Volunteering volunteer roles

                    While gaining invaluable experience, practice your passion within real-life scenarios. 

We’re looking for Social Media Manager volunteers to join our team, who will play a key role in the growth of our brand messages and visions. The ideal candidate will assist us grow our on-line presence and increase traffic to our digital channels.

Responsibilities
Increase traffic to our digital channels
Grow our brand messages, visions and on-line presence.

Requirements
Working experience with online digital marketing & Social Media
Strong verbal, written, and organisational skills.
Enthusiastic, Dedicated and willing to learn.

The role could be entirely remote and is unremunerated but all reasonable expenses will be met.

About TESYouth
TESYouth (Training, Employment Opportunities & Social Development for Youth) is a NFP social enterprise which focuses on improving the rate of youth employment, through volunteering, interactive and skill-based workshops, work-experience and training programmes. Together with our strategic partners, we collaborate with organisations to provide youth to develop their skills, and to assist in achieving their career aspirations.

Bright Futures UK is looking for compassionate and knowledgeable career guidance and advice professionals to mentor young people living with serious illnesses.

What will you be doing?

• Run six mentoring sessions online

• Offer advice and insights related to CV and career goals

• Help the young person explore potential next steps after education and career pathways

• Share your own experiences and knowledge to inspire and motivate.

What are we looking for?

• Expertise in Careers Guidance: Profound knowledge and experience in advising young people about their futures, with a focus on areas like pathways into a career and CV support.

• Mentoring and Communication: Ability to mentor effectively, offering guidance and support to a young person with clarity and empathy.

• Flexibility and Commitment: Willingness to commit to 6 weeks of 1-hour sessions

What difference will you make?

• By volunteering as a Mentor, you’ll play a vital role in empowering a young person to take control of their health and future, helping them to achieve their goals despite the challenges they face.

Location:Remote

Time commitment:Flexible

Duration:Approx. 2 months (flexible)

Start date:As soon as possible

Application deadline:01 July 2025

Our vision

At the International Companion Animal Management Coalition (ICAM), we're driving a global transformation in dog and cat welfare. Our focus is on free-roaming animals - those often labelled as strays or street dogs and cats.

With our global reach, credibility, and expertise, we're not just envisioning change - we're making it happen. Our approach is rooted in science, collaborating with leading academics to ensure our work is always evidence-led.

Through policy work, advocacy, and knowledge exchange, we're transforming lives, one paw at a time. Our coalition unites some of the world's most respected animal welfare organisations, including:

• Humane World for Animals
• RSPCA
• World Small Animal Veterinary Association
• World Animal Protection
• Four Paws
• Dogs Trust
• International Cat Care
• Global Alliance for Rabies Control
• Battersea

Together, we're creating a world where every companion animal lives a life worth living. 

About the Positive Cities campaign

Positive Cities is a new global initiative from ICAM, launched at UN-Habitat’s World Urban Forum in November 2024, to support cities in taking practical action for vulnerable street dogs and cats. By signing the Positive Cities pledge, city leaders commit to a series of steps that improve animal welfare, make communities safer, and support the wellbeing of both animals and people.

The campaign is still in its early stages – and its website is our gateway to the world.

The Opportunity

We’re looking for a Website Developer – Digital Volunteer with experience designing WordPress websites that work well on both mobile and desktop. An interest in international animal welfare is a bonus. You’ll help us redesign and improve the PositiveCities webiste, shaping how the campaign is presented to governments, NGOs, and the public around the world.

Whether you’re a student, early-career professional, amateur developer, or someone more experienced, this is a chance to use your skills to make a real impact – and to take creative ownership of a live, mobile- and web-friendly site with global reach.

Why ICAM

ICAM is a small but influential international coalition working to improve the lives of companion animals through collaboration, evidence-based policy, and practical support. This voluntary opportunity offers:

• A supportive and friendly environment with space to be creative.
• The chance to shape the look and feel of a campaign launched on the world stage.
• Flexibility – no fixed hours or expectations; you decide what time you can offer.
• Full reimbursement of any agreed expenses.
• Optional opportunities to explore other areas of ICAM’s work and access learning or training resources in areas such as advocacy, policy, communications, or animal welfare.

How to Apply 

Please send the following through the Charity Job recruitment portal:

• A CV (maximum 2 pages) highlighting your experience with WordPress and any previous digital/web projects.
• A short cover letter (maximum 1 page) telling us why this role interests you and what you could bring to it.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds – including students, early-career professionals, amateur developers, and experienced developers looking to build project experience.

If you’d like to ask a question before applying, feel free to get in touch with to Patrick Gerard at Patrick [at] icam-coalition [dot] org:

Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity 

ICAM recognises that companion animal welfare is a global concern that affects people from all walks of life. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of race, age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, marriage, or civil partnership. Our strength lies in the diversity of our coalition and the varied perspectives they bring to our mission.

Location

This is a remote voluntary role, so you can be based anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet connection.

About Us

Citizens Advice are the people’s champion. For 85 years, we’ve been working on issues that affect the whole of society to help to shape a society that’s fairer for everyone. No other advice service sees so many people with so many different kinds of problems, and that gives us a unique insight into the challenges people are facing today. By helping people with the underlying cause of their problems and helping to prevent them getting worse, we save the government and public services hundreds of millions of pounds every year.

Citizens Advice West Sussex (CAWS) works as part of the national network as an independent, local charity, and company limited by guarantee. The charity has annual income of circa £2.6 million and employs around 70 staff supported by 250 volunteers, working from six locations across the County.

Background to the roles

Our board currently comprises eight trustees who have served between two and eight years. The previous chair had been in-post for two years but has had to step back for personal reasons while remaining a trustee. Meanwhile, another trustee, Mike Jones, has taken on the interim Chair role.

Our Finance Trustee will have served six years in 2025 and would like to retire once a successor is in place and there has been time for handover.

Main Responsibilities

The role of the Finance Trustee is to oversee, approve and present budgets, accounts and financial statements as well as the preparation and presentation of financial reports to the board. in addition, ensure that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place and liaise with the CEO and her senior team about financial matters.

Person Specification

• A recognised financial qualification or equivalent knowledge gained by experience 
• The ability to take a strategic approach to financial planning and oversight and to help non-financial colleagues understand these
• Previous experience of charity finances and fundraising or a willingness and ability to gain this through training

Diversity and inclusion 

Our commitment is to promote equality through our services and workplace, aligned with National Citizens Advice’s aims. We aim to challenge discrimination through advice, champion equality through research and campaigns, and value diversity as an employer and volunteer agency.

How to apply

Eastside People is supporting Citizens Advice West Sussex in the recruitment of these roles. 

Please apply by submitting your CV and a cover letter (both in Word doc. format), which should indicate why you are interested in applying for the role and how you meet the selection criteria.

The closing date for applications is Monday 23rd June. Shortlisting interviews will take place shortly after and the two-stage interview process with Citizens Advice West Sussex will take place during the following weeks.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you. 

Are you passionate about supporting young people and giving back to your community? Whether you have experience in fundraising, governance, building corporate partnerships, or simply a willingness to get involved and make a difference – we’d love to hear from you!

We’re looking for enthusiastic and committed trustees to join our team and help shape the future of 2497 (Cosford) Squadron RAF Air Cadets.

About us

At 2497 (Cosford) Squadron, we’re proud to be part of the Royal Air Force Air Cadets, a national youth organisation that empowers young people aged 12 to 20 to develop leadership skills, resilience, and confidence through exciting opportunities like flying, adventure training, sports, and community service.

Our Civilian Welfare Committee plays a key role in supporting the squadron, overseeing governance, fundraising, and fostering partnerships that enable us to thrive. As a trustee, you’ll directly contribute to our cadets’ success, helping them grow into confident, capable young adults.

Why become a trustee?

Volunteering as a trustee isn’t just about helping others—it’s about growing yourself too.

✅ Develop new skills in leadership, governance, and fundraising.
✅ Make meaningful connections and become part of a supportive team.
✅ Enjoy personal fulfilment knowing you’re helping young people reach their potential.
✅ Shape the future of an organisation with a rich legacy and community impact.

We’ll work around your schedule and commitments, making it easy to balance volunteering with your family life, career, or other responsibilities.

What we’re looking for:

We welcome anyone who wants to get involved, but we’d be particularly excited to hear from those with experience in:

• Fundraising
• Governance and charity compliance
• Building corporate partnerships

You don’t need a military background, prior experience working with young people, or specific technical skills—just enthusiasm, reliability, and a passion for making a difference.

To join us, you’ll need to:

• Be 18 years or older
• Have lived in the UK for at least 3 years
• Attend a 2-hour meeting every three months
• Show patience, responsibility, and kindness

Typical joining process:

1️⃣ Submit an expression of interest.
2️⃣ Complete an online application if invited.
3️⃣ Undergo a DBS and basic security check as part of our safeguarding process.

The process typically takes a few weeks, depending on volunteer availability and checks.

Ready to make an impact?

If you’re excited to play a key role in supporting the next generation and helping our squadron thrive, we’d love to hear from you!

Asian MS is a national support group that offers tailored and culturally-sensitive services for Asian people with MS, their carers, friends and family. It's aimed at people whose heritage originates from South Asia.

As an Asian MS Community Engagement Volunteer you will the Group's local representative, helping us to find and attend events and reaching out to your local Asian MS community to raise awareness and extend the reach of the Group.

This role is very flexible, but there will be planning time (with your staff contact) and also attending events, meetings with networks and presentations. We would estimate the role taking no longer than 10 hours per month.

You’ll have support from a member of staff as well as a welcome and induction checklist which lists what resources are available to support you in your role.

As part of your role, you may have to complete some mandatory learning. Please refer to your welcome and induction checklist.

About you

Presentation Skills, confidence in speaking to new people, networking skills and the ability to influence would be fantastic. We would work to your strengths, however and some training will be available.

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

Apply

Read the role description

All applicants will be contacted within two weeks of their submission.

Pan African Women Empowerment Network (PAWEN)

PAWEN is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering African women with the competence, confidence, and connections they need to excel in business and leadership roles. Through tailored programs, mentorship, and a supportive community, PAWEN helps women thrive professionally and personally.

PAWEN addresses gender inequality and the underrepresentation of African women in leadership, business, and economic participation. Many African women face barriers such as limited access to resources, education, and networks, hindering their career and entrepreneurial growth.

PAWEN offers specialized programs, mentorship, and a supportive community that empowers women with the tools needed to thrive in their careers and entrepreneurial endeavours.

Join us in shaping a more inclusive future. By volunteering with PAWEN, you’ll help African women unlock their potential, while contributing to lasting social and economic change across the continent. Together, we can empower a generation of female leaders!

Communications & Content Strategist

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

Are you a storyteller with a passion for impact and a knack for creative tech? PAWEN (Pan African Women Empowerment Network) is a social enterprise committed to empowering African women to lead and succeed in business and careers. We're seeking a visionary Digital Content Creator to help us amplify the incredible stories of transformation and success emerging from our programs.

This pivotal role involves crafting engaging written content for our digital platforms, and also, curating and transforming our wealth of webinar videos into captivating, short-form snippets for social media. We're particularly keen on creativity and innovation in the use of AI tools to generate engaging video concepts and refine content. If you're skilled in turning raw footage into compelling narratives, leveraging AI for creative ideation, and are eager to showcase the real-world impact of empowering women across Africa, join us in shaping the future of women's leadership. Your creativity will directly contribute to inspiring and reaching a wider audience, demonstrating how PAWEN equips women with the competence, confidence, and connections to thrive.

Weekly Time Commitment

4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

3-5 months

Barefoot and Free is a small UK-based charity that gifts unforgettable staycations to families with neurodivergent children or children affected by trauma.

We are seeking creative and committed Volunteer Fundraisers to help us grow our small charity.

This is a remote volunteer role ideal for someone looking to use their creative fundraising knowledge to make a meaningful impact.

Role Overview
As a Volunteer Fundraiser at Barefoot and Free, you will be reuired to come up with fun ideas to fundraise, be able to engage people to fundraise and encourage new supporters.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, organise and execute virtual and in-person fundraising events (eg raffles, quizzes, sponsored challenges)
• Liase with fundraisng volunteers (eg sponsored runners etc)
• Ensure events run smoothly by preparing, schedules, materials and plans. 
• Act as a main point of contact for invividual fundraisers and teams
• Regukar communication to offer encouragement and guidence.
• Procatively check they have everything they need (eg fundraisng pack, marketing materials) 
• Create.design a central fundraising tracker (eg excel or similar) 
• Log all fundraising activities, targets, deadlines ad progress updates 
• Collaborate with the social media volunteers (if applicable) to amplify campaigns
• Support the recruitment of new fundraising volunteers

What You’ll Bring

• Clear friendly written and verbal communication
• Ability to confidently engage with fundraisers, donors and team members remotely
• Excellent time management and ability to co-ordinate multiple activities at once
• Structured approach to planning events and tracking fundraising progress
• Strong communication skills, self-motovated with the ability to work independently with minimum supervision
• A passion for charitable work and a willingness to contribute time and skills

Time Commitment
This is a flexible remote role. We ask for a commitment of 2 to 5 hours per week. We are happy to work around your availability.

What You’ll Gain

• A chance to use your skills for a good cause

• Hands-on experience in event planning, fundraising, and project coordination, ideal for CVs, job applications, or future charity roles.

• Remote, flexible volunteering that fits around your schedule — ideal for students, parents, or professionals looking to give back.

• Experience working in the charity sector

• Portfolio development and references on request
• Being part of a friendly supportive team making a difference

To apply please send a recent C.V along with a short note about yourself & with examples of any fundraising, event planning you have carried out.

We look forward to hearing from you.

EBAY COORDINATOR (CHARITY SHOP)

eBay Coordinator (RSPCA Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon & District Branch - based at the North Finchley Charity Shop & remote)

Are you an eBay top-rated seller? We are looking for volunteers skilled in online selling and photography to help turn donations into funds. You will have fun, contribute to making our eBay business a big success, and enable us to help more animals!

Overview of opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity if you are interested in collectables, researching unusual items, and love photographing objects to look their best! The time you dedicate would ensure that we made the most of the incredible donations to our charity shops, which means more funds can go towards our vital animal welfare work.

About the RSPCA

Founded in 1824 we have been saving animals for almost 200 years and are proud to be the oldest welfare charity around. It has always been our vision to live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion, so our volunteers and employees work tirelessly to ensure that all animals can live free from pain and suffering.

Our Charity Shops in East & North Finchley

Our shops play an essential role in raising the profile of the RSPCA in our local community and funds for our branch so that we can continue our vital animal welfare work. Our shops sell a mixture of donated items, including clothes, books, bric-a-brac and collectables, and a selection of new items.

Volunteer eBay Coordinator responsibilities

•  Researching and listing the items for sale in our dedicated eBay store.
•  A picture is worth 1,000 words so ensuring that attractive photographs are taken to boost eBay sales.
•  Packaging items appropriately before posting them to the buyer.
•  Maintaining accurate records of listed and sold items.

What we are looking for in a volunteer eBay Coordinator:

•  Ideally, you would have experience in selling items on eBay.
• Can create attractive listings for a wide variety of items.
•  Someone who is flexible and can offer an ongoing commitment.

What we can offer you as a volunteer eBay Coordinator

•  You will be making a massive difference to the welfare of the animals in your area.
• Join a community which will enable you to meet new people and make new friends.
•  Learning new skills through our comprehensive induction and training programme.
•  Enhance your CV by adding your volunteering experience and newly acquired skills.

If you’ve got the drive and compassion to volunteer with the RSPCA and are passionate about improving animal welfare, we’d love to hear from you!

Join us in making a real difference to the lives of animals in need.

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependent on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.

Do you want to share our passion for helping people to resolve their problems, and develop your leadership and strategic skills as a Board member in the process? Then we'd love to hear from you. Last year our team helped 6000 clients with over 93000 issues and demand is growing. 

Who are we?

We are part of the national Citizens Advice UK brand network, with a dedicated operational team of 40 staff and volunteers offering confidential advice to our community online, over the phone, and in person, free of charge. 

We are currently seeking a Trustee Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees to continue to deliver on our purpose and mission as a charity.

The role of a Trustee Treasurer

The Treasurer is a key Board member who is responsible for overseeing the Charity’s finances, and ensuring that fellow trustees can be confident that the Charity’s finances are used in the correct fashion and that the financial position of the organisation is secure. There is more detail about this on our website, including a Role Description, but in particular, alongside the general duties of a trustee, the role of Treasurer specifically involves

• Overseeing financial governance and strategy

• Working with our charity Finance Officer to ensure financial transparency; to develop and monitor realistic budgets and cash flow: and to maintain the charity’s financial sustainability

• Present financial data in an accessible format, and provide advice and guidance on financial matters, including risk, to the Board

• ensure that the organisation has an appropriate reserves policy 

• Lead our finance subcommittee

Who are we looking for?

You don’t need specific financial qualifications to be a Trustee Treasurer, but we are looking for someone with

• A strong background in finance

• a good understanding of the principles of sound financial management and strategic planning (essential)

• some knowledge or experience of charity finances, fundraising, financial consequences and pension schemes (useful)

• good numeracy skills to understand accounts

• an ability to explain complex financial information in an accessible way

What is in it for you?

We are looking for someone who enjoys working in a team with diverse experiences, opinions. and ideas to ensure that we make a positive difference to the communities we serve.

A personal testimonial below from our current Treasurer provides a great insight into the role;

“I learned so much in the first short months of my tenure as a Trustee it was very gratifying that I soon felt that I was contributing in a positive sense, not just to the activities of the Board but through them to the many clients who were benefiting directly from the support of the brilliant management , support workers and advisors working for the charity.

One of the most rewarding aspects is being part of a team of people jointly addressing a thorny problem, often from differing angles, utilising their full set of skills to arrive at a satisfactory resolution.

If you are in the process of building a career, finding a charity whose values you share, and supporting them as a Trustee Treasurer is an excellent opportunity to develop skills and expertise that can benefit you further along the line and to do something good for your community at the same time.” 

Here at Youth4Youth, we have grown a strong, tight-knit community of individuals who are passionate about making a difference and improving the lives of young people across the UK. Our growing team of volunteers all contribute, significantly, to the impact that we have as a charity on our direct beneficiaries, regardless of the department that they work in of the level of time that they are able to commit. Our services primarily offer a peer-support network to young people right across the UK, allowing them to access a peer mentor who is of a similar age to them and somebody that they feel more comfortable speaking with.

If successful, you will be joining a growing team of diverse, but likeminded individuals, collaborating to increase the reach of the Charity and improve support provisions available to young people. All of our volunteers and employees are remote workers, but that doesn't stop us keeping in touch and maintaining a strong positive culture amongst our whole team. 

About the role

Our Peer Mentors are at the forefront of our Youth Services delivery, tackling head on the issues that young people are facing everyday. As a Peer Mentor, you will engage with young people who reach out to Youth4Youth for support, taking time to coach and guide them through the difficulties that they are facing. This exciting opportunity, targeted at individuals who are between the ages of 16 and 25, provides young people with the space to directly impact and transform the lives of young people, significantly improving their overall wellbeing.

Ideal candidates are those who are able to commit to regular volunteering activity of at least 2 hours per week (on average) and who are able to comfortably communicate via written e-mail and other remote chat functionalities.

Responsibilities:

Your core responsibilities as a Peer Mentor at Youth4Youth include:

• Building strong, professional relationships with young people seeking mentoring support.
• Demonstrating commitment to the charity by regular volunteer engagement to maintain ongoing communication with young people (which includes responding to young people within an agreed and reasonable time frame).
• Providing light support, advice and guidance to young people in relation to the troubles that they are facing, in line with the resources provided to you by the charity.
• Maintaining professional boundaries with young people and not seeking to offer support beyond your capability that may put a young person at risk.
• Maintaining regular contact with your Youth4Youth supervisor, with the expectation that you will meet at least once per month for a supervision session that involves reflective practice and a focus on your development as a mentor.
• Providing support as part of our Peer Mentor network to colleagues across the Charity who are also directly supporting young people.
• Maintaining compliance with all policies. Most importantly this means maintaining the right level of confidentiality around your conversations with young people and recognising your safeguarding responsibilities in raising concerns as they arise to keep young people safe.

Peer Mentors are also actively encouraged to get involved in fundraising, outreach and social media activities where they feel comfortable and able to.

Skills 

• Strong written communication skills, such as being able to effectively compose a written e-mail in response to a young person.
• Ability to build strong, professional relationships and maintain trust between yourself and a young person, such as through active listening and adapting to the individual needs of different young people.
• Ability to demonstrate empathy to others.
• Ability to work in a challenging environment and recognise when you may need support yourself.
• Proficient in the use of IT tools, such as Microsoft Outlook.

Our mission is to continue to grow towards becoming one of the best charities in the UK. Our aim is to do this by building a diverse team, rich with different backgrounds and perspectives. Therefore, even if you feel you only are a 75% match, we would still love to hear from you. Skills can be learned, but diversity cannot.

Skills development for you:

As a Peer Mentor at Youth4Youth, you will be required to take part and graduate our Youth Services Academy. This program requires an upfront commitment of 10 - 13 hours of training prior to taking on the role of communicating with young people. This investment in you not only equips you with the understanding of what it takes to be a successful peer mentor, and the skills that you will need, but also is an investment in you. This training will provide you with core soft skills that are transferrable to many opportunities, whether that's in everyday life for you, your education setting or your place of work. All Mentors graduating from the Youth Services Academy will be provided with an electronic certificate to demonstrate your successful completion of the program, which can be shared with potential employers.

Benefits of volunteering with Youth4Youth

We recognise that you will be joining us and giving your time as an 'in-kind' donation, but there must be benefits for you too. When joining our team, you will be open to the following benefits:

• Professional and personal development opportunities in a variety of skill areas through volunteering in real roles. This may be general development or tailored to your specific needs or ambitions
• Becoming a member of a strong network of likeminded individuals, spread across the UK, who you can connect with and collaborate with both within and outside of the Charity
• Access to bespoke discounts, specifically designed for non-profit workers and Youth4Youth volunteers
• Opportunities to truly shape the future of the Charity, having a direct influence over the impact that Youth4Youth has on its direct beneficiaries

The hiring process:

Unlike other roles at Youth4Youth, the hiring process has been simplified for peer mentors, recognising the demographic of individuals that we are seeking to fill these positions. To put you at ease, the hiring process includes:

• An initial application, stating your reasons for wishing to become a Peer Mentor
• A remote interview conducted via Microsoft Teams

Successful candidates at this stage will be invited into the final stage of the recruitment process which includes:

• Satisfactory references being received (these do not need to be employment references)
• A satisfactory DBS check being received
• Successful completion of the Youth Services Academy

Our core Befriending Project supports people who are socially isolated in Ealing and Hounslow. They may have a physical or sensory disability, or they may have mild dementia, and are sometimes housebound.

This is an opportunity to become a Befriender.

On successful completion of the training, Befrienders are matched with someone who lives close to them.

They make a weekly 1-2 hour visit to the client's home, where they might stay in and chat over a cup of tea or, where possible, go out for a walk together, visit a cafe or undertake a local activity.

These visits make such a difference for the client, but volunteering with BEfriend not only enriches the lives of those who are isolated, it also offers immense personal rewards.

As a Befriender, you’ll get to know inspirational people with fascinating stories, develop new skills and be part of a supportive team that values compassion and connection.

The Northern Devon Branch are in need of new committee members and specifically a Branch Secretary. 

The committee plan and coordinate various activities for people affected by Parkinson's across a wide area of North Devon. Activities range from exercise to social get togethers, coffee mornings and trips.

Committee members are expected to try and attend monthly meetings in the Bideford area and to contribute to group discussion and decision making. 

The secretary role entails communicating details of planned activities with our members via email or post and providing communication and admin support to the Chair of the branch. Other committee members manage the newsletter, memberships, social media and meeting agenda and minutes so this is not an extensive role but it is important and keeps members up to date with activities and any notices.

You will be volunteering as part of a team for Parkinson's UK and will be supported by a local staff contact and the rest of the committee. 

If you are interested in giving something back in your local community and supporting the lives of people affected by Parkinson's we would really love to hear from you. 

About Us

My Black Dog is a charity that offers anonymous, peer to peer mental health support through our web-chat service. We are committed to making a positive impact on mental health in the UK as we tackle an epidemic that millions of people face.

We were founded on the motto "talk to someone who gets it". We want to connect people who share lived experiences to provide an empathetic, non-judgmental space where everybody understands how it feels to experience mental health struggles.

Position Overview

Our web-chat service is run by our Volunteer Pack, each of whom have their own lived experience of mental health challenges. In addition, each shift has a 'Leader' and a 'Mentor'. These are Volunteers who carry out specific roles during the shift and, together, ensure its success:

• Leaders - Managers of the shift. There to ensure the shift runs as it should. They support and guide Volunteers through chats and follow safeguarding processes when an alert is raised. They escalate safeguarding alerts to the shift’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (a trained professional). They also complete a 'Shift Handover' document once the shift is completed.
• Mentors - There to support and guide Volunteers through chats. Will take over from the Leader if there are safeguarding issues that need the Leader's attention and/or if the Leader needs a break.

As My Black Dog looks to expand our opening hours, we are looking to recruit additional Leaders who can run shifts and provide cover when necessary.

Leaders will be assigned a shift based on your availability and preference. The expectation is that Leaders and Mentors will form a ‘pair’ and, together, will do one shift at the same time each week. This is to provide stability, predictability and to encourage community-building between Volunteers. Shifts are usually 3 hours long. We may ask you to cover another shift when we are short, but you will never do more than 6 hours per week.

Training will be provided and you will be supported on shift by a Designated Safeguarding Lead, who will manage all safeguarding issues.

The work you will do as Leaders will ensure we provide the best possible service to our Guests. You will also be helping our Volunteer Pack to do what we do best: helping those in need by speaking to someone who 'gets it'.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for people who have experienced their own journey with mental health and are in a strong position to support others. We ask that our Leaders:

• Are strongly committed to helping others
• Have experienced mental health issues in order to relate to those seeking help
• Are collaborative and enjoy working with others
• Are encouraging and supportive
• Are organised and can monitor several things at once
• Can remain calm and focused during busy times and when safeguarding alerts are raised
• Are 18 years and over 
• Can commit the time to a regular weekly shift

We are particularly interested in hearing from people who are available to run a shift on the following days/hours:

• Monday to Sunday, 5pm-7pm
• Thursday to Saturday, 7pm-10pm

Role Responsibilities

1. Supervise and support Volunteers whilst on shift with general enquiries, positive feedback and signposting.
2. Assist with general volunteering enquiries whilst on shift. Provide time for guidance, instruction and de-briefing for Volunteers if required.
3. Follow Leaders processes including unexpected absence reporting, Volunteer check-in and check-out, and completing Shift Handovers.
4. Monitor web-chat conversations and ensure all chats are tagged.
5. Maintain ability to listen, remain calm and provide intervention if necessary.
6. Be able to have difficult and often complex conversations about mental health, including Guests experiencing crisis and first-stage intervention support.
7. Work alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) when safeguarding risks are identified.
8. Exercise discretion in handling confidential situations and information, conveying sensitive information in a timely manner to necessary individuals.
9. Provide written follow up of shifts via handover, ensuring all necessary information is handed over at the end of the shift.
10. Adhere to all standards, policies and procedures of My Black Dog.

Please note: An Enhanced DBS Certificate is required for this role. If you do not have one, My Black Dog will arrange the DBS Check for you.

www.myblackdog.co