Volunteers volunteer roles in elland, west yorkshire

Team: Family Support Team

Location: The Square, 8 Woodhouse Square, Leeds, LS3 1AD

Time commitment: 1 day per week 9am – 4pm (flexibility as to which day it is)

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About Candlelighters

Each year, over 150 children in Yorkshire are diagnosed with cancer. When a child is diagnosed, lives are turned upside down instantly: not just for the child but the entire family. Getting well again can be a long and challenging journey, emotionally, physically, and financially.

Supporting children and families throughout that journey is why our charity, Candlelighters, was formed more than 40 years ago. Our mission is to bring light to every family affected by childhood cancer across Yorkshire by providing emotional, practical and financial support, as well as bringing hope, by investing in vital research to improve the outcomes and lives of children with cancer.

Purpose of the Role and Key Activities

The Family Support Office Volunteer provides administrative and practical help to the Family Support Team, who play a key role in running events and groups and providing support to our families across Yorkshire.

· Recording and updating information on our database.

· Reviewing and updating support resources.

· Corresponding with families, supporters and potential volunteers.

· Answering the phone, transferring calls and taking messages.

· Making phone-calls to confirm appointments, speak to event attendees etc

· Analysing questionnaire feedback.

· Making up new patient bags.

· Sending out invitations.

· Helping to prepare resources, merchandise and equipment for events.

· Stock taking and alerting the team when merchandise needs restocking.

· Franking letters and parcels.

· Providing occasional cover for Front of House (answering the door to families and supporter, making coffees, answering phones, taking messages).

· Providing administrative support.

· Assisting other teams within the charity with tasks and activities as required.

· Maintaining professional boundaries at all times.

· Adhering to Candlelighters’ policies and procedures.

We are looking for a volunteer who:

· Are confident, friendly and approachable

· Have a fun and positive outlook

· Is confident on word and excel

· Can work well and remain calm under pressure

· Are proactive and able to use own initiative

· Are hardworking, reliable and organised

· Are able to move furniture (tables and chairs) and boxes

· Are able to climb multiple flights of stairs

· Are able to maintain professional boundaries and follow Candlelighters Policies and Procedures.

As a children’s charity it is essential that we safeguard our families, employees, supporters and volunteers. You will be asked about unspent conditional cautions and convictions on your application form and the nature of the caution or conviction will determine whether you are able to volunteer for us or not.

 This role is subject to an enhanced criminal record check, which is processed through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Support and Benefits

You can expect:

· Induction & training to give you the confidence to perform your role well and to the best of your ability

· Opportunity to develop new and existing skills to help you beyond your involvement with Candlelighters

· Ongoing support from the Family Support and HR and Volunteering teams

· The opportunity to meet lots of new, friendly people

· Travel expenses reimbursed as agreed with your Volunteer Supervisor, in accordance with our Expenses policy

· Regular reviews with your Volunteer Supervisor to help you develop in your role

· Satisfaction in knowing you are making a valuable contribution to supporting children and families affected by childhood cancer

· We can be a reference once you’ve volunteered for three months

· Access to the MINDFUL EMPLOYER+ 24/7 mental health helpline

· Charity Worker Discount card

· Access to The Company Shop

We are recognised by Great Place To Work® on multiple Best Workplaces Lists in 2023 and 97% of our employees say Candlelighters is a great place to work!

At MS Society all our activities and services are shaped by our MS community – people affected by MS, volunteers, staff and other experts. We aim to raise as much awareness as possible about MS, to ensure that people with MS have the support and information they need.

We've been successful in securing funding from Wales and West Utilities for a 'test and learn' Community Connections project (covering Wales and the South West of England) which will run until March 2026. 

Community Connections aims to: 

• Connect people with, and affected by, MS across Wales and the South West of England (Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire) with services, activities and resources to enable them to live well with MS.
• Develop links with local service providers which enable people with, and affected by, MS to access support and activities in their local areas, whilst improving connections within the community
• Provide information and guidance on a range of subjects, including advice about finances, cost of living-related information, energy efficiency information, carbon monoxide awareness and the Priority Service Register. 

As part of the project, we’re looking for volunteers to deliver MS Awareness sessions to partner organisations that the project will signpost to (such as Citizens Advice Bureau). MS Awareness volunteers will help us to ensure that these partner organisations are equipped to support people with MS (who will be accessing their activities and services). To help people to understand how people with MS feel.

Here’s an overview of what will be involved - 

• Delivering talks (via Zoom/Teams) to organisations to increase their understanding of MS and its symptoms. 

• Signposting to the relevant MS Society team for further information and practical support, as required.

• Note taking and helping us understand how effective sessions were 

• Attending regular volunteer support groups, where you will debrief and share experiences with other volunteers, as well as receive support from your supervisor.

We will support you to develop the skills you need for this role which will include an induction into all the areas outlined. You will have a chance to discuss your role and any additional needs you may have with us.

Yorkshire Cat Rescue - Charity Shop Volunteer

Why Join? Combine cat rescue support with community interaction in our vibrant charity shops!

Aims & Expectations:

Raise funds through retail, create friendly shopper experiences.

Tasks & Responsibilities:

Sorting donations, pricing, serving customers, housekeeping, restocking.

Role Boundaries:

No pricing beyond guidelines; no handling cash totals alone. No pressure to carry out all aspects of shop keeping - you choose what tasks you are happy and comfortable doing (i.e. manning the till, sorting and preparing donations for the shop floor, replenishing stock on the shop floor, helping design the window displays to enhance our customers’ experience).

Key Policies: Retail health & safety, cash handling, customer service principles.

Role Support: Report to the Shop Manager, induction and training provided.

There are always friendly and approachable staff members on site that will assist volunteers in everything they do.

Expenses: Pre-approved travel reimbursed with receipts.

Success Measures:

Neat store, sales targets met, smiley customers.

Location & Hours:

We have shops in Skipton, Brighouse, and Halifax.

Flexible shifts to suit individuals.

Behaviour & Adherence to code of conduct. Smart casual clothes, volunteer badge

Dress: comfortable shoes.

Skills & Specs: Essential - friendly, reliable, willingness to follow instructions.

Desirable - retail experience.

Mission Fit: The Yorkshire Cat Rescue shops exist to support the charity, with all profits going directly to cat care and welfare. By helping in one of our shops, you are helping cats in need.

We’re committed to giving you:

● Inclusivity – All welcome, regardless of background.

● Flexibility – Fitting volunteering around your life.

● Impact – Seeing cats thrive.

● Connection – With cats, staff, and other volunteers.

● Balance – No overcommitment - just what suits you.

● Fun – Builds positive memories and relationships.

● Voluntary Choice – You choose your level of involvement.

● Meaning – Aligned with your values and passions.

Other Opportunities

In addition to the role above, Yorkshire Cat Rescue has a range of volunteer opportunities available. It’s also possible to combine some volunteer roles. Ask a member of staff for further information about other areas of the charity you can get involved in.

Ready to Join Us?

If you are wanting to volunteer in a specific shop, please feel free to pop in for a chat.o

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

About Long Covid Support

Long Covid Support is a UK-based charity providing peer support, information, and advocacy for people living with Long Covid. We also campaign for better recognition, research, and care.

What will you be doing (role overview)?:

We’re looking for an experienced Volunteer Website Manager to maintain and develop our online presence. You’ll ensure our website is accurate, accessible, user-friendly, and aligned with our brand. The role involves regular updates to content, troubleshooting basic technical issues, and working with the team to improve user experience.

What are we looking for (about you)?

• Experience: Minimum 3–5 years’ professional experience managing websites, ideally with WordPress or a similar CMS.
• Knowledge: Strong understanding of accessibility best practices and SEO principles.
• Technical Skills: Experience with basic image editing and formatting for web.
• Personal Qualities: Ability to work independently, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Approach: Comfortable managing updates and improvements with minimal supervision.
• Application requirement: Please include links to 2–3 websites you have managed or worked on, along with a brief description of your role in each.

What difference will you make:

• The opportunity to take ownership of the digital front door for a national health charity.
• Experience delivering high-quality online content that directly benefits our community.
• Flexible, remote volunteering alongside a collaborative and supportive team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Update and maintain website content, structure, and functionality.
• Upload new resources, blog posts, and campaign materials.
• Optimise pages for accessibility, SEO, and usability.
• Troubleshoot basic technical issues, liaising with developers when needed.
• Implement design and content improvements in collaboration with the team.

Equal ops statement:

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We provide equal opportunities for all, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. We actively encourage applications from all individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of Long Covid.

Proxy by IWI Overview
The mission of Proxy by IWI is to provide and encourage an engaged, thoughtful feminist response to mainstream media,
popular culture, legal discord and advocacy.

To be published daily on the web, Proxy by IWI is ambitious, distinctive journalism about the people, ideas, laws and institutions that matter most from a feminist perspective - and beyond. Featuring hard-hitting original reporting as well as smart analysis, provocative argument, and first-person perspectives.

Principal Responsibilities
• Maintain a comprehensive overview of trends and developments on women's human rights globally;
• Must be able to submit a minimum of two (2) articles a month for publication, avg 600-800 words;
• Verify accuracy of facts and obtain supplemental material and additional details from files, reference libraries, and
interviews with knowledgeable sources;
• Organise material and report conforming to specified length, style, and format requirements;
• Interview people in a range of different circumstances as needed;
•Build contacts to maintain a flow of news, for example, police and emergency services, local council, community groups, health trusts, press officers from a variety of organisations, the general public, etc;
• Work closely with the Proxy team to produce concise and accurate copy according to our house style; 
• Research and write feature articles, sometimes for subsidiary publications and supplements;
• Create news content for the Proxy by IWI website.

Requirements
• 4+ years' experience in research and /or reporting;
•Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills, and the ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Flexibility, initiative, and good problem-solving abilities;
• Multicultural experience and sensitivity to cross-cultural differences;
• Desire to work in a women's human rights environment;
• Strong listening skills;
• Excellent writing ability, including the ability to write in different styles and to other people's direction;
• Good analytical skills to gain an accurate understanding of the subject in question;
• Organisational ability to manage multiple projects, often to tight deadlines;
• Creative approach, both in coming up with ideas for new projects and for getting a message across innovatively; 
• Good attention to detail, including the ability to proof-read your own work;
• Excellent written English skills.
 

Do you enjoy organising things and making this happen?

Are you able to volunteer a few hours a week?

Yes? We’d love to hear from you.

We’re looking for admin volunteers to help with our daily operations.  We have a variety of ways you can get involved:

• Responding to client requests and enquiries
• Fundrasing and partnership management
• Managing and updating company databases
• Keeping track of partnership enquiries
• Maintaining internal, volunteer, and client records
• Drafting and mailing client correspondence and newsletters
• Organising events, scheduling meetings, and making travel arrangements
• Providing administrative support to other departments or projects as needed
• Performing other duties as agreed in advance

We’ve designed our volunteering programme to be flexible and adaptive to you.  All volunteering is 100% remote and you’re supported fully by our team.  You control what you do and how many hours per week you want to volunteer.  Some roles may require an Enhanced DBS check. If your application is successful, we will ask for a donation towards the cost of your enhanced DBS check if it's required for your role. This cost is £20.60.

Here’s some further information on what’s needed:

Are you over 18 and living in the UK?

You must be over the 18 years of age and live permanently in the UK.  You must be a UK resident to apply for this role.

Do you have a laptop?

A laptop and a quiet space to volunteer is essential.

How much time can you give?

A minimum of 2 hours per week is required. We are flexible and like to work around you.

Training

We provide CPD accredited training with 3 short courses needing to be completed prior starting your volunteer role.  After, you’ll have access to over 90 accredited courses should you want to study further.

Position Title: Event Volunteer (Dewsbury area)

Location: Dewsbury and Surrounding Areas

Reports To: Event Coordinator/Volunteer Manager

About Us

Suicide Awareness Prevention UK (SAPUK) is a dedicated, non-profit Community Interest Company (CIC), established in 2016, focused on providing support to individuals dealing with suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Our goal is to guide people from distress toward hope, helping them regain the strength to live their lives to the fullest.

Job Summary:

As an Event Volunteer, you will assist in the smooth execution of [Event Name], ensuring all participants, attendees, and staff have a positive experience. This role is crucial to the success of the event and will involve a variety of tasks, including guest assistance, setup, and teardown, registration support, and crowd management.

Key Responsibilities:

Event Setup:

Help with setting up event spaces, booths, and signage.

Assist in arranging furniture, decorations, and equipment.

Guest Registration: 

Welcome attendees and check them in at the registration desk.

Distribute event materials, such as badges, programs, or giveaways.

Assisting Attendees:

Provide directions and information to event participants.

Help guests find their way to sessions, presentations, or activities.

Crowd Control & Monitoring:

Help manage the flow of people during the event, ensuring safety and order.

Monitor the event space to ensure cleanliness and organization.

Support Event Staff: 

Assist the event team with any other tasks as needed (e.g., coordinating speakers, distributing materials).

Event Teardown: 

Assist with the breakdown of event spaces and equipment.

Help in packing and organizing materials after the event concludes.

Skills & Qualifications:

Positive attitude and strong communication skills.

Ability to work in a team and take direction.

Punctual and reliable.

Flexible and adaptable to changes or last-minute requests.

Previous experience with events (preferred but not required).

Benefits for Volunteers:

Gain experience in event coordination and hospitality.

Free event entry and access to specific event activities.

Certificate of appreciation or volunteer hours (if applicable).

Networking opportunities with professionals and participants.

Training and development 

Benefits Package

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

Join the pack. Lend a hand. Change lives. Join your local fundraising group as a volunteer.

Are you looking for a volunteering opportunity where you can meet new people and raise funds that will change lives?  Join a Guide Dogs group near you for fun, fundraising and four-legged friends.

Did you know it costs £102,000 to raise, train, and support a guide dog from birth to retirement.

We have a range of roles from being a group member, to taking on a lead role such as Group Coordinator, Deputy Coordinator, Treasurer, Merchandise Coordinator or Collection Box Coordinator.

Why become a fundraising volunteer:

As well as making a huge difference to people’s lives, volunteering with your local Guide Dogs fundraising group is a great way to spend some of your free time and give back.

• Inspire people to support Guide Dogs and make a difference to someone with sight loss.
• Have fun finding new events and places to volunteer at.
• You’ll meet lots of special dogs – from young puppies in training to incredible guide dogs in partnership.
• You’ll empower others to get involved with Guide Dogs.
• You’ll learn new skills and we’ll provide all the training you need for your role.
• You can take on as much or as little as you want, and you can fit the role around your other commitments.

Who you are:

We appreciate our volunteers’ passion and energy, but we also value your unique skills, perspectives and personalities.

• Inspire others: Do you have lots of ideas that could motivate others? We need more inspirational volunteer leaders and fundraisers who can bring their energy and unique perspective to our local fundraising groups.

• Bring your skills: Could you help organise a calendar of events, take care of ordering merchandise, or count the funds raised by your local team? We need more volunteer treasurers, secretaries, and merchandise coordinators to support our fundraising groups.

• Help take Guide Dogs into your community: Are you well connected or do you love going to new places and meeting new people? We need more volunteer fundraisers to help at our events and spread the word about our work.

Training and pre-agreed expenses available.

Visit our webiste to see what roles are available where you live. 

Every child deserves the chance to succeed, regardless of their background. Action Tutoring is a charity dedicated to closing the attainment gap and creating a more equitable future for young people.

We're building a diverse community of tutors passionate about educational equity. We are seeking dedicated volunteers from all walks of life to tutor and support pupils facing socio-economic disadvantage in maths and English.

As a volunteer tutor, you’ll:

• Tutor a group of 1-3 pupils (primary or secondary), with options to support online or in-person.

• Dedicate just one hour a week for a 10-20 week programme.

We provide the resources - you bring your enthusiasm! You’ll use our workbooks to deliver your sessions.

Whether you're a university student, a working professional, retired or simply looking to give back, your hour a week can open doors to brighter futures for these young people and make a lasting impact.

What you'll gain:

• Comprehensive training (2-hour induction, technical training for online tutors, optional further skills training).

• Ongoing support from your dedicated programme coordinator.

• Structured session plans and workbooks.

• Travel expense reimbursement (up to £5 per session).

• Free DBS check.

• Optional tutor socials and buddy system.

We look for volunteers with:

• Solid subject knowledge in the area they wish to tutor, which may be demonstrated by a degree or grade B at A-level qualification (or equivalent) or relevant experience.

• The ability to explain concepts clearly and patiently.

• A commitment to supporting pupils’ academic progress.

We recognise that valuable experience can be gained through diverse routes. If your qualifications differ from those mentioned, we still encourage you to apply. Please highlight any relevant experience or skills in your application.

We welcome applications from volunteers across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. (Please note: This is a volunteer, unpaid position.)

Our programmes run during term time, and you can sign up at ay time throughout the year.

Our volunteers say:

" The Action Tutoring team has been fabulous in their support: timely updates, always available, closely following progress, and ready to intervene where needed, very professional indeed!"

"Volunteering is very rewarding. I would say the skills that one develops from teaching the pupils are transferable to any walk of life and make you a better person. I would highly recommend it."

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

What you’ll do

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

What you’ll get

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

What we’ll need from you

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

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

Who’s right for the role?

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

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

Why volunteer with us?

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

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

OVERVIEW

Title: Volunteer Opportunity: Leadership Training Programs Department

Reports to: Director, Leadership Training Programs

Classification: Volunteer

ABOUT WOMEN’S WORLD BANKING 

About 1 billion women remain excluded from the formal financial system. Women’s World Banking researches, designs, and invests in financial solutions, institutions, and policy environments in emerging markets to create greater economic security and prosperity for women, their families, and their communities. 

The Women’s World Banking Institute is a hub for research, training, and capacity-building dedicated to advancing women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment worldwide. Through research, learning opportunities, and convenings, we help equip financial service providers, policymakers, and partners with insights and tools to take evidence-based action. 

VOLUNTEERING WITH US 

We welcome volunteers who are interested in supporting our Leadership Training Programs. Volunteers may be invited to contribute in areas such as maintaining alumni engagement lists, helping with session planning, or providing general support to ongoing knowledge-sharing efforts. This is a flexible, short-term opportunity to gain exposure to the work of an international non-profit organization while contributing to initiatives that promote women’s financial inclusion and leadership development.

POSSIBLE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES 

Volunteers may be involved in one or more of the following types of activities, depending on their skills and interests: 

• Collecting and organizing information related to financial inclusion and leadership training. 
• Assisting with light research on leadership trends, case studies, or best practices. 
• Helping to organize and maintain internal knowledge resources. 
• Contributing ideas to strengthen participant engagement in training programs. 

HOW TO EXPRESS INTEREST 

Please share the following: 

• A short statement of interest describing why you’d like to volunteer with us and your general availability. 
• Your resume or brief overview of relevant background. 
• Contact information for one or two references. 

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning September 15, 2025. 

Please note: This is an unpaid volunteer role and is not considered employment. Participation is entirely voluntary and does not create an employment relationship with Women’s World Banking. 

Timeframe: Flexible (any 3-month period)

About us: GT Scholars is a charitable social enterprise that tackles educational inequality by giving ambitious young people the support, skills and strategies they need to achieve aspirations. We run a wide range of programmes that help young people achieve their academic and career aspirations, particularly those from less-privileged backgrounds. 

What makes us different? We run tutoring, mentoring & career insight programmes that help our scholars, aged 11-18, discover their strengths, develop their mindsets and design their own futures.

There are many charitable organisations and social enterprises offering programmes to improve the life chances of young people. 

However, our programmes use a unique 3:1 model which means that we’re able to sustainably use our profits to provide additional places on our programmes, to young people from low income homes. 

We believe that all young people are gifted and talented, regardless of their background. 

Our mission is to empower and develop the next generation of leaders and change-makers and we’re looking for volunteer tutors that are passionate about making a difference in young people’s lives!

If you are an undergraduate or graduate, you could make a difference by joining us as a volunteer tutor. As a volunteer tutor, you’ll need to:

• Have a passion for helping children and young people

• Provide online one-to-one tutoring support for 1 hour week

• Build pupil confidence in English.

• Have strong subject knowledge (confident enough to tutor up to GCSE)

• Work collaboratively with other tutors and mentors

• Have a minimum of an undergraduate degree or be working towards this

Volunteer tutoring can be extremely rewarding and volunteers with GT Scholars benefit from:

• A flexible schedule - you can choose online tutoring hours to suit your schedule

• The chance to grow your contacts and meet like-minded volunteers 

• The chance to make a real difference in the life of a young person.

Additional information: We’re looking for tutors that can commit to a minimum of 2 academic terms of volunteering.

We will need to conduct reference checks and you will need an Enhanced DBS for this role as you will be working directly with children. We can process this for you or you may submit one if this is less than 3 years old.

*APPLICATIONS CURRENTLY OPEN FOR MALE IDENTIFYING VOLUNTEERS ONLY*

Men Who Talk is a UK registered charity, running twice weekly online peer-to-peer support groups for men aged 18+ across the UK. The groups take place between 7:00pm - 8:30pm every Wednesday evening, and 14:00 - 15:30 every Saturday afternoon. 

Our groups are supportive spaces for men aged 18+ to come and talk openly about what's on their mind. All groups are free to attend and follow the evidence based model of peer support. 

Volunteers are required to be online from 6:45pm to 8:45pm on a Wednesday evening, and from 13:45 - 15:45 on a Saturday, and are required to facilitate around 1 group per month. Volunteers are asked to commit to an a minimum of 6 months of volunteering in the initial stage. 

All groups are facilitated by a minimum of 2 facilitators, and follow a semi-structured pattern.

We are looking for passionate men with some experience of groups facilitating or working in mental health settings to come join us as facilitators. Experience in using online platforms such as zoom is essential. 

A degree in psychology is preferred but not an essential requirement.

You must have the right to live and work in the UK in order to join us, MWT is unable to sponsor any visa applications. Fluency in conversational English and a firm grasp of technology is also required. 

Why Join MWT? 

Men Who Talk is an exciting, fast growing charity, creating new spaces for men to talk openly about what's on their mind. 

We have a diverse team full of talented and passionate individuals who are committed to changing the face of mens mental health across the UK. 

As well as the opportunity to join the organisation at an exciting stage of it's development, volunteers also have the opportunity to develop their own skills and have regular chances to feed into the creative and strategic development of the organisation. We also provide enhanced safeguarding adults training, and the opportunity to develop key skills to enhance a career in mental health. In addition to training opportunities, MWT also provides weekly online group supervision with a specialist supervisior, free of charge for all volunteers. 

PLEASE NOTE: We are only able to accept applications from individuals who already have the right to live and work in the UK. 

If you have space in your home and heart, for a guide dog mum who will be bringing the next generation of guide dogs in the world, then this could be the role for you! A role where you can care and nurture for a guide dog mum and plenty of little puppies when they arrive. 

What you’ll be doing: 

• Providing a loving home for a guide dog mum who will be at least 12 months old, for around six years whilst they are in the breeding programme (with the option to re-home after this, once the guide dog mum retires at around 7 years-old.) 
• Giving a guide dog mum the care and support that our canine companions need, like feeding and grooming.
• Creating a safe environment for the guide dog mum when they are giving birth within your home and helping with the birth of future guide dogs, which usually happens once a year. (You don’t need any previous experience of breeding or having dogs – we have expert staff who will help you!) 
• Providing care and support for the newborn puppies for at least 6 weeks while they are still in the nest, including socialising them to the new sounds and first-time experiences in your home.

Can I care for a guide dog mum? 

If you want to care for a guide dog mum, here's what we ideally look for:

• A loving home with a secure garden.
• Access to a car, to support with any appointments needed for the guide dog mum.
• Live within an hour’s drive of the National Centre in Leamington Spa.

Guide dog mums can happily live with other dogs or children, however we wouldn’t place them with a male dog that has not been neutered. To determine whether you are suitable, we will conduct a home visit as part of the application process. 

What you’ll get:

• The opportunity to have a lovable canine companion!
• The satisfaction of knowing you’re supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
• The rewarding experience of bringing the next generation of guide dogs in the world and caring for their mum.
• Our volunteers have access to our bespoke training techniques to implement with their guide dog mum a great bonus for any dog owners! 
• The opportunity to be part of the Guide Dogs community, meeting like-minded people in your area.
• A dedicated volunteer manager and fellow peers who will help support you throughout your role.

Training and support

Our volunteers also receive lots of support from their volunteer managers to help them implement the training modules, as well as managing the birth of new-born puppies. If you have questions about the training requirements, we can answer these at your interview along with any other support or accessibility needs you may have.

Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any pre-agreed expenses related to the litter or your volunteering with us, including veterinary costs, food costs or any specialist breeding equipment.  All you may need to buy is a bed and grooming equipment.

Minimum age of volunteer: 18.