to support to families with babies and toddlers. We’re focused on breaking down the barriers that many parents face in accessing high quality early years offers.

Babyzones are currently delivered each week in Youth Zones where we run free exploratory play and evidence-based early years classes in a clean, safe and welcoming environment. We design our approach around the needs of lower income families, but are open to all. Parents don’t sign up in advance, there’s no timetable and we don’t take names and personal details from our families. We believe that by removing barriers we are creating a fully accessible, inclusive place for parents and carers to bring their children to play, read, chat and sing together.

We would love to have a team of Volunteers to help us support and engage with the families who attend Babyzone. We would love for you to do this by:

- speaking with the families, some of which are experiencing loneliness, PPD, poverty, abuse 

- play with the children and introduce them to some of the activities we have going on

- keep the play spaces tidy and accessible 

- direct the families to the correct support or classes that we run 

- support with set up and pack down

You are welcome to choose what hours you'd like to volunteer, as long as they are between 8.30am-2.30pm. 

We welcome Volunteers of any age, as long as you are over 18 and willing to support families and children. 

We are currently seeking to recruit two to three more volunteer Trustees.

Citizens Advice Cornwall is an independent charity and a member of the national Citizens Advice service. We offer free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to individuals across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly on issues such as debt, welfare benefits, employment, housing, and consumer problems. We also research and campaign on a range of social and consumer issues. Our services are delivered by a team of highly-skilled and motivated volunteers and paid staff. As an organisation, we value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination wherever we find it.

The successful candidates will join our Trustee Board, which provides strategic direction and oversight to the charity. We’re looking for ambitious and forward-thinking people to help us deliver on our dual mission of advice and advocacy.

This position would suit someone taking their first steps to develop wider board level experience, and for those who might be new to governance. We welcome applications from all ages and backgrounds, so no matter what experience you have, we will provide full induction, onboarding and regular training for your Trustee role.

At Citizens Advice Cornwall, we embrace and value diversity and we feel passionately that our Board should be representative of the diverse communities we serve. We’re looking for people who understand the reasons why people turn to us for help and support, helping us to continually evolve our work with this in mind. We therefore particularly welcome applications from those who may have lived experience of the issues our clients face, and we encourage people from all ages, communities and backgrounds to join us.

We’re also looking for people who have strategic-level experience in one or more areas where we’re building our capability:

· Fundraising and Marketing,

· Using data and insight to campaign for policy and practice change,

· Digital and Cyber Security Expertise

This is an exciting time for our organisation, providing opportunity to bring in fresh perspectives and skills to our Board. We’ll also be looking to recruit a new Chair of the Board later in 2025, and so this could be an opportunity to build up knowledge and experience of our service, if you are interested in this role.

Interviews will be held in late October (provisionally 24th/25th October 2024).

​We hold new volunteer inductions at the start of each term, so apply ASAP to be in time to join our September induction.

Action for Refugees in Lewisham works to relieve poverty and isolation amongst refugees, asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants in Lewisham. At the Rainbow Club supplementary school we aim to help children between the ages of 4 and 11 to improve their literacy, numeracy and social skills in a friendly and supportive environment.  We need your skills and enthusiasm to assist the teacher in the delivery of a literacy and numeracy class and work with other volunteers to develop a programme of recreational activities. The Rainbow Club runs on Saturday mornings during term-time.

Your duties will include:

• Arriving punctually for the 9am briefing by the Rainbow Club Headteacher;
• Working in a team with other volunteers and teachers to deliver literacy, numeracy, arts, sport activities – this includes ensuring children remain engaged throughout the lesson and carry out set tasks as instructed by the teacher;
• Working one-to-one with specific children if and when required;
• Filing classroom work and homework in children’s individual files and keeping all materials and resources tidy and properly stored;
• Liaising with parents as and when required for example distributing leaflets and news about future meetings and events and also assisting with parents' day;
• Following the teacher’s policies on discipline and classroom management;
• Supervising the children during break times;
• Supporting the children during class trips;
• Ensuring classrooms are clean and tidy at the end of each day – this may include being part of a regular team rota;
• Providing feedback and comments to the volunteer coordinator and Rainbow Club manager when required.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care. We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

Without the passionate and committed teams of volunteers across Cats Protection we wouldn’t be able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us. Our Cat Welfare Team Leaders have the important role of coordinating, encouraging and supporting teams of volunteer fosterers and cat carers. They make sure volunteers with direct cat care roles are happy and confident, and provide advice and guidance when needed. This incredible teamwork means we can help more cats and kittens in need.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Volunteering alongside colleagues including the Branch Coordinator, Cat Welfare team, Branch Development Manager and Vet team to ensure that CP cat care policies, procedures and standards are applied
• Supporting fosterers to follow Cats Protection cat welfare policies and procedures
• Acting as the main point of contact within the branch for cat welfare and ensuring that welfare updates are shared and implemented effectively
• Ensuring that accurate and up-to-date records of all cats helped are maintained, using specified Cats Protection systems
• Attending relevant Cats Protection volunteer training sessions and encouraging other volunteers to do likewise
• Recruit, induct and support all branch fosterers and cat care volunteers, using Cats Protection processes
• Represent the branch at relevant meetings
• Play an active part in the branch committee, being part of the branch team leading on cat adoption information and updates
• Collaborating with the Cats Protection Cat Adoption Team Leader to ensure the highest standards of cat care are applied in line with Cats Protection policy and procedures

A bit more information about this role and the team...

Northumbria Cats Protection is run by a small team of dedicated, cat-loving volunteers.
In 2023, our amazing team of volunteers helped over 130 cats: 38 cats and kittens found their 'furever' homes, 90 feral cats were trapped and neutered and our fabulous local vets delivered 436 treatments to cats.

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will significantly contribute to improving the lives of cats and kittens by leading and supporting other volunteers in direct cat care roles. You will develop new skills, expand knowledge, meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• A willingness to follow Cats Protection policies and procedures
• Basic knowledge and experience of cat welfare
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to engage with people on all levels to build strong and effective relationships
• A willingness to develop themselves and others and to update knowledge and skills as necessary
• Good administration and organisational skills
• Basic IT skills to use Cats Protection systems - training and support provided
• The ability to handle sensitive issues with objectivity and pragmatism
• Committee volunteers need to be aged 18+

Time expectation

The time for this role will vary depending on the number of volunteers and cats in care. Our Cat Welfare Team Leaders usually give between 10 to 12 hours a week. This is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed. 

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we meet as part of our activities.

At Sense we know that it's not easy being a young carer or sibling of a disabled child. Their wellbeing and happiness are just as important. That’s why Sense supports activities and sessions specifically for young people aged 5-18 who have a caring role for a parent, carer, or sibling.

We run a range of virtual and in person activities throughout the month. Our sessions are based on what the young people tell us they like doing, giving them a break, and also providing opportunities to meet and develop friendships with other young people in a similar situation.

Our Siblings and Young Carers in person activity group sessions take place once a month. Activities include picnics, bowling, arts and crafts and rock climbing, enabling the young people to spend time doing fun things with other siblings and young carers with similar experiences.

You do not need to have any previous experience working with siblings or young carers as we will provide you with training and ongoing support to equip you for your role.

About Sense

Sense is a national disability charity that supports people with complex communication needs and their families to be understood, connected, and valued. We are here for every person who faces communication barriers in a world that relies on being able to see and hear well to be connected.

Will the role suit me?

Yes, if you have:

• ·Willingness to develop or learn new skills
• Reliability and good communication skills
• A sense of fun and adventure!
• Respect for others and their diversity
• An interest in supporting the work of Sense and want to make a difference to people who have complex disabilities and are deafblind and their families

Practical Considerations

This project is based in Loughborough, either at our Sense College or out in the community . Our activity group runs once per month, for 3.5 hours on a Saturday. Ideally you would be able to commit to at least 6 months of volunteering.

An essential part of getting ready to volunteer is attending a training session where you'll learn more about your volunteer role, the specific needs of children and young carers and how to keep young people on the project safe.

Your travel expenses will be covered by Sense. 

You must be 18 or over to volunteer. We collect two references for this role as well as complete a Child and Adult Enhanced DBS. 

Volunteer Fundraising team leader

Thank you for your interest to become a Fundraising Volunteer at Cats Protection!

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.

Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care.

We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, employees and supporters.

A bit about this role:

As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising team leaders have the exciting and varied role of inspiring our fundraising volunteers to plan and deliver local fundraising events. Using their passion and imagination, they oversee a small team of fundraising volunteers who come together to raise the vital funds needed to cover costs such as veterinary bills and food. Our fundraising team leaders support their team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure our volunteers are happy, confident and supported.

What can you expect to be doing?

· Supporting and encouraging a team of fundraising volunteers

· Planning fundraising events and activities with your team

· Allocating tasks before and during fundraising events

· Keeping financial records from fundraising events

· Encouraging and promoting a professional image of Cats Protection 

· Following policies and guidelines and ensuring licences and permits are obtained for events

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by helping raise funds and awareness through organising local events. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We're looking for someone with:

· Great people skills and the ability to bring out the best in others

· Excellent organisational skills

· The ability to prioritise and delegate

· An appreciation of the importance of handling money and charity resources responsibly

· Fine-tuned communication skills and a passion for engaging with people within your local community

· Basic IT skills to use Cats Protection systems - training and support can be provided

· Committee volunteers need to be aged 18+

Time expectation

Our fundraising team leaders usually spend three to four hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.