Volunteer mentors volunteer roles in colchester, essex

Athari Group

We take future nonprofit founders through a first-of-its-kind accelerator for idea-stage nonprofits.

The marketplace of ideas has a support gap: a great business or social enterprise can get funded at the idea stage, but nonprofits are typically not funded before they get off the ground. Individuals with great ideas often lack the requisite knowledge, fundraising capacity, support, and network to start a successful organization. Athari Group helps to bridge that gap, and support those interested in being in service to a cause greater than themselves.

We take future nonprofit founders through a first-of-its-kind accelerator for idea-stage nonprofits. Leaders in our program receive world-class mentorship and networking opportunities with nonprofit founders, workshops from root cause analysis to board development to initial and advanced fundraising, and the experience of learning alongside a group of peers.

When you work with Athari Group you will get the opportunity to own projects and work directly with our CEO, CMO and co-founders. We want you to be able to learn and enjoy the experience and engaging with our senior team is one way we do that.

Writing Coach

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

In this role, over the course of two months, you are working with co-founder of a new nonprofit (nonprofits primarily in Africa, Latin American and Asia) to write their first grant. It ends up being 10-15 pages but they write it in 2-3 page sections every two weeks with you reviewing and giving feedback. You are not a copy-editor just looking for writing mistakes, although that is welcome, but thinking through their way of explaining their story, the problem they are addressing and their planned work. Sometimes things which are obvious to them are not obvious to a reader from another part of the world so you are looking for those gaps as well.

This document will be a key document for them as they apply for grants in the future.

Time commitment is 1-2 hours a week.

Weekly Time Commitment

2-3 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

1-2 months

Are you passionate about creating a culture of welcome for refugees in the UK? Do you have extensive experience in the governance of a charity or public sector organisation? This could be the perfect role for you! 

STAR is a dynamic and exciting national charity which makes a huge impact on a small budget. We are looking for individuals who are passionate about creating a culture of welcome in the UK for refugees ,who believes in the power of young people as changemakers and who wants to empower refugees to reach higher education to join our board of trustees. 

We are in particular looking for applicants who: 

• Have lived experience 
• Have HR experience 
• Have campaigns experience, in particular hybrid campaigning.
• Have charitable fundraising experience. 

 Applications from persons with lived refugee experience are highly encouraged. 

Role Description

To provide strategic oversight of:

• STAR’s compliance with its Articles of Association, policies, and law; 
• STAR’s compliance with all funding conditions and contracts;
• Whether STAR is best using its resources to meet its objectives; 
• The effective and efficient administration of STAR;
• Monitoring and reporting of financial information; 
• STAR’s funding and expenditure situation; and
• Implementation of STAR’s Equal Opportunities Policy and Safeguarding Policy in employment and service delivery.

Also to:

• Contribute actively to STAR by giving strategic direction and evaluating performance against targets
• Attend and prepare for board meetings
• Appoint board members and officers via the procedures in this policy
• Approve accounts
• Ensure that STAR and the board safeguard STAR’s values and reputation
• Provide any other assistance the board or STAR may require, as appropriate, particularly utilising any specialist skills or experience they may have.

Person Specification 

Essential 

• Experience of governance of a charity or public sector organisation
• A commitment to STAR’s values
• An awareness of issues affecting both STAR and the wider refugee sector, the ever shifting landscape of refugee policy and media coverage, or a willingness to learn and stay abreast of these current topics and new developments. 
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to prepare for and attend regular STAR meetings for at least 2 years
• Integrity and good independent judgement
• Strategic vision and an ability to stay focused on strategic objectives
• Willingness to take part in STAR discussions, contribute constructively and listen to others
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties and liabilities of trustees of a charitable company
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• A commitment to the principles of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, as well as an understanding and acceptance of the Equal Opportunities Policy
• Willingness to undertake training required to allow them to fulfil their duties.

Desirable 

Five years experience in one or more of:

• Working with people seeking asylum and refugees;
• Other work with the asylum/refugee/migrant sector;
• Charitable fundraising;
• Voluntary sector issues, such as trends for charities and partnership/network formation;
• Organisational development, growth or change;
• Human resources;
• Financial management/accountancy;
• IT;
• Negotiations;
• Marketing and public relations;
• Lobbying, advocacy and campaigning regarding social justice or social policy;
• Management and administration of a charity, for example as a director or trustee;
• Campaigning;
• Social Media/ Communications 

About Student Action for Refugees

STAR (Student Action for Refugees) is the national network of students building a society where refugees and asylum seekers are welcomed and can thrive. 

Set up by students at Nottingham University in 1994, STAR is creating a more understanding, just and welcoming society by: 

• empowering young people to be changemakers; 
• providing practical support and connecting local communities through volunteering and student volunteer led community projects; 
• challenging the structural barriers that refugees and asylum seekers face when seeking protection and building new lives in the UK; 
• Sharing trusted information about asylum and the lived experience of refugees to combat misinformation, hostile narratives and instead spread compassion and humanisation 

We have a small staff team who train and support the network and lead on national campaign and advocacy work, with expertise in improving access to higher education for forced migrants.

Here are just some of our highlights from last year:

• 37  STAR university student society groups, across 28  towns and cities, run by 222 STAR student leaders. 
• 262 events were organised by STAR groups to educate, campaign, and fundraise for a more welcoming UK, from art exhibitions to cookery classes and film nights.
• 1,280 refugees and people seeking asylum were supported by 413 volunteers  through 28 community projects and 25 one off volunteering events. 
• 100s of students mobilised to support calls for better treatment of refugees in the UK including standing against detention, for a fairer plan for refugees and to lift the ban on work.
• 88 UK universities now offer sanctuary scholarships for refugee students. The STAR staff team was involved in the development of many of these new scholarships and the improvement of  existing scholarships. We also ran workshops for hundreds of  university staff. 
• 15 STAR groups campaigned for Equal Access at their institutions and 4 won!
• 65 aspiring refugee students were supported by our mentoring project and we provided signposting and advice about accessing HE to over 470 people.

If you would like an informal chat before applying, please get in touch.

Deadline for applications (EXTENDED): 18th July 2025

Interviews: Rolling

Wekume

Wekume is a comprehensive mobile app designed to provide university students in Uganda with seamless access to reproductive health services, including counseling, testing, products, and health education, while also offering personal development resources like business incubation and career-building opportunities

• Limited Access to Reproductive Health Services: Many university students in Uganda face barriers such as stigma, limited health resources, and lack of awareness, which prevent them from accessing essential services like family planning, STI testing, and HIV prevention.

• Stigma and Misinformation about Sexual Health: In my Ugandan community, discussions about sexual and reproductive health are often taboo, leading to misinformation and fear.

• Youth Unemployment and Lack of Opportunities: Beyond facing rigid access to reproductive health, there's a lot of unemployment among student

• Inclusivity for Vulnerable and Minority Groups: These marginalised groups include refugees and students with disabilities.

Wekume provides:

Convenient Access to Reproductive Health Services: Wekume provides a centralized mobile platform that enables students to easily obtain sexual and reproductive health information without the need to visit healthcare facilities in person. This includes:

• SafeChat: Anonymous virtual counseling services aimed at reducing stigma and promoting open discussions about reproductive health issues.

• QuickTest: A feature that allows students to schedule HIV testing and receive their results quickly.

• ARV Corner: Offers information and support regarding anti-retroviral treatment for students living with HIV.

International Fundraising Manager (US & Europe-based candidates)

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

Wekume is a youth-led movement empowering students to reach their full potential by breaking barriers to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) through collaboration, empathy, innovation, and community. Our core product — the Wekume app — provides university students with trusted, discreet access to lifesaving tools like SafeChat, QuickTest, ARV Corner, and SRH product ordering. Together with our on-campus engagements and social media platforms, Wekume helps students protect themselves and rewrite the narrative around SRH in Uganda.

Role Summary Wekume is seeking a Volunteer International Fundraising Manager to design, build, and lead our international fundraising efforts. This is a key leadership role, critical to growing partnerships with corporations, individuals, businesses, organizations, and allied nonprofits to help fund Wekume’s transformative work. You will recruit, guide, and mentor a team of experienced fundraisers and gift officers, working together to secure the support needed to:

1. Develop and launch our new and improved Wekume app
2. Fund vital programs, SRH product access, marketing, transportation, volunteer support, leadership salaries, and more
3. You will also help share Wekume’s story globally — inviting the world to stand in compassion and purpose alongside our innovative Ugandan team, and to advocate for hope, dignity, and the power to protect oneself.

Note: Wekume has 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship through Give to Africa, enabling U.S. donors to make tax-deductible donations. Additionally, Friends of Wekume is a non-profit charity awaiting 501(c)(3) status to provide US-based fundraising support to Wekume in Uganda.

Key Responsibilities

1. Build and manage Wekume’s international fundraising team
2. Develop and lead strategies to engage corporations, foundations, high-net-worth individuals, and other partners
3. Strengthen Wekume’s global donor network through storytelling, outreach, and relationship building
4. Ensure consistent progress on both major gift and grassroots international fundraising efforts
5. Collaborate closely with Wekume’s leadership, grants team, and marketing team to align messaging and goals
6. Mentor and inspire your team, fostering growth, accountability, and excellence

Required Qualifications

1. Significant experience in non-profit fundraising, donor engagement, or major gifts (international experience a plus)
2. Strong leadership skills with experience managing and mentoring teams
3. Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
4. Passion for Wekume’s mission and the drive to help reshape futures alongside our Ugandan team
5. Strategic thinker, able to set vision and translate it into action

What You’ll Gain

1. A leadership role building the foundation for Wekume’s global fundraising success
2. The opportunity to make a transformative impact on young lives in Uganda
3. Experience leading international fundraising in a dynamic, start-up non-profit

Weekly Time Commitment

10+ hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

6+ months

Travel Radar is a passionate media organisation committed to making travel more meaningful and accessible for everyone. Since 2015, we've grown into one of the leading online sources for aviation and air-travel news, reaching over 20 million people worldwide.

Powered by a diverse, fully remote team of 50+ volunteers and contributors, we provide around-the-clock coverage of global travel developments. Our mission is to change the way people experience travel — helping them make every journey more enriching, informed, and enjoyable through timely news and helpful insights.

Join us in reshaping the future of travel and making a global impact through the power of storytelling and information.

We're on the lookout for a Social Media Manager to head up a range of exciting work including:

• developing creative and engaging social media strategies for our platforms;
• managing the day-to-day handling of all social media channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok and YouTube, adapting content to suit different channels;
• overseeing, planning and delivering content across different platforms using scheduling tools such as Buffer and Meta Business Suite;
• developing, launching and managing new competitions and campaigns that promote Travel Radar and the brand;
• forming key relationships with influencers in the aviation and air-travel space across the social media platforms;
• managing and facilitating social media communities by responding to social media posts and developing discussions;
• researching and evaluating the latest trends and techniques in order to find new and better ways of creating and measuring social media activity;
• managing, motivating and coaching junior staff such as social media executives or assistants;

We're looking for a passionate and creative individual to lead and grow Travel Radar’s presence across social media. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the voice of one of the most engaged aviation communities online and create impactful content that inspires millions of travellers worldwide. We already have a strong foundation and loyal following — now we need someone who’s ready to take it to the next level. Whether you're a recent graduate full of fresh ideas, an experienced social media pro seeking a meaningful new challenge, a travel and aviation enthusiast, or a current student eager to gain hands-on experience — we care more about your passion and creativity than your CV.

If you're excited by the idea of building community, creating compelling content, and being part of a mission-driven team, we’d love to hear from you!

✨ Perks of Volunteering with Travel Radar:
(Please note: This is a voluntary, unpaid role — but we make it worth your time!)

• Flexible workload – Contribute as and when you’re available each month
• Fully remote – We can provide a laptop, desktop, or virtual machine if needed
• Lunch & travel expenses covered – For in-person events, conferences, or meetings
• Exclusive discount program – Access deals with 3,000+ retailers, from travel to insurance
• Professional training – Fully funded CPD Level 3, 5, or 7 accreditation included and access industry leading support and mentoring
• Latest tech tools – Free access to Office365, Grammarly Premium, Adobe Photoshop, Canva Pro — for both Travel Radar and personal use

About Roots Academy.

Roots Academy’s Vision.

A generation of young Muslims who embody and promote a God-centred way of life.

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 Mission is to deliver a structured and transformative education in the Essentials of Islam in a way that lowers barriers to access, develops a deep certainty, and inspires action.

Why Does Roots Academy Exist?

Crisis of Faith: 1 in 4 young Muslims are leaving the religion due to various factors, primarily the pervasive anti-religious content and temptations they encounter online and offline.

Roots Academy exists to bridge this gap by providing a structured and transformative Islamic education that speaks directly to the needs and challenges of young Muslims today, delivered in an engaging and accessible form that removes barriers to access and provokes thought and action.

Role Summary.

As a QA Reviewer at Roots Academy, you'll work closely with Regional Leads and the QA team to help maintain and raise the quality of teaching across our programmes. Your role is to support our instructors by regularly observing lessons, offering constructive feedback, and encouraging their continued growth and development.

Your input will help ensure that students benefit from lessons that are clear, engaging, and rooted in sound educational practice.

Key tasks

· Observe lessons via site visits or submitted video recordings throughout the semester.

· Use standardised forms to assess lesson quality and highlight key strengths and areas that could be improved.

· Offer honest and practical feedback, using real examples to guide instructors toward better practice.

· Work alongside Regional Leads to deliver feedback at set points in the semester and support instructor development conversations.

· Attend feedback meetings and take notes to track progress and follow-up actions.

· Recommend helpful activities for instructors, such as shadowing experienced colleagues, team teaching, or reviewing their own lessons.

· Keep track of instructors needing additional support by scheduling follow-up visits or reviewing new lesson recordings.

· Make sure feedback is received, understood, and followed up with clear next steps.

· Raise any serious concerns or ongoing issues with the Regional Lead or relevant team members.

What we’re looking for

· Background in teaching, mentoring, or classroom observation.

· A supportive but honest approach to giving feedback.

· Good understanding of what makes a lesson effective and engaging.

· Confident communicator with good organisation skills.

· Able to work both independently and as part of a wider team.

· Respectful of diverse backgrounds and familiar with Islamic learning settings.

What we have to offer

· Be part of a team of 100+ dedicated volunteers across the UK, Ireland, Canada, US, UAE and Australia.

· Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform.

· Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.

· Receive in-house tarbiyah sessions to develop your deen.

Please note this is an unpaid volunteer position.

Volunteers are entitled to claim expenses incurred for food, travel and equipment, in line with our Expenses policy.

About Roots Academy.

Roots Academy’s Vision.

A generation of young Muslims who embody and promote a God-centred way of life.

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 Mission is to deliver a structured and transformative education in the Essentials of Islam in a way that lowers barriers to access, develops a deep certainty, and inspires action.

Why Does Roots Academy Exist?

Crisis of Faith: 1 in 4 young Muslims are leaving the religion due to various factors, primarily the pervasive anti-religious content and temptations they encounter online and offline.

Roots Academy exists to bridge this gap by providing a structured and transformative Islamic education that speaks directly to the needs and challenges of young Muslims today, delivered in an engaging and accessible form that removes barriers to access and provokes thought and action.

Role Summary.

As a QA Reviewer at Roots Academy, you'll work closely with Regional Leads and the QA team to help maintain and raise the quality of teaching across our programmes. Your role is to support our instructors by regularly observing lessons, offering constructive feedback, and encouraging their continued growth and development.

Your input will help ensure that students benefit from lessons that are clear, engaging, and rooted in sound educational practice.

Key tasks

· Observe lessons via site visits or submitted video recordings throughout the semester.

· Use standardised forms to assess lesson quality and highlight key strengths and areas that could be improved.

· Offer honest and practical feedback, using real examples to guide instructors toward better practice.

· Work alongside Regional Leads to deliver feedback at set points in the semester and support instructor development conversations.

· Attend feedback meetings and take notes to track progress and follow-up actions.

· Recommend helpful activities for instructors, such as shadowing experienced colleagues, team teaching, or reviewing their own lessons.

· Keep track of instructors needing additional support by scheduling follow-up visits or reviewing new lesson recordings.

· Make sure feedback is received, understood, and followed up with clear next steps.

· Raise any serious concerns or ongoing issues with the Regional Lead or relevant team members.

What we’re looking for

· Background in teaching, mentoring, or classroom observation.

· A supportive but honest approach to giving feedback.

· Good understanding of what makes a lesson effective and engaging.

· Confident communicator with good organisation skills.

· Able to work both independently and as part of a wider team.

· Respectful of diverse backgrounds and familiar with Islamic learning settings.

What we have to offer

· Be part of a team of 100+ dedicated volunteers across the UK, Ireland, Canada, US, UAE and Australia.

· Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform.

· Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.

· Receive in-house tarbiyah sessions to develop your deen.

Please note this is an unpaid volunteer position.

Volunteers are entitled to claim expenses incurred for food, travel and equipment, in line with our Expenses policy.

About Roots Academy.

Roots Academy’s Vision.

A generation of young Muslims who embody and promote a God-centred way of life.

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 Mission is to deliver a structured and transformative education in the Essentials of Islam in a way that lowers barriers to access, develops a deep certainty, and inspires action.

Why Does Roots Academy Exist?

Crisis of Faith: 1 in 4 young Muslims are leaving the religion due to various factors, primarily the pervasive anti-religious content and temptations they encounter online and offline.

Roots Academy exists to bridge this gap by providing a structured and transformative Islamic education that speaks directly to the needs and challenges of young Muslims today, delivered in an engaging and accessible form that removes barriers to access and provokes thought and action.

Role Summary.

As a QA Reviewer at Roots Academy, you'll work closely with Regional Leads and the QA team to help maintain and raise the quality of teaching across our programmes. Your role is to support our instructors by regularly observing lessons, offering constructive feedback, and encouraging their continued growth and development.

Your input will help ensure that students benefit from lessons that are clear, engaging, and rooted in sound educational practice.

Key tasks

· Observe lessons via site visits or submitted video recordings throughout the semester.

· Use standardised forms to assess lesson quality and highlight key strengths and areas that could be improved.

· Offer honest and practical feedback, using real examples to guide instructors toward better practice.

· Work alongside Regional Leads to deliver feedback at set points in the semester and support instructor development conversations.

· Attend feedback meetings and take notes to track progress and follow-up actions.

· Recommend helpful activities for instructors, such as shadowing experienced colleagues, team teaching, or reviewing their own lessons.

· Keep track of instructors needing additional support by scheduling follow-up visits or reviewing new lesson recordings.

· Make sure feedback is received, understood, and followed up with clear next steps.

· Raise any serious concerns or ongoing issues with the Regional Lead or relevant team members.

What we’re looking for

· Background in teaching, mentoring, or classroom observation.

· A supportive but honest approach to giving feedback.

· Good understanding of what makes a lesson effective and engaging.

· Confident communicator with good organisation skills.

· Able to work both independently and as part of a wider team.

· Respectful of diverse backgrounds and familiar with Islamic learning settings.

What we have to offer

· Be part of a team of 100+ dedicated volunteers across the UK, Ireland, Canada, US, UAE and Australia.

· Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform.

· Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.

· Receive in-house tarbiyah sessions to develop your deen.

Please note this is an unpaid volunteer position.

Volunteers are entitled to claim expenses incurred for food, travel and equipment, in line with our Expenses policy.

Since 2002, we’ve delivered a structured, high-impact, programme of mentoring, a paid internship, skills masterclasses, and workplace visits for young people from under-represented backgrounds.

Our programme empowers them with new-found skills, confidence, aspirations, and support networks, boosting their life outcomes. It also enables employers to engage with and shape future talent, adding value to their organisation, and make a positive difference in their local communities.

​

Our values

Our people are committed and passionate about changing the lives of young people. Our organisational values underpin how we work and are at the core of everything we do.:

· Trust

· Bravery

· Collaboration

· Empowerment

· Inclusion

We have 40 colleagues across the UK, and strong collaboration across a remote working environment is critical to our success. We champion flexibility and wellbeing, and strive to be a positive place work, both in terms of our mission and our culture.

Our impact and growth

Across the UK in 2024 we supported 4,238 young people across our two programme cohorts, with 4,395 volunteers supporting them. We worked with 374 employers to provide mentors and summer internships in 2024 and have 194 school and college partners. 

Thanks to the support of our network, we’re able to have the following impact for young people:

· 99% of programme graduates go into higher education, apprenticeships or work

· 90% of students said they felt more confident than before the programme

· Career Ready alumni have a professional network twice the size of their non-programme peers

· 90% of students rated their career skills a strength following their paid internship

Following a challenging couple of years in the charity sector and wider economy, we have just closed the 2024/25 financial year in a more positive position. We are set to embark on a new 2025-30 strategy which focuses around 4 key pillars:

· Income sustainability

· Digital enablement and adoption

· UK programme alignment

· People & Culture

We are looking for further brilliant people to join our Board of Trustees and help us excel our new strategic focus.

About the role

Role purpose

As a Trustee you will make a significant contribution to creating empowering opportunities for young people from under-represented backgrounds. 

The role of the Trustee is to ensure that Career Ready is carrying out its purpose, as set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association, and that it complies with the law.

Trustees must always act in the best interests of Career Ready, with reasonable care and skill, whilst also ensuring it is accountable.  They must also ensure that Career Ready manages its’ resources effectively and sets the forward direction of the organisation.

Main responsibilities and accountabilities

· Ensuring that Career Ready functions within the legal and financial requirements of a Charitable Company

· Account for the work of Career Ready to Companies House, The Charity Commission, OSCR, funders

· Managing risks, protecting assets (reputation) and people 

· Ensuring that Career Ready strives to achieve best practice in all aspects of its work

· Determining the overall policy and direction of the Charity

· Fixing the annual budgets and approving accounts

· Recognising and dealing with conflicts of interest

· Appointing the Chief Executive Officer when required

· Agreeing strategic and work plans

· Collaborating with members of the senior management team in the development of strategic plans 

· Hearing membership appeals against the decisions of the Chief Executive Officer

· Ensuring that Career Ready maintains and complies with a policy of equal opportunities in respect of staff, members and stakeholders

· Act as a champion and ambassador for the work of Career Ready 

Person Specification

We are looking for 3-4 Trustees who have:

· A commitment to the mission of Career Ready

· An understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship

· Integrity

· Sound judgement

· Strategic vision

· A willingness to contribute ideas and challenge

· Willingness to actively participate in developing the senior leadership team through sharing of skills and expertise 

As part of this recruitment exercise, we aspire to have greater Trustee representation from the following sectors/areas of expertise:

· Digital/technology/systems

· Comms/marketing

· Fundraising

· Finance

· Government/Policy

· Operations

In addition, we welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented groups, to align with the diverse range of young people we serve, for example, lived experience of social mobility.

Commitment

We’re looking for trustees who aren’t just interested—they’re invested. Our ambitions are big, and we need people who have the capacity and motivation to engage with us in achieving these.

At least four meetings per year plus AGM.  Usually held in person in London/other locations with opportunity to join remotely. 

Up to three-year initial term. 

Invitation to join Career Ready team at annual All-Colleague event. 

Encouraged to support and participate in Career Ready events.

Opportunities to join and influence other projects and governance committees.

Timetable

Applications close at 5pm on Thursday 31st July.

Please note that the closing date may be brought forward if we receive strong applications.