Volunteer roles in Greater london

War Memorials Trust works to protect and conserve the nation's 100,000 war memorials. It is looking for new Trustees, with the right skills, experience, enthusiasm and commitment, to join the Board and help guide the charity's efforts. 

The charity provides advice and expertise to help anyone who looks after a war memorial to manage, repair and conserve it for the benefit of those who live locally, those who are commemorated and their families and the wider population. Sadly, names are added on a regular basis, hence many are living memorials as well as commemorating those from conflicts past. It also encourages public engagement especially through its website War Memorials Online to which anyone can add information and upload photographs. So, if the Trustee role isn't for you, you may still be able to contribute by signing up to War Memorials Online. 

A skills audit has identified key areas of expertise that the Board needs to enhance as

• fundraising expertise to ensure we are here for the long term 
• legal expertise to support the charity deliver its objectives appropriately

If you have a sympathy with our vision and have skills which match those we are looking for, we would love to hear from you. We can consider wider enquiries but those are our current priorities. 

This role is home based with board meetings rotating between in-person at the London office and online, although all can be joined online. Some attendance at events or visits to war memorials may be undertaken. Reasonable expenses related to the role will be available. Minimum engagement is for four, two-hour board meetings per year (plus reading of papers beforehand). Additional input will be welcomed and Trustees may be approached by staff, on a collective or an individual basis, between meetings, particularly in relation to their expertise.

Full details of the role can be found on War Memorials Trust's website via the 'Redirect to recruiter' button.

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.

Do you have a keen eye for detail and the ability to capture nature in an engaging and informative way?

We are seeking volunteer photographers to help us build a high-quality image library and create eye-catching visuals for our social media channels, website, publications, and case studies. Your photographs will play a key role in showcasing our impact and motivating more people to support a greener, healthier London.

You will have the flexibility to capture photos in your local area, focusing on specific themes featured in the supporting document. In addition, we will be hosting a number of hands-on tree planting sessions across London, and we would be delighted to have you join us to photograph, or digitally film these activities.

All images will be attributed appropriately, but we are unable to pay any royalties now or in the future. However, you're welcome to share links displaying your published work in support of our aims.

Victory Afghanistan is seeking a seasoned fundraising professional to join us as a Volunteer Fundraising Advisor. Our fundraising needs are broad and urgent: laptops, data packages, counselling sessions, and sponsorships for students who plan to study abroad. We already have project coordinators and fundraising project managers handling the day-to-day work, the outreach, the drafting, the applications, the paperwork. 

What we need is someone with experience who can meet with us once a week, look over the grant applications we are preparing, review the fundraising approaches we are taking, and advise us from the perspective of someone who has done this before. Someone who can say, “Strengthen this section,” or “Approach this foundation instead,” or “This isn’t compelling yet,  change it.” Your guidance, signposting, and insight from your own background and network is the missing piece we do not currently have.

We are specifically looking for someone with:

Essential experience

• 5–10+ years in charitable fundraising

• Proven experience reviewing and strengthening grant applications

• Understanding of donors, philanthropists, and funding bodies

• Knowledge of humanitarian or educational funding

• Ability to advise, not manage projects

Preferred experience

A strong network in philanthropy, CSR, or foundation circles

• Experience fundraising for women’s rights, education, or humanitarian causes

• Experience with both the UK and US funding landscapes

Time commitment

Approx. up to 3 hours per week - 1 meeting plus light advisory work reviewing drafts or pointing us in the right direction.

Start date

• Ideally: as soon as possible

• Official role: Semester 6 (16 weeks, starting the third week of January and finishing the third week of May 2026)

Who you’d be working with

A small, ethical, deeply committed team of volunteers who take responsibility seriously. 

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. 

Pursuing the role

Closing date for these opportunities is: 31/03/2026.

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Hackney Migrant Centre (HMC) is seeking to recruit a Chair to support our work and  ensure financial and organisational stability as we implement our newly developed Strategic Plan for 2025-2028. Our current Chair is stepping down at the end of her three-year term. We have recently appointed a new Vice-Chair, an experienced Treasurer in post for over a year, and our CEO has now been in post for over 18 months, providing continuity and stability in leadership. This is an opportunity for someone with previous Board experience to coordinate and lead the Board of Trustees and make an important contribution to the work of this well-respected local charity at a crucial time in its development.

HMC was established in 2007 to provide advice and support to migrants to help them overcome problems with their immigration status and in accessing services. We welcome all migrants, regardless of immigration status or nationality. With the help of a team of professional advisors and volunteers, we delivery immigration, housing and welfare advice and provide a range of holistic advocacy and support services in a community setting. We work to support visitors to address urgent problems they are facing, and address long term challenges relating to insecure immigration status, homelessness and destitution.

As the external environment for migrants has become increasingly challenging and funding pressures have intensified, we have had to review and adapt the scope of our work. Over the past two years, the staff team has reduced to a team of five, with most roles being part-time. We now have an annual budget of just over £300,000 and are in the process of reviewing what we can realistically achieve, as well as how we can become more resilient and financially sustainable.

We welcome applications from people from a range of backgrounds and experience who would be happy to take up this exciting challenge. We are particularly keen to recruit trustees with lived or learned experience of migration to the UK.

If you would like to be considered, please apply by Monday 2 February 2026, attaching a CV and a brief statement outlining why you are interested in the role and what you could bring to it (no more than two sides of A4). 

See the job description below for further details and for more information about our website.

Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to receiving your application!

We are seeking trustees with the following skills, to help us end poverty for older people across the UK:
fundraising
brand / marketing / engagement
business development / transformation / innovation / technology.

What will you be doing?

You would be joining a strong, experienced Board who are working together with our dedicated charity staff to tackle poverty in later life.

As we head into 2026, the final year of our current strategy period, we will continue to build on the strong foundations we've established, with the expectation that a new strategy will be approved at our September 2026 Board meeting. 

As well as being Board members, trustees generally serve on at least one of our Board committees.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking trustees who are concerned about the growing impact of poverty in later life on our society, and can bring us any of the following skills : finance, fundraising, brand / marketing / engagement, business development / transformation / innovation / technology. 

We particularly encourage applications from people who have backgrounds, characteristics or perspectives that align with the priority groups we have identified (please see pack).

What difference will you make?

Like all charities, we are run by a Board of Trustees that sets our overall direction. Our trustees also provide detailed oversight of our fundraising, finance, risk, investments, governance, impact services and policy work through Board committees. 

This is an opportunity for a female befriender to visit a lovely, chatty lady in New Barnet. She’s a lover of all things crafty, including making jewellery and painting, but her absolute favourite are jigsaw puzzles. She would love a visitor to do these things with her, as well as going for walks to the local coffee shop for a slice of cake or spending some time in the garden on a sunny day.

We offer a lifelong befriending service for adults with learning disabilities. Matching the skills and interests of passionate visitors with the specific hobbies and interests of the people we visit. Visitors visit six times a year to create a 1-2-1 connection, offer companionship, encourage people to do the things they enjoy and check-in on their wellbeing. In many cases, the visitor is the only person in someone’s life who isn’t paid to be there for them.

This is a Stop and stay, let’s get busy visitor role which means the person you will be visiting can communicate actively with you and take part in choosing or planning activities.  As you get to know each our you may choose to ‘go out’ either with or without support from the staff that supports the person you visit.  Your volunteer manager will be happy to help you with ideas and suggestions for things you can do. Visits will vary in length but tends to be around an hour or longer, depending on what you do.

In this role you will spend quality time with the person you visit and could do a range of different activities like:

• Sitting and having a chat

• Checking in on their well- being

• Going out to a local café/pub for a meal/drink

• Enjoying a walk

• A craft activity at home

• Reading a book/magazine together                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

As a Mencap volunteer visitor you will be:

- Friendly and approachable

- Accepting of others who might be different to yourself

- Reliable and patient

- Passionate about supporting people with a with a learning disability.

As a Mencap visitor you will:

- Have the opportunity to help make a difference to the life of the person you visit

- Receive a personalised volunteer induction and training

- Have agreed out of pocket expenses reimbursed

- Meet new people

- Get on-going support, and feel appreciated and valued

About Mencap

Mencap is the leading learning disability charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with people with a learning disability and their families to challenge prejudice and change laws, and we directly support thousands of people to live their lives as they choose. We have an ambitious vision for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

Volunteering with us is YOUR opportunity to help us achieve this, whilst having the chance to develop your skills, meet new people and join a passionate and dedicated team.

If you have questions about volunteering with Mencap, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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. 

Pursuing the role

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

• Welcome Event (Induction) -  19/05/2026

Closing date for these opportunities is: 24/02/2026

Reliable Media brings together the Stop Funding Hate and Stop Funding Heat campaigns under one organisational umbrella.

Our mission is to make hate and climate misinformation unprofitable by persuading advertisers to stop funding media outlets and platforms that spread harmful narratives. We believe advertising shapes culture and that, by disrupting the financial incentives behind harmful media, we can build an information ecosystem that is inclusive, accountable and climate responsible.

Would you like to help drive our campaigns?
We are currently seeking new voluntary Board members to strengthen our governance and support the next stage of our mission to make hate and climate misinformation unprofitable.

At this point in time, we are especially looking to appoint:

• A Treasurer to provide strategic financial oversight and support long-term sustainability and
• A Board Member with Legal expertise to help us take informed, proportionate risks and navigate a complex media landscape.

We want to ensure that diverse voices are at the heart of our Board. We’d especially welcome applications from racialised communities, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ people, disabled people, people from minority faith backgrounds, including those disproportionately targeted by harmful or discriminatory media narratives.

Being a Board Member may be voluntary but it’s still a real commitment. We meet quarterly, stay in regular contact between meetings and must be willing to be legally (and publicly) responsible for a high-profile campaigning organisation. Board Members are also engaged in various working groups, such as fundraising, governance or DEI or offer short-term ad hoc support where they have relevant expertise. But it’s hugely rewarding. You would be helping to ensure Reliable Media continues to challenge harmful media narratives, shift industry norms and make hate and climate misinformation unprofitable.

Metabolic Support UK are excited to share that we are looking for new Trustees to join our board.

Following the retirement of several Trustees we’re keen to broaden the range of skills and experiences represented. Our work is guided by people with lived experience, and our Board of Trustees plays a central role in shaping our strategy and ensuring that our values are embedded across everything we do.

We welcome applications, particularly from those with expertise in the following areas:

• Charity fundraising: Leadership in a fundraising environment, ideally within the charity sector.
• Clinical Dietitians: Experience of supporting patients with IMD's with a understanding of the challenges faced around diet and IMD's.
• Young adult with a diagnosed IMD: who has lived experience of an IMD and has navigated the process of healthcare from paediatric to adult care.
• Researcher: Experience of Rare Disease treatment research.

Appointments are made on merit, and we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive Board that truly reflects the communities we serve.


About Metabolic Support UK

Metabolic Support UK is the leading organisation for Inherited Metabolic Disorders (IMDs), supporting thousands of people worldwide through providing individual support, building communities, and continually advocating for and empowering those living with IMDs.

Since its inception in 1981, our organisation has strived to support those in the rare community, expanding new-born screening, accelerating the development of orphan drugs, and acting instrumentally in establishing EURORDIS, ensuring people living with IMDs have the best quality of life possible.

Metabolic Support UK Board of Trustees
Metabolic Support UK Board of Trustees are a group of dedicated volunteers who are committed to the charities aims.

The Trustee meets four times a year (virtual), with meetings held during the week from approximately 2.30-4.30pm

Trustees are encouraged to participate in charity campaigns and attend flagship events, e.g., our Annual Community Conference. Trustees are not paid, but out-of-pocket expenses are reimbursed. Trustees serve a three year term.



The Institute of Conservation (Icon) is seeking an enterprising and passionate supporter of cultural heritage to chair our Board of Trustees through an ambitious period of growth and change.

This fulfilling role will appeal to a people focused individual, who will welcome the opportunity to actively engage with Icon's membership and the wider heritage sector. We are looking for the skills and ambition to support us as we establish a new strategy to champion conservation and deliver sustainable financial growth to support our charitable objectives.

About the Role 

The Chair’s responsibilities include those of all Icon Trustees, with the additional operational responsibilities:

• Providing leadership to the Board in its strategic and policy role
• Chairing the Board and other meetings to facilitate positive discussion and development
• Ensuring the Board fulfils its legal and charitable responsibilities for the governance of Icon
• Establishing a constructive working relationship with the Chief Executive
• Appraising the performance of the Chief Executive and the Trustees
• Advocating for Icon and conservation via public speaking appointments at Icon events and within the wider heritage sector
• Supporting Icon’s petition for Royal Charter through stakeholder engagement activity

For the full list of responsibilities and information on Icon including its mission and values, please refer to the Chair of the Board of Trustees Recruitment Pack

About You

You will be:

• Committed to Icon’s values and the conservation of cultural heritage
• Committed to the professional ethos that defines Icon and its members
• Able to direct the business of the Board efficiently and effectively
• Skilled in developing and nurturing productive working relationships
• Willing to challenge us and introduce new ways of thinking

You will have experience in:

• Charity or corporate governance
• High level advocacy across a range of media, including public speaking, interviewing and written commentary
•  Successful fundraising and/or entrepreneurial activities
• Delivering organisational growth and future resilience
• Problem solving, building understanding, and fostering collaboration

All trustees must agree to comply with the Trustees’ Code of Conduct. You can find more information about being a Trustee on Icon’s website.

How to Apply

If you would like to be considered for a position on our Board of Trustees, please submit a brief covering letter (no more than one side of A4) explaining why you are interested in the role and highlighting your relevant skills and experience. Please also provide your CV, covering no more than two sides of A4. 

Detailed application instructions can be found on Icon's website.

Applications close on Wednesday 11 February 2026 at 5PM.

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy?

Volunteers are essential to Shannon Trust and bring their energy, ideas and skills to train mentors in prisons, support learners in the community and enhance our business support team.

We are looking for volunteers to provide training and support to our mentors in prison. There may be some additional preparation and/ or administrative tasks in between volunteering days at the prison.

Our prison volunteers nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by delivering training sessions for prison mentors and offering ongoing advice, guidance and support through mentor meetings.

Volunteer recruitment dates

The closing date for applications to attend our next round of training is 25 January 2026. In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early. Successful applicants will be sent interview questions in advance with notice to prepare. We will respond to all applications. Successful applicants will be invited to an interview between 26 January and 6 February 2026. This is an opportunity for you to meet our regional team, to find out more about you and for us to share more information about the volunteering role.

Training:

You'll be given high quality training to prepare you for volunteering with Shannon Trust. This takes place over 4 training sessions and via our online training portal. We ask that volunteers aim to complete the training in one course as this means that you will be ready to start actively volunteering. The next training sessions for volunteering for people applying to be a prison based volunteer will take place as follows.

Please check that you can attend all of the training the dates prior to applying:

• 17 February 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 24 February 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 3 March 2026, 10am – 1pm (via Zoom)

• 24 March 2026, 10am-4pm (in person session, London)

You’ll also receive the opportunity to attend ongoing training sessions and peer support meetings during your time as a volunteer to build your skills and experience.

Why we want you

Shannon Trust’s vision is of a future where everyone can experience the positive impact of learning. As a prison volunteer your role will be at the heart of our organisation as you support our mentors in prisons. This will include delivering training to new mentors and supporting existing mentors to develop and deliver our Turning Pages and Count Me In programmes. You will be volunteering alongside Shannon Trust facilitators and / or frontline prison staff to empower mentors and ensure no one is left out of learning.

What you will be doing

• Delivering initial, and ongoing, training to mentors in prisons
• Supporting and encouraging the Shannon Trust facilitator and mentors to attract new learners and expand the reach of the Shannon Trust programme
• Arranging and leading mentor meetings to develop mentors’ skills, share good practice and to provide support to mentors to find solutions to concerns
• Supporting facilitators to engage prison staff and people in prison to set-up, maintain and develop the Shannon Trust reading and numeracy programmes across the whole prison, and contributing to progress planning for how to progress and achieve this
• Using your skills to build positive relationships with frontline prison staff, people in prison and other organisations
• Training and supporting mentors to collect and submit data and learner feedback
• Supporting with the planning of, and attendance at, celebration events
• Collecting and sharing good news stories and feedback
• Attending area meetings and sharing good practice with other volunteers
• Engaging with quarterly reviews to receive support and discuss progress
• Acting as an ambassador for Shannon Trust in all that you do, sharing the vision and values of the charity throughout your volunteering

The skills you need

• A commitment to providing non-judgemental support to people in prison
• Able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and have flexibility to visit the prison at times required
• Strong communication skills and are able to use these to inspire others
• Able to deliver engaging training and identify training and support needs for mentors
• Able to manage own time and prioritise
• Able to keep up to date with Shannon Trust news and communications and share relevant information with the wider prison team
• Able to use IT

What's in it for you

• Developing and growing your understanding of the HMPPS structure and prison system
• Reasonable, out of pocket, volunteering expenses are
• You will receive induction training and ongoing training to support and develop you in your role
• All volunteers receive ongoing support and quarterly reviews to enable you to gain the most from your volunteering experience
• We recognise and are grateful for the added value that volunteers bring to our organisation
• We provide flexible volunteering opportunities, subject to the requirements of your role

Disclaimer

In some circumstances, volunteer vacancies may close early.

We are looking for Trustees to join the Young Vic Board. 

Whether on our stages at our home on The Cut, touring to schools and community centres across south London, premiering a play in the West End or on Broadway, streaming our work across the country and around the world – the Young Vic is actively working to be a theatre for everyone.

“We are looking for Trustees to join the Young Vic Board in 2026. We are excited about the opportunity to recruit new Trustees who bring diverse experience, perspective and energy to a high performing Board. We are looking for energetic and engaged individuals who share our values and our commitment to excellence, access, representation and social justice. Our Trustees will support our exceptional leadership team as they lead our wonderful theatre into its next exciting phase in our fifty-year history.” - Glenn Earle, Chair of the Board 

The Trustees of the charity act as Directors of the company, and therefore have legal, financial and ethical duties under company law and compliance with charity legislation. 

 As a Trustee you will have various legal responsibilities including: 

• Comply with the charity’s governing document and the law  

• Ensure that the charity is carrying out its purpose for the public benefit  

• Act in the charity’s best interests  

• Manage the charity’s resources responsibly  

• Act with reasonable care and skill  

• Ensure the charity is accountable  

• Ensure the charity is compliant 

We are looking for approximately four new Trustees. In particular, we are looking for trustees who may have the following skillsets: 

• A freelancer working within the arts 

• Expert knowledge of the law 

• Expertise in Theatre Production/ Commercial Producing

• Experience in and enthusiasm for Charity Fundraising 

• Expertise in Accounting 

We are also keen to hear from candidates who do not meet these specific criteria, but believe they could actively contribute to our thinking and our future success. Previous experience as a Trustee is not necessary. We are committed to a full and appropriate induction, mentoring, training and support for all new Trustees. 

Please see our Trustee Application Pack for full details. 

We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different experiences, skills and stories to join us and influence and develop our working practice. We are particularly keen to hear from Black and Global Majority people, and candidates who self-identify as disabled. All candidates who self-identify as disabled who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria will be invited for interview. The Young Vic is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, caring responsibilities, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and sexual orientation. 

Start Date: There is no fixed start date for these positions, but would like to have everyone in place by the end of 2026. 

Apply by: The closing date for applications is 10am, Wednesday 28th January 2026. 

To apply, please go to the Young Vic website Work for the Young Vic, download and read the Application Pack carefully.