Volunteer roles

Exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of students and contribute to the direction of our organisation. ARU Students' Union are recruiting a Trustee with strategic Finance experience.  

What will you be doing?

ARU Students’ Union has grown in size and scope over recent years, and so too has ourresponsibility to support an increasingly diverse and dynamic student body. Representingstudents on six campuses across the East of England and London has prompted us to reflect onhow we can best meet the needs of students and continue to provide exceptional services andsupport.

We’ve listened to our students, staff teams and stakeholders, learned from their experiences,and developed a plan that will drive us forward as an organisation, providing our students withgreater opportunities for involvement, support, and personal growth and we’re excited about thelaunch of our new strategy later this year.

We are looking to appoint a Trustee to our Board, with expertise in Finance. 

For this role, you will need to evidence extensive experience in a senior professional financialrole, with solid strategic financial management skills. A working knowledge of the rules andregulations governing charity finance and corporate risk management would be advantageous,and a professional accountancy qualification is essential. As it anticipated that the successfulcandidate will lead the Finance and Risk Committee, confidence chairing strategic meetingseffectively is essential.

What are we looking for?

Financial

• For this role, you will need to evidence extensive experience in a senior professional financialrole, with solid strategic financial management skills. A working knowledge of the rules andregulations governing charity finance and corporate risk management would be advantageous,and a professional accountancy qualification is essential. As it anticipated that the successfulcandidate will lead the Finance and Risk Committee, confidence chairing strategic meetingseffectively is essential.

What difference will you make?

As a Trustee, you will play an essential role in guiding our new strategy, ensuring that we stay focused on our mission and achieve the goals we’ve set out. You will have the opportunity to contribute your expertise, and perspectives to help shape the future of ARU Students’ Union.

Before you apply

We’ll ask you to complete our online application to clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements for the role. We will also ask for the names, positions, organisations and email addresses for two referees, relevant to this role. References will only be taken once your express permission has been granted. Successful applicants will also be asked to complete an enhancedDBS check.

If you have any questions on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to talk to someone informally before you apply, please contact us via Reach. 

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 11/11/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 30/09/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Youth leaders will be expected to regularly attend weekly youth meetings and undertake mandatory training to support the role. There will be e-learning to complete and three day courses, dates to be confirmed.

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - 29/09/2025

Candidates will be invited to a selection event in Liverpool where they will meet local youth teams and young people, have an interview and talk to experienced youth leaders about the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is - 18/08/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Could you spare four hours a week to support young cancer patients and their families?

When a child is diagnosed with cancer it threatens everything, for them and their family. At a time when they should be busy being children, enjoying their rollercoaster teenage years or finding their feet at university, life becomes full of fear. Fear of treatment, but also of families being torn apart, of overwhelming money worries, mental health stretched to breaking point, of having nowhere to turn, no one to talk to.

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we get that. We are the charity that helps children and young people (0-25) and their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them.

There are many small organisations that help families with a child that has a life threatening illness, by providing grants, holidays or wishes. We want our families to take advantage of this but applying for this extra support can often be overwhelming or another thing on the to do list at a stressful time in their lives. That’s where you come in. Could you give 4 hours a week to support our families to apply for grants, holidays and wishes?

What you’ll be doing

You’ll be working directly with our families who are known to the Young Lives vs Cancer Service at Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham to help them apply to organisations which can offer grants, treats, wishes or holidays to make the cancer journey more manageable. Your role will be both researching and identifying organisations offering additional practical support (such as additional grants) and practical opportunities for joy (wish granting and special offers), and then supporting families to apply to these organisations.

There is scope and opportunity in this role for development into liaising with other charities.

About you

• You’ll need to be super organised in managing information and communicating with different audiences
• You’ll need to be confident in approaching conversations with new people, that includes speaking directly with children and families about their needs, and approaching potential sources of support on their behalf
• You’ll have strong relationship management skills, the ability to make people you are talking to feel at ease and supported

Experience working with families with a child with a life threatening or limiting illness, or working with a family support organisation is desirable but not essential.

You’ll receive a full induction to the Young Lives vs Cancer BCH and QEHB social work team, learn about the service we provide and the impact of cancer on the children, young people and families we support.

4 hours a week during office hours (9am to 5pm, Tuesday to Thursday)

From your own home but you do need to be based in the Birmingham area to attend occasional team meetings and supervision.

How to apply

Complete the application form on our website

The Stuart Hall Foundation is inspired by the life’s work of Professor Stuart Hall in the interlocking worlds of activism, academia and the arts. Hall’s work was characterised by its breadth and its interdisciplinary nature, spanning across cultural studies, media theory, political analysis, and the study of race and identity.

The Foundation was formally launched in 2015 by Hall’s family, friends and colleagues in order to commemorate his legacy by attending to the urgent political, social and cultural questions of our time.

Our mission

The Foundation focuses on achieving a more progressive and just society through public education, artistic and intellectual initiatives. Our mission is to popularise critical thought by reshaping public discourse and by supporting the development of a new generation of artists, academics and activists who are dedicated to challenging issues of inequality.

We work on our mission through three strands of activity:

• With institutional partners we offer scholarships, fellowships, artist residencies and commissions.
• We create free-to-access digital learning resources including recorded lectures and conversations, podcasts, written essays and artistic commissions.
• We provide digital and physical spaces for the public and for our network of scholars, fellows and artists to exchange and generate new ideas together.

Our organisation is now at a moment of transition, and we are looking to recruit a new Chair of Trustees. We have been successful in recent grant funding applications, and as a result the Foundation has been able to expand its activities and is financially secure for the next two years. The new Chair of Trustees will continue to build and lead the Foundation with a distinct identity as a public education charity working in service of social justice.

Chair of Trustees

We are looking to appoint a new Chair who has a demonstrable commitment to the Foundation with the ability to lead and manage a unique and growing national charity. 

The Chair has responsibility for providing oversight, shaping strategy and working collaboratively with the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees to further develop the organisation’s vision for the next three to five years. The Chair will also support the Vice Chair in overseeing financial management and external relations. The role is not accompanied by any financial remuneration.

We are proud of the work we have achieved so far, having partnered with higher education and cultural institutions, organised many public events and provided scholarships, fellowships, awards and residencies.

The successful applicant will be a strong public voice for the Foundation and bring creativity and commitment to the role. We want to hear from candidates who share Hall's interests and values, and who want to help us build on his legacy by generating new ideas that change public understanding of the political landscape.

Please send a one-page expression of interest with a CV by 23:59 Monday 22 September 2025.

Please outline your interest in chairing the Stuart Hall Foundation Board of Trustees and the skills you would bring to the role.

Interviews will be held in late October and early November 2025.

For further information, please contact:

A cancer diagnosis brings extra expense from day one. Every child or young person with a cancer diagnosis has a short-term disability and needs to apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP). The forms are long and complex and sometimes families need advice or support to ensure they include enough information to receive the correct level of financial support.

Your empathy, understanding and ability to identify the key information to enable families and young people to claim financial assistance will have a tremendous impact easing stress and allowing them to concentrate on supporting themselves physically and emotionally.

You will be an important part of the team and provide practical support to young people and families completing DLA and PIP forms which can seem lengthy and daunting to young people, and families. Each family’s needs are different, however support via benefits such as DLA and PIP are usually one of the first recommendations made to families seeking financial advice.

What you’ll be doing:

• Providing face to face to support to families of children and young people with a diagnosis of cancer
• Actively listening to families and asking relevant questions to enable them to identify specific support needs
• Supporting families to complete complex forms to enable them to claim DLA or PIP
• As a key part of the team recognise when to ask for other team members for advice or support

This will include:

• Looking at the DLA/PIP form with the family or young person
• Explaining the information Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) needs
• Coaching the family to include as much detail in their answers as necessary

The practical support required for this role will vary from taking the time to read through an application with a young person or family, who require a second opinion.  Others may require questions to be re-phrased to simplify them and make them more applicable to their lived experience.

You will be providing guidance on how to answer the questions on the forms and useful information to include. It may occasionally include filling in the form with the family/young person when they are not able to complete it themselves

Booking slots will be flexible to meet the individual need (30 minutes up to 2 hours)

There is scope and opportunity in this role for development into supporting families or young people with appeals.

What we’ll give you:

• The satisfaction of using your skills and talents to make a tangible difference in the lives of young cancer patients
• A solid introduction and first-hand experience of working in the charity sector with the opportunity to meet other Teams across the organisation and gain a clear insight into the day-to-day work of Young Lives vs Cancer
• Full induction and training with support from a dedicated volunteer manager
• The support of a friendly and knowledgeable team
• Experience of working with a social care team and opportunity to develop communication and planning skills and advocating for families
• Experience of working with and directly supporting children and young people with cancer and their families
• And of course, we’ll cover any out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Volunteering Policy!

You should be able to volunteer for 2 hours per week during Monday to Friday between 10am and 3pm at our Home from Home in London WC1.  We are flexible as to days or times to fit in with your other commitments.

We may close applications for this role early depending on applications

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our prison volunteers. 

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented amongst FCW’s prison volunteers. This includes applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and male identifying applicants.

Could you be a star baker, master chef or perhaps you simply enjoy baking or cooking! We are recruiting for a volunteer to join our team supporting individuals to learn new recipes together as a group.

Baking and cooking helps to relax, get creative and indulge in our senses. Often, it can spark nostalgia and helps us to recreate positive experiences or memories. Inspire and motivate people in our services to do something that brings joy, an opportunity to learn new skills whilst connecting with others over sharing baked goods and delicious meals.

We work with people who need support with their mental health across London and the South East. Our support ranges from registered accommodation services for people with severe mental health conditions to drop-in community and crisis services.

In the last year, 9,499 adults accessed Hestia’s mental health support.

We help people to feel safe, develop hope for a better future, and achieve their personal goals. These goals may include rebuilding relationships with family members and friends or connecting more with their local community.

What you will be doing

• Research and plan new recipes for cooking/baking sessions in collaboration with the group each week
• Encourage individuals to participate in the sessions and delegate cooking tasks
• Support individuals to shop for ingredients needed for the session
• Support individuals each week in setting up for the sessions and tidying away afterwards
• Encourage individuals to participate in all aspects of the planning and attendance
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Food Safety Certificate/knowledge or willingness to complete relevant training
• Passion and knowledge of healthy eating and cooking
• Ability to engage, encourage and motivate individuals to participate in sessions
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere

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.

Join our team of befrienders! You will support us to reach some of the most isolated adults in your community to reduce their feelings of loneliness, build friendships and provide support for mental wellbeing. You will support people to relight a spark to continue a hobby, interest or encourage them to explore and participate in new social activities.

You will support individuals to rebuild their lives beyond crisis.

Loneliness and isolation can affect anyone in life, whatever their age or family situation. Official data from the Office for National Statistics shows that rates of depression doubled during the COVID pandemic, and one of the major causes of depression is isolation.

About the service..

We work with people who need support with their mental health across London and the South East. Our support ranges from registered accommodation services for people with severe mental health conditions to drop-in community and crisis services.

In the last year, 9,499 adults accessed Hestia’s mental health support.

We help people to feel safe, develop hope for a better future, and achieve their personal goals. These goals may include rebuilding relationships with family members and friends or connecting more with their local community.

What you will be doing

• Agree a mutual time and frequency to meet in the local community
• To develop and promote a positive relationship with your befriendee
• To encourage your befriendee to engage in social activities and support them in doing so whilst building their confidence
• To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
• Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals

The skills you need

• Good listening and communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere which motivates and inspires others
• Willingness to engage in activities in the community
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow professional boundaries

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.