Mental health volunteer roles

Could you help to raise vital funds for SSAFA in your local area? You don’t need a military background, just the ability to get on with all kinds of people and some occasional free time.

What is a Branch Fundraiser?

As part of a local team, our fundraisers represent SSAFA at events, and in public. The role includes helping at fayres, street collections, concerts, quizzes, raffles, sporting events etc.

Why do we need you?

SSAFA branches rely on regular charitable income to fund all the necessities behind our support for clients. This includes volunteer travel expenses, phone bills, publicity and grants for clients in urgent need. A varied programme of fundraising also keeps the SSAFA profile high in the local community, so everyone knows who we are and how we can help.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

This role involves being out and about at public events and would suit someone looking to give the occasional day, half day or evening to support SSAFA; when and where would be flexible to suit you.

What would you be doing?

Examples of tasks would include:

• Being part of a team with collection/buckets tins at events, supermarkets, shopping centres, etc.
• Acting as a marshal at a public event e.g. handing out water to runners, supervising parking etc.
• Being part of a team running a stall at an event, Armed Forces Day, fayre, county show etc.
• Helping with putting up posters, building gazebos, serving refreshments, packing/unpacking cars etc.
• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA, engaging people of all backgrounds and interests
• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)

The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others
• Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising funds used directly to support clients
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What about training and support?

• Fundraising workshops
• Training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families and personal information safe
• Access to a range of e-learning courses, fundraising guidance and marketing materials
• Local Fundraising Coordinator
• Fundraising Manager (per region)
• Access to the Fundraising and Marketing teams based at our central office
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable people
• Confident people who feel happy to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face
• Reliable attitude, staying connected the Fundraising Coordinator about your availability
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and keep information safely
• Access to public transport or a car to get to events

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 16

Please note: If you are under 18 you are not allowed by law to volunteer at a street collection, raffle or an event serving alcohol. If you are under 16, please contact us, you will need to volunteer with a parent or adult responsible for your safety.

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two references, this can be former employers or people that know you well (other than relatives)

Is a criminal record check required? No

This is an exciting opportunity to join a charity at the very start and to make a difference in shaping how we move forward.

Who are we looking for?

At present we are working towards being fully operational, over the next year Living Reasons will be looking to expand its reach and part of that journey is to tap in to social media as a whole to communicate openly and confidently about the areas we work in. What we are doing, we feel is new and grabbing those opportunities.

With this in mind, we want people who have a specialist interest, experience in or want to learn more about one of more of the areas the Living Reasons will be working in and confidently host lives on social media or in our currently being built website option for video drop in live sessions that are two way conversations with people.

This role will mean having to deal with challenging members of the public, there will always be moderators to ensure the people taking part in the live session remain respectful but there may be the need to respectfully challenge people's opinions in an attempt to educate. 

Living Reasons will never shy away from complex conversations and being challenged on our stance, we are sure we will learn from these sessions as well.

So if you have a strong sense of general social justice, fairness, equality, diversity and equity in all areas of life and for all people, then this could be the role for you. Get in touch, and we can discuss in more detail.

What is the plan?

The person who is starting the charity up is autistic, has ADHD, CPTSD and also multiple physical conditions that effect daily life and is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has faced a lot of issues in life because of these things.

Living Reasons is being created to fix what we think is a challenging situation that is getting harder to achieve every week, month and year in the current economic, political, environmental and societal landscape. It is not easily defined but we hope the charity objects below will help put context to what we want to achieve, what we can say is that below are the issues we are trying to address, how we do this will change as quickly as society does, but the issues we want to tackle are these:

1) Outdated and damaging employment practices

2) Accessibility to services

3) Limited employment, training and education opportunities

4) Lack of support during times of crisis or need

5) Lack of equity and agency for many people in society

6) Institutional discrimination that is not challenged

7) Abuse of the legal system at all levels

8) Abuse of power in government bodies

9) Poor access to healthcare

10)  Unequal treatment of many people in society by large corporations

11)  Assumptions made by wider society based on incorrect, outdated or discriminatory rhetoric that is used in daily life

12)  Outdated company engagement with the public

13)  Lack of support that is not talked about and not being addressed

Our Living Values -

Creativity

1) Imaginative Development (Individual)

2) Instilled Collaboration (Internal)

3) Changing The Status Quo (External)

Prospectivity

1) What Can You Do (Individual)

2) What Can We Do (Internal)

3) What Can They Do (External)

Revolutionary 

1) Inspire With Confidence (Individual)

2) Boundaryless Innovation (Internal)

3) Challenge Traditions (External)

Attentivity

1) Analyse and Redesign (Individual)

2) Rebel and Reform (Internal)

3) Enquire and Reimagine (External)

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.

Childline Volunteer Counsellor- Someone who wants to make a difference to children’s lives by being there to listen when they feel they have no one else to turn to. As a Childline counsellor, you’ll be there for young people and listen to them as they open up about whatever is worrying them, whether it’s bullying, abuse, self-harm or family relationships – you’ll be there to support them.

What you’ll do

You’ll volunteer in our Leeds Childline base, offering counselling support to children and young people over the phone or through our 1-2-1 online chat. Your supervisor will help you develop and evaluate your counselling skills. After your initial training, you will be able to help young people as well as identify when a child or young person may be at risk, but don’t worry a supervisor will be on hand to give you plenty of support.

What you’ll get

You’ll receive training sessions over 12 weeks to prepare you for the role. When you start your regular shifts, a supervisor will be around all times to support you. Every shift includes a briefing and debriefing alongside other volunteers. Supervisors will also give you regular one-to-one support and group supervisions.

What we’ll need from you

Signing up to be a Childline counsellor is a big commitment and requires lots of training so, we do ask people to stay in the role for a minimum of one year.

We’ll also need to do some routine safeguarding checks, including an enhanced criminal record check and at least two satisfactory references with at least one covering a period of five years or more with no gaps. It’s nothing to worry about, and we can answer any questions you have about this.

Who’s right for the role?

While we think this role is suitable for a whole range of people, we are particularly looking for those with the following qualities and experience.

• Passionate about helping young people and children
• Great communication skills
• Empathetic and perceptive
• able to think on your feet
• works well within a team
• emotional resilience

Why volunteer with us?

Not only will you gain valuable experience throughout your volunteering journey, you’ll also have access to useful resources including a catalogue of online training, discount portal and NSPCC inMind – an online mindfulness resource.

You’ll be fully supported throughout your volunteer journey with us and will have a dedicated key contact should you have any questions along the way.

Volunteer Opportunities – Supported Community Business (SCB)
Charity: Supported Community Business (SCB)
Location: Adjacent Unit 41, Quakers Coppice, Crewe CW1 6FA (Remote work options available)
Job Type: Voluntary
Hours: Flexible – to suit volunteer

Description

SCB volunteers support adults with additional support needs in our Crewe workshop. We’ll train you to guide simple, real work-style tasks—labelling, light assembly, packaging, stock-sorting—and to model clear, step-by-step instructions. The goal: build confidence, routine and employability skills while helping real customer orders get finished.

We’re also looking for volunteers in other areas vital to our small charity, including:

• Fundraising helpers – supporting events, raffles, and campaigns.

• Community collection volunteers – placing and collecting donation tins in local shops and venues.

• Charity admin and finance support – helping with office tasks, filing, data entry, or bookkeeping.

• Practical support – maintenance, IT, or offering a specific skill (woodwork, craft, CV/time-keeping tips).

A regular 2–4 hour slot on a weekday (Mon–Thu 9:00–16:00, Fri 9:00–14:00) works well, but occasional sessions are also welcome.

The impact you’ll have

You’ll help people build confidence, routine and employability skills, reduce isolation, and enable us to take on more meaningful work and community orders. Your support in fundraising, admin, or collections will directly boost our sustainability and reach in the community.

The skills you’ll need

Kind, patient and reliable; good with people. No specific experience required—training, induction and supervision are provided. Great fit for 18+ students seeking work experience, retirees wanting to give back, and anyone with a practical or organisational skill to share.

DBS check provided by SCB; references available for uni/job applications if helpful.

About SCB

At SCB, we help individuals grow in confidence, build real-world skills, and find purpose in everyday achievements. We believe everyone deserves a place to feel safe, supported, and included. We champion ability over disability. Through meaningful activities, inclusive support, and a safe environment, we empower people to overcome challenges, build independence, and form lasting connections.

Join us at SCB where your volunteer work is not just an experience, but a journey to make a positive difference in the community!

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 women 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.

Do you enjoy multi-tasking and coordinating events? Is attention to detail one of your strengths? If so, we’d love to hear from you. You don’t need an Armed Forces background, just good organisation, and IT skills.

What is an Administration Coordinator?

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas, each delivering support to serving personnel, veterans, and their families. Every branch has a team of volunteers who make this possible.

The Administrator Coordinator is a key member of the team, ensuring the smooth running of the branch and supporting day to day operations. This role is at the heart of the branch, overseeing the group inbox, organising meetings, and liaising with volunteers and external stakeholders.

Why do we need you?

We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan.

There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas who support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.

We aim to provide financial, practical, and emotional support when it’s needed most. To do this we need excellent administrators to keep things running efficiently behind the scenes.

What would you be doing?

• Every SSAFA Branch has different needs, however, below are the main activities of a Branch Administration Coordinator.
• Overseeing enquiries: Overseeing the administration of the branch shared inbox and post, ensuring queries are answered.
• Getting people together: Organising internal meetings, both virtually and face to face
• Planning and organising: Liaising with internal and external stakeholders to arrange events such as the Branch Annual General Meeting
• Note taking and recording: Maintaining accurate records of meetings and decisions.
• Communicating: Supporting the Branch Chair with internal communications, keeping other volunteers up to date and informed
• Tracking and ordering: Keeping a record of branch assets, ordering stationery, and ensuring maintenance of equipment
• Supporting health and safety: Supporting the Branch Chair with administration of personal, office and event risk assessments where required

The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
• Give back to the Armed Forces community.
• Become part of the SSAFA community and build networks across your local area.
• Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support would I receive?

• Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
• Local induction and support, from other branch volunteers
• Access to a range of e-learning courses as well as local opportunities to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
• Support from regional volunteering and operations employees
• Regular meetings and events to learn and share information.
• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
• Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.

What are we looking for?

• Friendly and approachable people with good written and verbal communication skills.
• Some experience of coordinating people or events is beneficial.
• Good IT skills e.g., confident using email and online diaries– you will receive your own SSAFA email address.
• Respectful and non-judgemental approach.
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and boundaries.
• This role would suit someone who would like to volunteer regularly, each week.

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 18

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA takes the utmost care at every step of volunteer recruitment to ensure that the people we involve are suitable and appropriate. All measures taken are to help make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.

Are references required? Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)

Is a criminal record check required? No 

We’re looking for friendly, reliable people who’d like to spend a few hours helping out in the local community by supporting our community activities, outreach and events.

As a Community Engagement Volunteer, you’ll help plan and deliver a range of activities that bring people together, from community sessions and wellbeing projects to local events and awareness campaigns. You’ll play an active role in creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where participants can connect, take part and access support.

This is a flexible, hands-on opportunity for anyone who enjoys meeting new people and wants to help strengthen local relationships and wellbeing.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting the setup and delivery of community sessions, events and outreach activities
• Welcoming participants, providing friendly assistance and helping create an inclusive environment
• Sharing information about our programmes, activities, campaigns and opportunities
• Helping us reach more people through local outreach and awareness work
• Assisting with health, wellbeing or awareness events that promote active participation
• Collecting feedback and basic evaluation information to support programme improvement

Skills and Qualities We’re Looking For

• Friendly, approachable and reliable attitude
• Good communication and teamwork skills
• Confidence engaging with people from different backgrounds
• Patience, empathy and respect for others’ experiences
• Enthusiasm for community, inclusion or wellbeing work

What You’ll Gain

• A chance to meet new people and get involved in your community
• Experience supporting local projects and outreach activities
• Opportunities to build confidence and develop new skills
• The satisfaction of making a genuine difference to others

About Us

We are a community-led charity tackling poverty at its root by empowering people and communities to overcome barriers and build sustainable futures.

Our programmes support children, young people, adults and families through education, employability, wellbeing and social inclusion activities that promote confidence, connection and opportunity.

Safeguarding and Inclusion

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults involved in our work.

Safeguarding training will be provided for all volunteers and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check may be required for this role.

We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds and will make reasonable adjustments to support participation wherever possible.

We Need a Guardian of the Good Vibes! Volunteer Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Needed!

Join the SUNSHINE Family and Keep Our Community Safe and Sound!

Location: London/Remote (Volunteer Role, driven by commitment and care)

Commitment: Crucial, focused hours (You set the standard for safety!)

What's the Deal?

We're SUNSHINE, the grassroots, all-volunteer crew fighting loneliness across London. We create happy, positive spaces for people of all ages to connect, laugh, and feel uplifted.

To keep the good vibes flowing, we need an expert who is all about safety, trust, and wellbeing. That's where you, our Designated Safeguarding Lead, come in!

Who are you?

You are the calm in the storm, the protector of the positive environment we work so hard to create. You might be:

• Someone with professional experience in safeguarding, social work, or education.

• Someone with excellent, sensitive people skills who knows how to listen and act.

• Someone who understands that a safe community is the happiest community.

• Someone who can help us write, update, and implement clear, sensible policies—no scary jargon, just real protection!

What You’ll Be Doing (The Serious, but Rewarding Stuff):

• Policy Pro: Developing and reviewing our safeguarding policies to ensure they are robust, clear, and easy for all our volunteers to follow.

• The Go-To: Being the primary contact for all safeguarding concerns and providing sensitive, confidential advice and support to our volunteer team.

• Training Champion: Helping train our wonderful volunteers so they know exactly what to look out for and how to raise concerns (we keep the training positive, promise!).

• The Guardrail: Ensuring everything we do—from coffee mornings to crafting workshops—is done safely and inclusively.

Why Join Us?

This is the most important volunteer role we have. Your contribution isn't about fundraising or running an event; it's about making sure that every single person who walks through our door feels secure, respected, and protected. You are the backbone of our trust and the reason our participants can relax and enjoy the SUNSHINE.

If you have the experience and the absolute dedication to protect our community members and volunteers, we need you on our team.

Ready to be the guardian of our good work?

If you're ready to volunteer your expertise and ensure SUNSHINE remains a safe haven for everyone in London, we want to hear from you.

SUNSHINE!

Let's build a safe, happy future together!

Join us at the Bikeability Trust and help shape fundraising appeals and events, as part of a Fundraising and Events Board, to support greater access to cycles for children.

The Bikeability Trust – Fundraising & Events Board Member (Multiple Roles) 
Location: Remote (occasional in-person meetings) 
Time Commitment: Up to 5 days per year (including preparation and meetings) 
Remuneration: Voluntary (reasonable expenses reimbursed) 
Term: 3 years

Overview 

The Bikeability Trust is establishing a new Fundraising & Events Board to strengthen governance around appeals, and to support the Trust in developing a sustainable income stream through our strategic objective of providing increased access to cycles for young people.

Currently a quarter of all 5-to-10-year olds do not have access to a cycle. Through appeals and individual giving fundraising, the Trust aims to raise £25,000 to support families through a bursary-style investment to allow parents to purchase cycles for their children. Not only will this allow children to support their Bikeability cycle training, but it will also give children the freedom to benefit from the impact cycling has on their health and wellbeing.

This is a unique opportunity to join at the inception of a high-impact Board that will provide expert oversight of appeals related to Bikeability delivery, while also advising and supporting the Trust’s leadership team as we grow and diversify our funding model. 

We are seeking up to five Board Members, each bringing a distinctive area of expertise, who are committed to the Bikeability Trust’s mission: to help more people – especially children – gain the confidence and skills to cycle safely. 

Core Role Description (applies to all Board Members) 

All members of the Fundraising & Events Board will: 

• Provide fair, impartial, and timely oversight of fundraising appeals organised and developed at the Bikeability Trust relating to planning, delivery, quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation. 

• Ensure decisions are consistent, well-evidenced, and uphold the integrity of the Trust’s values and mission. 

• Offer strategic guidance to the Trust’s internal working group on income generation, particularly through the fundraising and events income generation channels 

• Contribute to, through support and network-sharing. and attend high-value donor or partnership events, helping to inspire support, generate funds and promote the impact of the Trust’s work. 

• Support the Trust in developing new partnerships, making connections, and identifying potential funding opportunities. 

• Champion the values of the Bikeability Trust and uphold the highest standards of integrity and governance. 

Individual Specialisms 

Each Board Member will also bring expertise in at least one of the following strategic areas. Please indicate your area(s) of specialism in your application: 

• Cycling Sector 
  Deep understanding of the UK cycling landscape, from active travel policy to delivery and innovation in cycle training. You will provide insight into emerging trends, help shape influence of the Trust’s appeals and fundraising in the sector, ensuring we are achieving our strategic outcomes. 

• Health & Wellbeing 
  Experience in public or community health, mental wellbeing, or physical activity promotion. You will advise on impact measurement, support our case for wider health-related sources of income generation through appeals, and help position Bikeability within wider wellbeing agendas. 

• Charity Leadership (Director/CEO level) 
  Strategic leadership experience in the third sector, particularly fundraising. You will offer guidance on governance, income generation through appeals and individual giving, and sustainability, drawing on your experience in navigating funding environments and board dynamics. 

• Active Travel & Transport Policy 
  You will help align the Trust’s appeals and fundraising offer withing the wider active travel and transport sphere, advising on strategies and collaborative funding bids and positioning. 

• Corporate Partners & Commercial Growth 
  As an existing corporate partner of the Trust. you will support support in raising awareness and encouraging participation and involvement in the Trust’s fundraising and appeals function, building even stronger B2B and B2C relationships. 

To Apply 

Please submit a CV and short cover letter outlining your interest in the Fundraising & Events Board Member role and which specialism(s), skills and experience you can offer. Please submit your application by Monday 15th September. 

We value diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds, especially those underrepresented in cycling and governance. 

With a goal to help transform lives, change attitudes and create a society that works for autistic people, the UK's leading autism charity, the National Autistic Society, is looking for three new Trustees to join the Board and help navigate their future challenges.

Applications close Monday 12th January

Who we are

The National Autistic Society (NAS) is the UK’s leading charity for autistic people and one of the country’s major charities, with a turnover of around £100 million. Since 1962, we’ve been transforming lives, changing attitudes and helping to create a society that works for autistic adults and children.

We are active across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and have a network of volunteer-run branches across the UK. As well as adult services and schools, we run a range of programmes, have dedicated diagnostic services and run specialist helplines. We also work closely with businesses, local authorities and the government to help them provide more autism-friendly spaces, deliver better services and improve laws. And we improve public understanding of autism and the difficulties many autistic people face.

We’re continuing to advocate on longstanding issues such as social care funding and campaign for what autistic people need to see in the forthcoming autism strategy in England and its equivalent in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. We’re also growing our branch network – including national online branches – and we are working on a new mental health programme combining research, digital guidance and policy influencing.

This is a truly transformational and vital time to be part of our Charity. We are in the latter stages of our Vision to Reality Strategy for 2023-2026, which sets out the role of NAS in creating a society that works for autistic people.

We’re proud of what we’ve achieved – but there’s always more to be done. As the economic, social and political landscape changes, our strategy must evolve to reflect changes. We need to ensure we continue to increase our fundraising and commercial activities to deliver the scale of impact required.

We’re looking for three new Trustees to join our Board to help us navigate future challenges.

Who we are looking for

• Our Schools Governance Group

We are also looking for two Trustees to join our School Governance Group, one who will chair the committee and one who will be a member of the committee. Our family of schools includes our four independent specialist schools, supporting children and young people from the age of 4 to 22. We aim to make sure we are continually challenging our schools, keeping everyone safe, monitoring their progress and getting the best possible outcomes for all of our pupils in all of our schools.

Previously, we carried out a review of the local governance arrangements of our schools. Historically, the independent schools in NAS were governed locally by an LGB, which brought excellent opportunities for partnership working; however, as time went on, we required a model that would ensure consistency of challenge, support and monitoring across all our schools. We have amended our LGBs locally; the groups focus on partnership working, whilst the strategic direction, development, challenge and support for the executive, assurance and governance sits firmly with our Schools Governance Group as a sub-committee of the trustee board.

Our new Chair of the Schools Governance Group will have strong knowledge and experience of schools, school governance, the DfE and Ofsted and be a senior leader with experience in education and special educational needs. The new Chair of the committee will work closely with our Director of Education and Children’s Services, Chief Executive, Chair of the Board, Chair of the Independent Safeguarding Committee and our Trustee with safeguarding expertise.

The additional member of this committee will be someone who brings strong experience and insight in Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and safeguarding. Your expertise will play a vital role in ensuring that our culture and decision-making processes fully reflect best practice in supporting children and young people with SEND, and in maintaining the highest standards of safety and well-being across our organisation.

• Chair of Quality & Assurance Committee

Our current Chair of the Quality and Assurance Committee will shortly be completing their term and we seek a successor with a strong background in adult social care and safeguarding, as well as a solid understanding of commissioning.

This is an opportunity for someone who can offer both constructive challenge and thoughtful support — a person who brings insight, curiosity and a balanced perspective to complex discussions. The ideal candidate will combine strategic oversight with a collaborative and compassionate approach, helping to ensure that quality, safety and continuous improvement remain at the heart of our work. They will be confident in asking the right questions, guiding reflective debate and fostering a culture of openness and accountability across the Committee and the wider organisation.

We’re looking for people who can provide strategic direction, appropriate oversight, scrutiny, challenge, leadership and passion to support our development.

We’re keen to ensure our Board is diverse in every way and we’re committed to ensuring our Trustees reflect our society, our Charity and the people we represent and support. We welcome applications from autistic people, their families and carers. To achieve greater diversity, we’re actively encouraging applications from people of all backgrounds and regions. We can work with you to make reasonable adjustments to ensure you contribute fully to being a member of our Board. Our Pioneer project is focused on ensuring our organisation is an exemplary employer of autistic people. This also extends to our Board.

• Time Commitment

The National Autistic Society Board meets four times, with one overnight strategy away day every year. Our meetings are a blend of face-to-face and virtual meetings. Our Trustees with education experience will join our School Governance Group, which meets quarterly, usually online. Our Quality & Assurance Committee also meets quarterly. We expect the overall time commitment to be approximately one day per month, including reading board papers, ad hoc conversations with board members and the executive and the opportunity throughout the year to visit our services and schools, as well as represent NAS at events.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close Monday 12th January.

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.

Chief Programme Creator & Fun Coordinator Wanted! Volunteer Programme Manager!

Turn Our Big Ideas into Real Life SUNSHINE for London!

Location: London (Working with the volunteer core team)

Commitment: Volunteer Role (Where organisation meets pure passion!)

What's the Deal?

We're SUNSHINE, the all-volunteer movement determined to inject happiness and connection into London life. We've got the energy, the people, and the mission to fight loneliness—now we need you to take our fantastic ideas and make them happen!

We need a Programme Manager who can take our calendar of activities—like our Monthly Coffee Mornings, the 6-Week Digital Skills Course, and our 12-Week Wellbeing Wednesdays—and run them like a well-oiled, joy-spreading machine!

Who are you?

You're a strategic organiser who never loses sight of the why. You love seeing a plan come together, and you know that a successful programme means more smiles and genuine connections. You might be:

• A natural planner, project manager, or coordinator who loves organising events or courses.

• Someone brilliant at logistics, scheduling, and making sure everyone knows where they need to be (and when!).

• A champion of efficiency, but one who knows that flexibility and empathy are just as important as a Gantt chart.

• Someone who is excited to build these foundational programmes from scratch!

What You’ll Be Doing (Making the Magic Happen):

• Launch & Lead: Taking our core programme concepts (like the Digital Inclusion course and Wellbeing Wednesdays) and launching them successfully.

• Logistics Legend: Managing the schedules, venue bookings, materials, and volunteer teams needed for each programme.

• Quality Control: Making sure our programmes are consistently high-quality, engaging, and genuinely helping to reduce isolation.

• Feedback Funnel: Gathering feedback from participants and volunteers to continuously make our SUNSHINE programmes even better!

Why Join Us?

You are the person who turns a great idea on a whiteboard into a group of people laughing together over coffee, or an older person confidently sending their first email.

As an all-volunteer, start-up charity, this role offers huge freedom and impact. You'll be building the very infrastructure that delivers our mission. You will literally be scheduling happiness!

Ready to schedule some joy?

If you're ready to put your planning skills to work for a fantastic cause and build our core community programmes from the ground up, we need you!

SUNSHINE!

Let's get organising and start spreading that London SUNSHINE!

Culture Builder Wanted: Become Our Volunteer Champion!

The Volunteer Role: HR Manager / Head of People & Vibe (Volunteer Role)

We believe that to help men, we first have to champion the people helping them.

MINDSET Charity is launching, and we’re all about creating a positive, vibrant, and highly supportive culture. We need a HR Manager to build the entire volunteer programme from the ground up, making us famous not just for our mission, but for being the absolute best place to volunteer in the UK.

This isn't about rigid policies; it’s about people practice, done right.

Your Mission: Designing the Ultimate Volunteer Experience

You'll be the architect of our internal culture, ensuring every single volunteer feels valued, respected, and totally supported.

• Build the Blueprint: Designing and implementing the entire volunteer framework, including recruitment pipelines, onboarding processes, and retention strategies.

• Championing the Vibe: Establishing a culture where volunteers are treated with the same loyalty and respect we expect from them, ensuring our practices exceed good practice standards.

• Process Power: Setting up clear, easy-to-use systems for managing volunteer data, ensuring compliance, and measuring volunteer satisfaction and impact.

• Recruit & Retain: Creating engaging role descriptions, helping us find the best people, and making sure they love being part of the MINDSET family enough to stay!

Who We're Looking For (The Experience Check)

You need hands-on experience in HR, People Operations, or Volunteer Management, ideally having built systems from scratch or overseen significant process improvements.

• The People Pro: You have a genuine passion for people, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to fairness and positive workplace practice.

• Systems Thinker: You're brilliant at turning vague goals (like "we want happy volunteers") into clear, effective, and compliant operational steps.

• Culture Match: You thrive in a positive, informal startup environment and understand that HR should be an enabler, not a roadblock.

• Compliance Conscious: You know the importance of following UK law and best practices around volunteer management (DBS checks, confidentiality, etc.).

Why Volunteer as Our HR Manager?

• Define the Culture: You get to design and own the entire people framework of a new charity. This is high-impact, portfolio-defining work.

• Direct Impact: By looking after our volunteers, you are indirectly ensuring the best support is delivered to the men we serve. Your work is the foundation of our success.

• Flexibility: We offer flexibility to work around your existing commitments, focusing on outcomes and deadlines, not clocking hours.

Ready to build an amazing place to volunteer and lead with loyalty? We need your skills now!

APPLY HERE: Tell us about your experience building a brilliant volunteer programme and why our mission resonates with you!!!

MINDSET Charity

Supporting Men Through Mental Wellbeing and Personal Growth