507 Mental health volunteer roles

Trustee with social care experience

Style Acre is a dynamic and creative charity supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism across Oxfordshire.

We are looking for a committed and motivated individual with social care experience and who is aligned to our vision to create communities where people with learning disabilities and autism are valued as equals and to our values of caring, respect, honesty, ambition, and collaboration.

The role of a Trustee is unpaid and voluntary. We expect all Trustees to actively contribute to the work of the Board, using their skills and experience to give strategic direction, evaluate performance, and ensuring the charity is run efficiently and effectively. This post requires the applicant to have a good understanding of the social care sector and the challenges it faces, preferably with hands-on experience in the sector.

Trustees are expected to:-

• attend up to 4 Board meetings per year and an annual awayday. Meetings are usually held on a Thursday 1-5pm. In addition, there is  a finance & audit committee which also meets quarterly.
• contribute advice and support on an ad hoc basis.
• attend events and promote the work of the charity.
• visit services regularly but as a minimum on a quarterly basis. 

All travel and out-of-pocket expenses will be re-imbursed if required.  Applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.

Trustees of Style Acre play an important role in setting the strategy, culture, and vison of the charity, supporting the management team to deliver high quality support,  and ensuring the people we support are living their best lives at the heart of their local community. For more information on our work, please visit our website at Style Acre.

Focus Birmingham is a dedicated charity supporting people with sight loss and complex needs, helping them lead fuller, more independent, and more connected lives. We’re currently looking for warm, compassionate volunteers to join us as Telephone Befrienders.

If you can spare just a few hours a week, you can make a genuine difference to someone who is visually impaired and may be feeling isolated. A simple conversation from the comfort of your own home can bring comfort, confidence, and connection to someone who truly needs it.

As a Telephone Befriender, you’ll offer friendly chats, emotional support, and a vital social lifeline — helping people feel heard, valued, and less alone and you won’t be doing it on your own. We’ll support you every step of the way, from application and onboarding to being carefully matched with someone you’ll genuinely connect with.

If you’re ready to brighten someone’s day — and enrich your own — we’d love for you to apply and join our community of caring volunteers.

Quotes from our volunteers -

• Sonia, Telephone Befriender "It's so rewarding knowing that  a weekly phone call to someone can help reduce their feelings of loneliness and isolation for a small part of their day."
• Sacha, Telephone Befriender "One of the greatest gifts is giving my time to support and empower citizens with sight loss."
• Sharon, Telephone Befriender "It gives me great pleasure and satisfaction when I see service users gain confidence and self-esteem, as I believe the be-friending service is making a real difference to their lives".
  
   

  What you’ll do: Make weekly phone calls to offer companionship, conversation and support to someone who may feel isolated.

  Time needed: Around 1–2 hours per week (flexible to suit you).

  Rewards: Boosted confidence, stronger communication and people skills, and a meaningful addition to your CV.

As a First Response Volunteer, you will help find those rough sleeping quicker, and enable Outreach workers to spend more time supporting those found to move away from the streets and get connected to other local services. First Responders play a crucial role to ensure people sleeping rough receive vital support. This is not a client-facing role and therefore is well suited to somebody looking for their first role in the homelessness sector. However, we do also offer development opportunities to develop your skills and knowledge about rough sleeping for those interested.

On shift, you and a partner volunteer will be given a list of people who have been seen sleeping rough. Your role is to identify those who are sleeping rough, and pass information about referrals to the Outreach team to follow up on – they will help the person find accommodation and link them into non-accommodation-based support for example around physical or mental health. 

Please see all locations and the time commitments we are currently recruiting for in this role:

• Bournemouth – Tuesdays and Saturdays 6am-9am (1 shift per month).
• Reading-Mondays and Fridays, 6am-8:30am (1 shift per month).
• Oxford- Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6am-10am (1 shift per month)

Volunteer your time at Hestia to make our gardens a beautiful place for our service users to enjoy all year through! Are you green fingered and have a passion for gardens and outdoor spaces?

At Hestia we have gardens and outdoor spaces which require your support to bring these back to life by keeping them maintained. We are recruiting for volunteers to motivate and inspire staff and people living in our services to get involved in gardening.

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

• Inspire and motivate staff and people in the services to get involved in maintaining and growing the garden
• To provide tips on how to maintain and grow the garden - sowing seeds, planting bulbs, taking cuttings
• Provide basic maintenance such as cutting the grass, emptying bins, managing weed control and leaf raking
• Lead in planting and nurturing new trees, flowers, and various plants
• Provide best practice on how to use the correct gardening tools
• Inspire people in our services and staff to maintain a clean garden
• Advise staff on the costs of plants and garden necessities

The skills you need

• A basic knowledge/ experience of plant care and use of gardening tools7
• Calm and patient approach
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation

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 - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Community Interaction & Behaviour Change Communication

· Visit villages, urban communities, and schools

· Interact with families, women, and children

· Understand local health practices, challenges, and needs

· Support ongoing community health programs

Hygiene Awareness Campaigns

· Conduct awareness sessions on:

o Personal hygiene (menstrual hygiene , handwashing, cleanliness)

o Sanitation practices

o Safe drinking water and hygiene habits

· Use creative methods like posters, demonstrations, and group activities

Basic Health Education

· Assist in delivering sessions on:

o Menstrual hygiene .

o Preventive healthcare

o Nutrition and balanced diet

o Common diseases and basic prevention methods

· Support local team in simplifying health messages for communities

School Health Programs

· Organize interactive sessions in schools on:

o Hygiene practices for children

o Importance of cleanliness and health

· Conduct activities such as:

o Games and quizzes

o Awareness discussions

o Health-focused storytelling

Women’s Health & Menstrual Hygiene Awareness

· Support workshops on:

o Menstrual hygiene management

o Breaking myths and stigma

o Importance of hygiene and health for women

· Assist in distributing educational materials

Research & Data Collection

· Conduct basic surveys and collect community feedback

· Observe and document hygiene practices and health awareness levels

· Assist in preparing reports and case studies

Campaign Design & Creative Outreach

· Help design:

o Awareness posters

o Educational materials

o Social media campaigns

· Participate in community awareness drives and local events

Community Interaction & Behaviour Change Communication

· Engage in conversations with community members

· Promote positive behaviour change related to hygiene and health

· Learn how communication strategies influence public health outcomes

Documentation & Storytelling

· Document field experiences through:

o Photography

o Blogs

o Video storytelling

· Share impact stories and community voices

Description

You'll be raising awareness, & improving understanding of sight loss through delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions in your local community. Through these engaging sessions, you'll inspire participants to make small changes to their behaviour that make a massive difference in the day-to-day lives of people with sight loss. As a Community Change Champion, this will involve:

• Talking directly with community leaders, businesses, & local groups about ways they can get involved & inviting them to join an Awareness to Action session.
• Delivering RNIB’s Awareness to Action sessions either in person or online, using our resources. You may do this on your own or with a team of other local volunteers, both sighted and with sight loss.
• Sharing RNIB’s information & initiatives so people know we’re here for them.
• If you have a personal link to sight loss, sharing your experience during the session to help give a tangible example of how local people can make a real difference.
• Telling us about any activities you have engaged in via a Microsoft form.

What will you gain from the role?
• First-hand experience in grassroots community engagement & charity outreach.
• The opportunity to develop communication & networking skills.
• Support to learn & or use presentation skills to deliver the Awareness to Action Session in person and virtually.
• If you have lived experience of sight loss, support to tell your story to make the most positive impact.
• Know that your efforts are improving the public’s understanding, perceptions & behaviour towards blind and partially sighted people.

We will provide:
• Induction to the role & organisation.
• Training and support to help you thrive in your role.
• A resource pack/toolkit to help deliver the message.
• Opportunities to connect with other RNIB volunteers across the UK.
• The chance to get involved in other activities that interest you & to apply for our internal-only job vacancies.
• Support from a volunteering manager.

How often will I be needed?

• 4 Hours per Action

Key requirements

• One reference 

• Additional location information

  • Home and local area.

The Unseen Barriers Foundation is looking for new Board Trustee's.

We are a new, disabled-led Scottish charity tackling the invisible causes of exclusion. Shame, sensory overload, emotional exhaustion, disbelief. These are the things that stop people from showing up — to appointments, to events, to life.

The Foundation is built around two original lived experience contributions by our founder:

The Unseen Barriers Framework — a landmark conceptual model naming the distress-based barriers that keep disabled people locked out of support

Cùran — a green plush dragon created as a visual anchor for distress, shutdown, and solidarity

Both are licensed to the Foundation by the creator to ensure they serve a purpose-first, rights-based mission.

We are now looking for trustees to help shape this work from the ground up. This is a working board — not a figurehead role. Trustees will actively contribute to strategic direction, governance, and growth.

We are currently remote-first to ensure full accessibility, but will provide office space (Edinburgh/Glasgow area) once funded. You do not need to be based in either city.

Estimated time commitment:

Around 6–8 hours per month including preparation, meetings, and task-based input

Board meetings held every 6–8 weeks via Zoom

All access needs will be fully accommodated

We are especially keen to hear from:

Disabled people and unpaid carers

People with lived experience of distress, neurodivergence, or poverty

Individuals with skills in finance, charity governance, fundraising, legal oversight, or communications

If you believe in radical inclusion, and want to join something disruptive but grounded, get in touch.

We believe in finding the right people, not just filling seats. Informal conversations will take place on a rolling basis, and trustees will be appointed as and when suitable candidates are identified. Early expressions of interest are encouraged.

The Wren Project is a volunteer-led charity that provides free, remote, one-to-one, ongoing listening support for people in distress and living with autoimmune disease. There are over 120 autoimmune diseases currently diagnosed by the NHS and these include Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis and Crohn's disease- they are all chronic illnesses which can have life altering impacts.

Volunteers at the Wren Project provide emotional listening support to people with autoimmune disease (our Wrens). In appointments, volunteers offer listening support, where Wrens can talk about how autoimmune disease is impacting their life, without giving advice or offering solutions. Volunteers join a regular fortnightly shift during which they meet with up to 2 Wrens in two 50-minute appointments. 

Volunteers do not need to have qualifications or any knowledge or experience of autoimmune disease. We are looking for warm, empathetic, caring and resilient individuals who want to help others and have the time to offer ongoing, non-judgemental, listening support. 

We are the only charity in the UK who provide support for all autoimmune diseases. Our vision is to build support and community for all four million people in the UK diagnosed with autoimmune disease. Our service would not be possible without the commitment, empathy and support of our volunteers.

WHAT VOLUNTEERING FOR US INVOLVES:

Application and training process:

• Send an application form via our website;

• Attend a group information and discovery conversation where you will learn more about the Wren Project and the listening role 

• Applicants will be invited to participate in a remote, 5-week training programme focusing on listening skills, courageous inquiry, turning towards difficulty and living with autoimmune disease;

• A final one-to-one assessment of readiness before being matched with a Wren.

• Please note, we access an applicant’s suitability for the role throughout the process.

The role:

• Join a regular fortnightly shift, whereby you will support two Wrens in two separate, one-to-one sessions of 50 minutes via telephone/video call/online.

• A self-reflective approach to learning and development supported by staff-led reflective practice sessions. Monthly attendance required for the initial six months.

• Access to ongoing support from other volunteers and the Operations team;

• Opportunities to support the charity in a variety of additional roles.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN VOLUNTEERS:

• A desire to support people in times of distress.

• An empathetic and understanding attitude.

• A commitment to offering ongoing support to those in distress and to reflect upon the experience.

• A quiet and private space to conduct appointments.

• Access to a computer, telephone and a reliable internet connection.

• Confidentiality, professionalism and reliability.

• The commitment to volunteer at the Wren Project for at least one year.

WHAT WE OFFER OUR VOLUNTEERS:

• Lifelong skills in deep listening.

• Extensive training in empathetic listening and supporting distress.

• An excellent opportunity to engage in ongoing personal reflection and development in a supportive charity environment.

• A self-reflective approach to learning and development.

• An insight into life with chronic illness and mental health.

Every week you can find our environmental experts at Snipe Park Wood in Harworth & Bircotes, a lovely green space! We maintain it for the enjoyment of the community and wildlife.

In 2024 we tackled the persistent flood problems in the area, by removing overgrown vegetation, digging out blocked drains. To launch the improved area, we hosted free children’s play groups for pre-school age children to engage with nature and discover the joys of outdoors play.

We are currently working on a wide range of improvements, including improving pathways, creating wildlife habitats, implementing a wildflower meadow, small construction tasks like building fences, litter picking, and much more.

You can be part of it! We are looking for volunteers who can help us. We are there every Monday 9am – 2pm and you can choose to come ad-hoc or regularly.

We welcome people of all ages and abilities, whether you’re an avid gardener or a brand new enthusiast. Full training, PPE, and light refreshments are provided. We’ll also fully reimburse your transport costs.

Volunteering has many benefits:

• Being active helps your physical and mental health
• Meet new people and being social
• Enjoy working outdoors in the fresh air
• See a green space improve before your very eyes
• Give back to your community
• …and much more!

Our green charity looks after dozens of spaces around the East Midlands, with multiple in Amber Valley:

• Carr Wood Local Nature Reserve in Ripley: Every Wednesday 9am – 12:30pm
• Hammersmith Meadows Nature Reserve in Ripley: One Wednesday morning a month
• Pennytown Ponds Local Nature Reserve in Somercotes: Every other Wednesday morning
• Sandbed Lane Loop in Belper: One Friday morning a month
• Red River Local Nature Reserve in Heanor & Loscoe: Every second Saturday of the month from 10am – 12pm

From planting and coppicing trees to litter picking and weeding, there are tasks for people of all ages and abilities, whether you’re an avid gardener or a brand new enthusiast. Full training, PPE, and light refreshments are provided. We’ll also fully reimburse your transport costs.

Volunteering has many benefits:

• Being active helps your physical and mental health
• Meet new people and being social
• Enjoy working outdoors in the fresh air
• See a green space improve before your very eyes
• Give back to your community
• …and much more!

Are you looking to get involved in the local community or perhaps have an interest in mental health?

We are looking for a volunteer to facilitate a Men’s group in a local cafe. The group provides a safe, welcoming place for people to meet, share experiences and support each other’s growth whilst connecting over board games.

What you will be doing

• Meet service users in a local Cafe every Thursday from 11-12pm to play board games and facilitate discussions
• Create a supportive environment for men to connect, share experiences, and empower each other
• To negotiate/facilitate conflicts or disagreements that may arise during group meetings.

The skills you need

• Ability to create and maintain a safe environment where participants’ thoughts and feelings are valued, and group members are treated with fairness, equity and respect
• Experience of facilitating groups.
• Strong listening and communication skills

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 - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Do you enjoy spending time outdoors and helping things grow? We’re looking for a friendly and reliable Gardening Volunteer to support with maintaining and developing our garden spaces, helping create a calm, welcoming environment for people using our mental health recovery service.

What you will be doing

• Helping with general gardening tasks such as planting, weeding, watering, pruning and tidying
• Supporting service users who are interested in getting involved in gardening activities
• Helping maintain outdoor spaces so they are safe, welcoming and enjoyable
• Encouraging confidence, routine and teamwork through shared gardening tasks
• Working alongside staff and other volunteers

The skills you need

• An enjoyment of gardening and being outdoors
• A patient, supportive and encouraging approach
• Good communication skills and a friendly manner

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 - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Volunteer Opportunity – Treasurer Trustee
Independent Arts Isle of Wight

Do you have financial skills and experience that could help strengthen creativity, wellbeing, and
community connections across the Isle of Wight?

Independent Arts is seeking a Treasurer Trustee to join our Board and help support the charity’s
continued growth and sustainability.

Independent Arts works with people of all ages and backgrounds, using creativity and
participation in the arts to improve wellbeing, reduce isolation, build confidence, and
strengthen communities. We believe that creativity can have a positive impact on people’s lives,
and we are looking for someone who shares our values and wants to make a meaningful
contribution.

As Treasurer Trustee, you will play an important role in helping the Board oversee the charity’s financial affairs, ensuring strong financial governance and supporting informed decision-making. You will work alongside fellow trustees and staff to help ensure the organisation remains financially sustainable and able to continue delivering its valuable work across the Isle of Wight.

We are looking for someone who can offer:
• Experience in finance, accounting, budgeting, business planning, or financial
management
• The ability to understand and explain financial information clearly
• Strategic thinking and sound judgement
• A collaborative approach and willingness to contribute to Board discussions
• Commitment to good governance and the aims of Independent Arts
Previous charity trustee experience or a professional accounting qualification would be
welcome but is not essential. We encourage applications from people with relevant skills and
practical experience from a range of professional and personal backgrounds.

What you’ll gain from the role:
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact within the local community
• Experience of charity leadership and governance
• The chance to use your professional skills for social good
• The opportunity to work alongside a passionate and committed Board and team
• A chance to support creativity, wellbeing, and inclusive community development across
the Isle of Wight

Time commitment
This is a voluntary role. The Treasurer Trustee will be expected to attend quarterly Board and
finance committee meetings and review papers in advance, with additional time required to
support the CEO in financial planning, Board and annual reporting activities.
Independent Arts is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications
from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and communities.
 

Our outdoor community hub in Worksop launched in autumn 2024 and continues to grow.

We host family events, children’s nature play groups, workshops, green skills training sessions, and much more. We also grow our own produce to use in healthy cooking and eating events on-site.

Every other Friday 9:30am – 2:30pm we work with volunteers who want to be part of something special, to give back to the community and the environment. You can still sign up even if you can’t attend every time or all day, every hour you spent with us is greatly appreciated.

We need volunteers to help us with: DIY, gardening, implementing infrastructure such as polytunnels, raised beds, seating, and more.

From planting and coppicing trees to litter picking and weeding, there are tasks for people of all ages and abilities, whether you’re an avid gardener or a brand new enthusiast. Full training, PPE, and light refreshments are provided. We’ll also fully reimburse your transport costs.

Volunteering has many benefits:

• Being active helps your physical and mental health
• Meet new people and being social
• Enjoy working outdoors in the fresh air
• See a green space improve before your very eyes
• Give back to your community
• …and much more!

Address: Entrance to Allotments via metal gate next to 109 Cheapside, Worksop, S80 2JD
Facilities: There is a toilet and running water on-site, free on-street parking, and shops nearby.