Volunteer roles

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

At Cats Protection we help thousands of cats and kittens each year thanks to our dedicated and passionate volunteer groups. We have branches across the UK, all of which help our cats in different ways. Branches take in stray and abandoned cats and ensure they receive the veterinary care and attention they deserve; help raise funds, promote neutering and help spread cat welfare messages. Our branch team leader volunteers lead their local team by supporting and managing volunteers within their group, maintaining communications with both volunteers and employees, and helping promote a positive and professional image of Cats Protection.

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

A bit more information about this role and the team

• To drive and support our new initiative partnering with a private cattery

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Supporting your team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure volunteers are happy and confident
• Making sure the team observes charity best practice and compliance
• Collaborating with your Branch Development Manager (BDM) to plan volunteer activity
• Leading the team to follow Cats Protection policies, procedures and guidelines
• Monitoring expenditure and helping ensure long term financial stability of the volunteer group
• Organising and chairing team meetings
• Acting as an ambassador for Cats Protection

Time expectation

Our branch team leader volunteers usually spend 10 to 15 hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed. There will be times of year when more hours are required, such as towards the end of the financial year, but support and guidance are available.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

We are currently looking for volunteers to help us in our Chilton warehouse. The warehouse is where the food arrives, and is sorted before it arrives at the hub. It is a busy environment, and you’d be working alongside the TBBT team. To volunteer for the warehouse, you would need to be 18 years old or older.

Volunteering at the warehouse would include:

• Packing bags for the hubs.
• Organising stock, and ensuring food is stored correctly and at the right temperature.
• Keeping the warehouse tidy, and helping with recycling.
• Helping to load the vans.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be resident in the UK and living in Chilton, or within easy commuting distance of our base, in order to volunteer with us. We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

The Bread and Butter Thing (TBBT) is about making everyday things in life more affordable for people in low income households. We do this through a membership scheme that offers regular provisions such as food and toiletries.

People apply for membership through our community hubs. Hubs are projects that are already doing great work in the community throughout the Northeast. TBBT requires volunteers at our warehouse in Chilton to collect food from our suppliers.

We get food from industry surpluses that might otherwise become waste and we use it to put food in the homes of people in need. Every day we collect food or have it delivered into our warehouse at Chilton.

What we do really makes a difference to thousands of families, but we couldn’t do it without our amazing volunteers. 

If you are keen to work with great people whose common goal is to help support local communities, then we would love to welcome you into our team of volunteers.

You’d need to be over 25 with a full, clean UK driving licence, with various shifts Monday to Friday starting from 7am.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be resident in the UK and living in Chilton, or within easy commuting distance of our base, in order to volunteer with us. We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

As a Volunteer Education Mentor, you'll join a dynamic team to deliver 8 mentoring sessions over 8 weeks aimed at building group rapport and covering essential topics like communication, goal setting and problem solving. These sessions will be with a consistent group of young people, ensuring you can build meaningful connections and see their progress over time. 

You'll be supported throughout this process by a King's Trust Youth Development Lead, who will provide guidance and resources to help you succeed.

The sessions will typically last 1 hour and will take place face-to-face in a secondary school environment. The frequency and timing of these sessions will be determined by the school, and you will choose a school that fits your availability, as your consistent attendance is crucial. 

School locations and dates: 

• These sessions will take place around Birmingham from September to December 2025. Please complete the application and attend the interview for further information.

Areas of sessions:

• Walsall
• Little Bromwich
• Small Heath
• Holford

An educational background is not required, but a genuine interest in engaging with and developing the skills of young people is essential. Session content will be provided, and you will be expected to develop and review the plans each week. Key skills required include preparation, organisation and reliability. 

Full training will be provided to ensure you feel confident and prepared, please be expected to commit to 2 hours in person training, as well as some virtual training. 

Take a look at this video to see the impact this programme makes …https://youtube/dmf7fG1c69Y 

In return for your valuable time, you'll become part of a dedicated community of volunteers. You'll experience the satisfaction of directly impacting the success of young people, many of whom face significant barriers and challenges.Additionally, you'll enjoy personal development and the pleasure that comes from working for a cause that makes a real difference in the lives of children and young people. 

Join us at The King's Trust and make a lasting impact! 

Who we are

We are seeking trustees to work with a small non-profit family mediation service covering West and North Yorkshire.  The service has been in operation for 30 years, helping families that have experienced a breakdown to resolve their outstanding issues surrounding their children, property and finances with a view to avoid the trauma and expense of attending family court. Our mission is simple, by helping people resolve these issues we aim to reduce the mental health traumas incurred by both adults and children who have experienced a family breakdown whilst helping them to alleviate the financial hardship that so often follows a relationship breakdown.

We deliver our service to over a thousand clients annually both remotely and face to face from our main office suite in Bradford and from our satellite suites in Leeds and York.

We do have a small but active board of trustees who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the service and who provide the financial and operational oversight that the service requires. 

Who we are looking for

We are looking to expand the number of board members and would welcome expressions of interest from people who would like to be involved with the service and to help us on our mission to continually improve and grow. Whilst there is no specific criteria requested, we would welcome expressions of interest from people who have a legal background, or can help develop our business acumen, or who can aid us with marketing and promotion or who have experience in HR.

The involvement of our trustees in the strategic planning and oversight of the charity is absolutely essential to the success of the service.  We hold four trustee meetings each year, three of which are usually held remotely.

How to contact us

If you would like to get involved in the charity sector and have an interest in learning about family mediation then please contact our service manager, Gordon Laing.

Whether you are an experienced trustee or wanting to take your first step at Board level we would like to hear from you.

What will you be doing?

Cheltenham Almshouses and Aid owns and manages four sets of almshouses in Cheltenham, made up of a number of cottages dating back to 1914, flats (within a conservation area) and a converted large Edwardian house. Many of the properties we own are of older stock and there is a constant challenge to keep the buildings well maintained in line with current regulations whilst continuing to provide comfortable and affordable living. 

The charity aims to provide warm, safe, secure homes at an affordable cost for local people in housing need. Residents range in ages from 55 to 100 years.

Cheltenham Almshouses and Aid is run by a board of voluntary trustees, and administered in accordance with schemes prepared by the Charity Commission. The day-to-day supervision is undertaken by the Clerk (32.5 hours per week) and the Administrator (5 hours per week)  The charity is not registered as social housing.

We are looking for people to join our board of trustees to help take Cheltenham Almshouses and Aid forward.  We would particularly welcome those with experience of finance and investment. 

We have recently built four new wonderful apartments within a conservation area and may possibly in the future look at extending our current stock of properties with more new builds.

We have a healthy balance sheet and would look to new trustees to guide the charity with new investment opportunities.

Many thanks for your time reading this.

What are we looking for?

• Building and conservation, property and maintenance
• Health and Safety within housing
• Finance 
• Leadership 
• Communications and Marketing

What difference will you make?

This is an amazing opportunity to give a small amount of time, whilst knowing you are making a real difference to the lives of our residents. 

With you are on board as a trustee we can ensure that the Almhouses continue for many, many more years, helping those less fortunate by providing safe well maintained homes in wonderful communities, whilst ensuring the long term financial stability, governance of the charity and to help formulate the vision for the future.

Before you apply

Please apply through Reach in the first instance. Interviews will be in person at a convenient location, representatives from the board of trustees will be present with the Clerk.

Make a difference – become a school governor

You do not have to be a parent or member of staff to be a school governor – applications are appreciated from all with an interest in the local community. School governors come from all walks of life and specialist knowledge is not always needed. What IS essential is a desire to get involved in children’s education and make a difference to their lives.

We welcome applications from those with educational, health & safety and safeguarding experience but school governors are all volunteers and training and support is provided. The University of Chichester (Multi) Academy Trust partners new governors with a ‘buddy’ – a trusted and more experienced colleague on the governing body – who initially acts as their mentor. Briefing information and assistance is also available through newsletters, websites and helplines provided by the Department for Education.

Help Us Transform Lives Through Better Systems

Unify Giving is looking for a dedicated volunteer to help optimise our CRM systems and workflows using Monday. com. This role is crucial to ensuring individuals experiencing homelessness receive timely and effective support through our platform.

What You'll Do:

• Set up and optimise Monday. com workflows for our beneficiary management
• Create automation systems to streamline our support processes
• Collaborate with our founders and tech team on integration solutions
• Help develop a sustainable CRM strategy as we scale across the UK and beyond

What We're Looking For:

• Experience with Monday. com and workflow creation
• Understanding of CRM principles and best practices
• Passion for using technology for social impact
• 4-6 hours per week availability (flexible scheduling)
• Bonus: Digital marketing experience

Why Join Us:

You'll be working with a passionate, innovative team that's already making real impact - supporting vulnerable individuals through direct financial assistance via our groundbreaking platform. Your systems expertise will directly translate to more people receiving the help they need.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Step 1: Download our app and explore how we're connecting donors directly with those experiencing homelessness.

Step 2: Apply here to join our team and tell us about your CRM experience.

Join us in creating a more unified approach to tackling homelessness - one workflow at a time! ��

About Roots Academy

At Roots Academy, we’ve built a learning experience that’s changing the lives of the ummah’s future leaders, change-makers and visionaries.

Our vision is enabling university students to live God-centred lives, so we teach structured, engaging and transformative face-to-face foundational Islamic education to over 2000 students across the UK & Canada.

Role Summary

The HR Lead will be the focal point for all HR tasks in Canada. This will include supporting the Canada team with recruitment, maintaining HR files, keeping accurate records in line with compliance requirements, issuing volunteer agreements, and ensuring the Canada team are compliant with Canadian employment law.  

Key tasks

• Recruitment – supporting with role descriptions, advertising positions, arranging interviews and onboarding new starters.
• Compliance and employment law – requesting IDs and other documentation as required, supporting with training requirements, and advising the leadership team on best practice.
• HR Admin – managing the contracting / volunteer agreement process, ensuring personnel files are kept up to date and accurate record keeping of all HR files.

What we’re looking for

• Prior experience in an HR role, HR qualification would be a bonus
• Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to be diplomatic
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality
• Experience handing sensitive information desired but not essential
• Strong understanding of the Muslim Community in Canada, and belief in Roots Academy’s vision

What we have to offer

• Contribute to a growing organisation that educates and empowers the Muslim community.
• Access to in-house tarbiyah sessions to develop your deen.
• Receive continuous rewards for facilitating Islamic education through Roots Academy.

Please note: This is an unpaid volunteer position. Volunteers can claim expenses for food, travel, and equipment in line with the Expenses Policy.

Our House Experience Volunteers add the sparkle to any visit – giving everyone a warm welcome, bringing stories from Ickworth to life and helping people get the best out of their day. 

 This role will suit you if you are:

• Warm and friendly.
• Someone with a curious and inquisitive nature, with an ability to engage our visitors, ask questions and facilitate conversations.
• Able to listen thoughtfully and actively.
• Someone with exceptional customer service standards- a desire to put visitors before everything else.
• A good storyteller, with a talent for reading body language and thinking on your feet
• Sensitive to visitor and volunteer needs – working as an effective team member.
• Willing to develop your knowledge of Ickworth, its history and vast collections.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Responding to the diverse needs of visitors, including people with additional access needs.
• Sharing inspirational stories, curious facts and practical information or simply the space for visitors to wander at their own pace.
• Helping visitors to discover more, answering questions and making suggestions so they can enjoy their day, their way.
• Being an ambassador for the whole property and the National Trust. Helping visitors understand the full scope of the offer at Ickworth beyond the house.
• Learning more about Ickworth, so you can share your knowledge and stories of the family and their collections with visitors.
• Responding to the changing needs of Ickworth – supporting ongoing interpretation strategies in the House.
• Supporting with health and safety and evacuation procedures if required.
• Being part of a team that may need to adapt and change in response to local needs, National Trust priorities or changes to government guidelines 

 By getting involved you could· 

• Become part of a friendly and dedicated team.
  Spend time with us at Ickworth, learn about its history, stories and enjoy its beauty.
• Meet people from all walks of life
• Find an opportunity to use your existing skills and develop new ones.
  Improve your communication skills.
  Get a warm glow by knowing you have made a difference to someone’s day out with us.

 You’d also be joining Europe’s largest conservation charity and the wider National Trust team proudly looking after 780 miles of coastline, over 250,000 hectares of land, over 500 historic houses, castles, ancient monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves (including lighthouses, villages, pubs and a gold mine!). We are a unique charity welcoming millions of people each year and with a vision to open up places for the benefit of everyone, for ever.

All National Trust volunteers will be asked to

• Respect and uphold the National Trust values whilst volunteering with us.
• Complete training required of all NT volunteers and any role specific training
• Adhere to relevant policies and processes including safeguarding, health and safety, and equality and diversity. 

 We want all our volunteers to feel welcome and to have an equally positive experience when volunteering with us. So, volunteers will:

• Be provided with the necessary induction, training, equipment and reasonable adjustments to do this role well and safely
• Be offered expenses to cover agreed travel costs between home and place of volunteering.
• Have remote access to support, news and rotas via our volunteer website 

Skills acquired: Adaptability, Communication Skills, Community Development, Customer Service, Event Support, Exhibition Arts, Fundraising, Interpersonal Skills, Public Relations, Public Speaking, Teamwork, Visual Arts

Purpose of the role

To conduct research and apply for grants and funding that Rebuilding Lives UK are eligible for.  To contribute to fundraising strategies and share and implement fundraising ideas.

What you will be doing

We are looking for fundraiser volunteers to join our team to: 

• Lead research for grants and funding that the charity is eligible for.
• Prepare information about grants, trusts and foundations, advising the CEO and Trustees of the requirements for the applications, the deadlines being worked towards and the final outcomes.
• Write and tailor content for grant applications as required.
• Support with the grant application process and build relationships with trusts and other stakeholders.
• Share ideas for fundraising.

What are we looking for?

The following skills and experience would be helpful for this role:

• Experience in grant applications is essential
• To understand content, requirements and strategy needed for applications.
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail
• The ability to deal with information in a confidential manner and respond with sensitivity
• Proficiency in using email and Microsoft Office
• Commitment to the values of Rebuilding Lives UK
• Able to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team

Time commitment and expenses:

• 3-7 hours per week, either in or out of office hours.
• We request a minimum commitment of 3 months volunteering.

What difference will you make?

Joining our team will give you the opportunity to:

• Use and share your expertise.
• Learn new skills.
• Gain valuable experience for those who are looking for a job in fundraising.
• Be part of a friendly team of people
• Make a big difference to the charity and the lives of our beneficiaries.

Be responsible for finding funding opportunities for the charity and writing professional proposals to earn grant money, whilst raising awareness and building relationships with donors and supporters alike. 

What will you be doing?

- Develop and manage fundraising events.

-  Work with the marketing team to develop and produce fundraising communication material.

-  Prepare presentations and manage meetings.

-  Support the CEO and Trustees to create a fundraising strategy.

What are we looking for?

• excellent knowledge of proposal submission and fundraising processes
• ability to study and understand programmes and funding requirements of the organisation
• excellent multitasking, organisational and time management skills
• excellent written and verbal communication skills
• the ability to deal with information in a confidential manner and respond with sensitivity
• proficiency in using email and Microsoft Office
• commitment to the values of Rebuilding Lives UK

Time commitment and expenses:

• 1-3 hours per week, either in or out of office hours.
• We request a minimum commitment of 3 months volunteering.

What difference will you make?

- Increased confidence.

- Development of new skills.

- Make new connections.

- Changing the lives of those who need it the most.

Managing content for the charity's social media platforms, monitoring performance and establishing and/or maintaining active social media accounts, in addition to researching and creating creative content for different social media channels.

What will you be doing?

• Creating and managing daily social media posts across all social media platforms e.g. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn.
• Develop new, engaging warm-hearted content to increase interest and attract supporters. 
• Working in conjunction with the Marketing Manager and CEO, be responsible for posting original, high-quality content (twice per week) to improve our brand presence, grab the attention of our target audience and drive growth.
• Assist with creating our new social media strategy 

What are we looking for?

• Clear understanding of social media platforms.
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Highly motivated, enthusiastic and a positive can-do attitude.
• Knowledge of marketing and public relations is also desirable.

Skills, experience and qualities needed

• Creative Skills
• Administration
• Canva Experience
• Commercial Awareness
• Creating Calendar
• Customer Service
• Event Planning
• Fundraising
• IT Skills
• Marketing and PR
• Research
• Team Working
• Written Communication Skills

Time commitment and expenses:

• 1-3 hours per week, either in or out of office hours.
• We request a minimum commitment of 3 months volunteering.

What difference will you make?

Joining our team will give you the opportunity to:

• Contribute to a good cause that shares the same values as you.
• Use and share your skills.
• Gain new skills and work experience.
• Expand your network and social skills,
• Be part of a friendly team of people
• Make a big difference to our organisation and the lives of our beneficiaries.
• Never underestimate the power of your voice.

As an Events and Communications Coordinator volunteer, you will play an essential role in supporting the charity’s event planning and communication efforts.  While this role is unpaid, it offers a valuable opportunity to gain experience and contribute to the charity’s mission.

Responsibilities:

Event Assistance:

• Collaborate with the events team to assist in planning and executing events.
• Help with brainstorming event ideas or proactively coming up with event ideas that would be beneficial for the charity.
• Provide support with tasks such as coordinating logistics, contacting vendors and attendees and helping with on-site event management.

Communication Support:

• Assist with the development and implementation of communication strategies to the target audience and materials.
• Help to increase the reach and impact of communication pieces by distributing and sharing newsletters, leaflets, posts etc. to relevant communities and outlets.

Content Creation:

• Assist in writing and editing promotional materials, such as event invitations and social media posts.
• Help with graphic design tasks, such as creating event posters and online graphics.
• Document the event, as directed, through photos and videos that can be used by the marketing team for marketing purposes.
• Photo and video editing skills are not essential but highly valued.

Audience Engagement:

• Help to drive reach and impact of social media activity through engaging with posts and sharing to local communities.
• Help to drive event attendance, registrations and, ultimately, optimise results for every event undertaken.

Collaboration:

• Work closely with the organisation's teams to ensure consistent messaging and branding.

Event Support:

• Volunteer at events to assist with various tasks, such as registration, guest services, and ensuring smooth event execution.

Post-Event Feedback:

• Assist in collecting feedback and data to evaluate the success of events and communication efforts.

Personal specification:

This is a role for someone who can play an active and on-site role for Manchester-based events.

• Enthusiasm and dedication to supporting the organisation's mission and representing the charity in the best possible way.
• Reliability to carry out agreed tasks
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic skills in using communication and graphic design tools.
• Willingness to learn and adapt in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and to find solutions for problems if they occur.
• Attention to detail
• Good interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• A passion for event planning, communication, or marketing.
• Flexibility and the ability to commit to the volunteer role.

Time commitment and expenses:

• 3-7 hours per week, either in or out of office hours.
• We request a minimum commitment of 3 months volunteering.