Volunteers volunteer roles in inverness, highland council

Our groups are entirely volunteer run and led. They are in the front line of engagement with local people, with an extensive programme of walks, talks, day trips and indoor meetings for the group and members of the public. We're looking for people who are passionate about connecting people with nature and helping in the smooth running of the group. By becoming part of the group, you'll have the chance to use your existing skills (and learn new ones) to build the group and make it an ever more important aspect of local RSPB connections with people. The roles available will depend on the group and can include:

• Publicity and / or social media
• Website editor
• Helping with organising and running events

Being a community group, you'll also have the opportunity to make new friends, have fun, and know you are enthusing people about the joys of nature. All you need is a willingness and ability to help with one or more of the varied activities of our RSPB groups, and able to give a minimum of a few hours each month. We have groups across the UK (see our map to find your nearest group). Feel free to contact your local group direct or go along to an event or two to find out more. If you can't find a group near you and would like to help set one up, please click on "Ask a question".

Notes: This opportunity is not based on a reserve and may not include practical conservation work. It is also not suitable for work experience. However it can usually be customised to your skills, experience and requirements depending on your situation.

We are committed to better reflecting society within our workforce and are keen to encourage more applications from people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities and younger people.

While gaining invaluable experience in recruitment, human resources and NFP Social enterprise,                           practice your passion within real-life scenarios.

We are looking for Recruitment Managers to join our team. The ideal candidate will play a vital role in sourcing, engaging and will help us build a diverse and dedicated team to support our brand messages and visions.

If you are enthusiastic, passionate and dedicated about building a dynamic team and are excited to contribute your recruitment skills to a meaningful cause, join us as a Recruitment Manager Volunteer. Together, we can create a positive and lasting impact in our community.

Please note the role is a voluntary position and could be entirely remote. Any incurred reasonable expenses will be paid.

Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with HR and leadership team to understand needs, roles and requirements.
- Develop and implement effective recruitment strategies and campaigns.
- Utilise online platforms, social media, and community networks to advertise opportunities.
- Assist with review applications and inquiries, and assess candidate suitability.
- Conduct interviews with potential candidates to determine their skills, motivations, and alignment with our values and visions.
- Maintain a database of potential and current candidates and keeping track of their skills, interests, and availability.
- Work closely with leadership team and other team members to ensure a seamless transition from recruitment to engagement.
- Regularly report on recruitment metrics and effectiveness to the leadership team.
- Continuously seek opportunities to improve recruitment process.

Requirements:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to effectively market and promote opportunities.
- Experience in recruitment, human resources, or volunteer management is a plus.
- Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise effectively.
- Proficiency in using online platforms, social media, and communication tools.
- Dedicated and willing to learn.
- Committed to our values and mission 

Please send your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your interest and relevant experience. We look forward to reviewing your application and discussing how you can become a vital part of our team.​

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.

EQUAL AQUA is an award-winning NGO providing equal access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Uganda. Equal Aqua is managed by an international team of volunteers, based mainly in the UK and Uganda. Our mission is to tackle inequalities in access to WASH by providing safe and sustainable WASH facilities and services to those that need it most.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR: We are recruiting a new Communications Manager in order to build awareness around WASH inequality, grow EAU's presence and income generation, and ultimately enable us to reach more communities and transform more lives.

• Lead the development, delivery and evaluation of an external and internal communications strategy to drive the strategy, vision and values of EAU;
• Oversee public communications channels, including social media and websites, working closely with the fundraising and programmes team to improve communication between stakeholders;
• Lead EAU's monthly newelstter to key stakeholders
• Oversee production of EAU’s Annual Report, raising awareness of WASH inequality and generating income for EAU.
• Build and maintain relationships with key partners and important contacts;

ABOUT: ‘Equal Aqua’ is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in the UK; it operates equally and in unison with ‘Equal Aqua Uganda’, a registered Community Based Organisation (CBO) in Uganda (‘EAU’ refers to both).

Our Vision: To become a leading organisation in Uganda in addressing inequalities in WASH, and interrelated issues of gender and sustainability

Our Mission: We will achieve this by working with partners and local communities to develop the required skills, knowledge and practical interventions 

Objectives:

• To improve access to safe and sustainable WASH for those facing the greatest inequalities in Uganda
• To strengthen the participation of local communities in WASH, in particular women and girls, and displaced peoples
• To take action to protect the natural environment, reduce pollution and tackle climate change

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:

• 32,866 people with improved access to safe water
• 11,044 people with improved sanitation
• 11,755 people with improved WASH knowledge and skills
• 3,877 people with improved menstrual hygiene knowledge
• British High Commission award winner

VALUES: At Equal Aqua we champion bottom-up grassroots development. To make this possible, we have created a proactive and friendly environment, which strives to create practical and lasting solutions to WASH-related issues. Each member of Equal Aqua is passionate about WASH inequalities, and our values are a central basis for inspiration and the culture of the organisation.

Thank you for your interest to become a Fosterer at Cats Protection! We are looking for volunteers to foster cats and kittens in the South Ayrshire area of Scotland.

Our vision for volunteering

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

The difference you will make to cats and people

From elderly moggies to energic kittens, every day across the UK cats and kittens are in need of a temporary place to stay, and lots of love and TLC! We need more fosterers like you to provide a safe, temporary haven for cats and kittens and provide them with everything they need before they get their chance to land on their four paws and make a house a home.

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Ensure you have all you need in place to foster the cat(s) in your care, for example equipment and food
• Cover all your foster cats’ expenses and agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

• You must live in the South Ayrshire area of Scotland
• A stable, safe and compassionate environment in your home (separate room minimum size 3.6m squared - essential to meet UK animal welfare standards)
• Enrich the cats’ experience in care including play, exercise and appropriate handling/interaction
• A willingness to complete some training in order to provide high standards of cat welfare
• Introduce cats to prospective adopters so they can find their forever home
• You can find out more about being a Fosterer on our website

Time expectation

Our volunteer fosterers usually spend around one and a half hours per day (around 10 to 13 hours per week) in this role, but this might vary depending on the number of cats or kittens in care.

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

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

About Pain Concern

Pain Concern is a charity providing information and support to people with pain and those who care for them, whether family, friends or healthcare professionals. Visit our website to find out more about what we do, including our Airing Pain radio programme, Pain Matters magazine, information helpline, community pain education sessions and our research and campaigning work.

All pain is unpleasant, but for the 7.8 million people in the UK living with long-term pain it is a part of everyday life. It diminishes quality of life more than any other condition, leading often to loss of work, depression and disability. Anyone at any age can develop persistent pain and you will very probably know somebody affected. Although there is usually no cure, people who receive the appropriate treatment, information and support can manage their condition effectively with life changing results

Role purpose

We are seeking highly motivated individuals to join our social media team to help raise awareness of chronic pain and the work of Pain Concern to reach more people in need of the support we offer.

What you would be doing

• Help develop social media campaigns and day-to-day activities;

• Manage presence in social networking across all platforms;

• Prepare graphics for sharing across channels

• Monitor the impact of social media campaigns; Analyse, review and report on effectiveness of campaigns in an effort to maximize the charity’s reach.

• Scheduling and posting social media content 

• Capture and report on monthly data from across all social media platforms

Is this role right for me?

We are looking for an individual who possesses some or all of the below experiences, skills and qualities.

• Excellent communication skills

• Good knowledge and understanding of social media platforms

• Knowledge of marketing

• Strong IT skills and knowledge of MS Office

• Attention to detail

• Knowledge of / interest in pain and long-term conditions 

Availability and location

• Minimum 2-4 hours per week

• Volunteer from our office at Newcraighall Road, Edinburgh EH15 3HS or from your own location

Benefits to you

• Experience volunteering as part of a friendly team

• Meet new people

• Build on your employability skills

• Training and a dedicated volunteer line manager looking after you

• A job reference after 3 months of volunteering.

• Satisfaction of giving a valuable service to the community

• On-site car parking

• Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with our Volunteer Policy

How do I apply?

For more information, please visit our website

Could you use your social media, marketing and communications experience to raise the profile of a small charity? Help us to increase our social media presence and engagement, generate greatr content and help promote existing activities.

Our charity delivers a range of awareness campaigns and support services to patients, relatives, partners and carers who have been affected by a poorly understood pain condition; Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). We are looking for 2 experienced social media and communications volunteers who are able to develop posts and campaigns from design to inception, create fresh and engaging content, increase engagement and to increase awareness of the charity and of the condition we represent.

Even though we are a small organisation we have big ideas and would like to draw on your experience in the communications world to help the charity deliver engaging content and communications to help us spread our aims and message to all our audience.

What Will You Be Doing?

• Engagement: Help increase engagement, improve the number of followers/likes, create & execute a content calendar
• Content Creation: Produce fresh, branded and engaging content for our social media channels 
• Graphics: Prepare graphics and text for sharing across channels 
• Engage with our followers and encourage interaction 
• Manage and maintain social media channels on a regular basis
• Support charity campaigns, marketing, events and fundraising activities by promoting them on our social media feeds
• Use your creative skills to support strategies to engage, grow, and widen our target audiences
• Develop publicity materials and communication techniques for social media to raise awareness of our chronic condition 

You will be with a small team of volunteers who will provide an overview of our existing social media content, our brand and how we have approached our social media content to date. 

Experience
We are looking for a volunteer who has experience in:

• Different types of marketing and communications media, including electronic and social media
• Writing and editing marketing content for social media platforms including Facebook, X, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn (especially TikTok, Instagram Reels & posts and YouTube)
• Building strategies to increase social media following and /or build fundraising or awareness campaigns
• Developing a coherent brand voice for social media, from content creation to community interactions
• Using and setting up tools such as Buffer, Canva etc
• Creating and executing content calendars to help plan social media activity 

Skills Required

• Excellent written communication skills
• Accuracy and attention to detail 
• Creative writing and design abilities
• Good computer and digital skills
• Enthusiasm for communications and marketing and willingness to learn
• Ability to quickly understand the needs of our team / organisation / users
• Ability to transform small snippets of information into interesting and engaging stories suitable for X, Facebook, Instagram etc.
• Understands the resource constraints of a small charity and is able to work with these
• Open to feedback 
• An interest in helping Burning Nights CRPS Support achieve its aims
• Good organisational skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and able to work as part of a team

What Difference You Will Make
You will join the charity during a critical and challenging period and your expert knowledge and experience will be invaluable to our success. You will have a key role in ensuring we can maintain our support services and become a sustainable charity to allow us to fulfil our aims.

Benefits

You would be a part of our small, friendly and forward-thinking charity team, focused on reaching people who may not have heard about the charity or about the condition. You would have a key role in developing a socoal media strategy for a small charity. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a real difference to a rare condition.
You will further develop your communication skills, gain PR and marketing experience and develop your social media skills.

This is a remote volunteering role, volunteering from your own home.

About Access Academia

Access Academia is the charitable umbrella which was created out of the creation of the student-led publication, the Journal of Intersectional Social Justice. When Journal of Intersectional Social Justice (JISJ) was created, there were not any expectations for the project to be any more than that: a student-led academic publication. However, as it rolled on, attention for the project widened and it began to cover other topics and get involved in other realms of knowledge sharing, activism, and content creation. The creation of the seminal Access Series on the Intersections blog springboarded the idea for the JISJ to turn into something much more than a simple academic publication. Now as we have restructured the JISJ into Access Academia, we are finalising our official registration as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) in the UK. 

Our core purpose is to Make Academia More Accessible. We plan to accomplish this by many different avenues, as obviously it is a very wide-ranging goal! The main ways we plan to do this are through encouraging Open Access academia and knowledge sharing through the Access Series, expanding the themes covered on Intersections with additions such as Mental Health Mondays and Colonialism in Subject, creating accessible content across our social media platforms which encourages truthful and accurate knowledge sharing and activism, running research events to encourage students to publish and interact with academia, covering inside stories of academia, running student engagement programmes to try and make academia less of an Ivory Tower, and much more!

What is a Volunteership?

A volunteership is a unique hybrid opportunity that combines elements of volunteering and interning. Participants commit to working with a charity or nonprofit organization for a specified period of time, fulfilling a set of responsibilities and expectations. In return, they gain valuable experience, receive a letter of recommendation, and are offered LinkedIn endorsements. Additionally, they may have the chance to continue working with the charity through future hiring cycles as long as they remain a student. This experience provides both personal fulfillment through giving back to the community and professional development for future career opportunities.

Volunteership: Outreach Coordinator
Duration: May to August 2025
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled as a student

Requirements:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate program.

• Strong interest in community engagement and networking.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to craft compelling emails and messages tailored to different audiences.

• Organizational skills to track outreach efforts and meet targets.

• Comfortable using email outreach tools (e.g., Mailchimp, Google Sheets, etc.) or willingness to learn.

• Experience with or interest in nonprofit work is a plus.

• Ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple outreach tasks.

• Passion for contributing to social impact and building connections that support charitable initiatives.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Email Outreach:

  • Meet a monthly email outreach quota, targeting potential partners and other key stakeholders.

  • Craft personalized and engaging outreach emails to build and maintain relationships with various groups.

  • Follow up with contacts to nurture relationships and drive engagement with the charity's initiatives.

• Community Engagement:

  • Assist in developing and implementing outreach strategies to expand the charity’s network and reach.

  • Help coordinate outreach efforts for specific campaigns, events, or initiatives.

  • Track responses and report on outreach success rates, identifying areas for improvement.

• Research & Networking:

  • Conduct research to identify new potential partners, supporters, or collaborators for the charity.

  • Assist with compiling contact lists and gathering relevant information for outreach purposes.

• Campaign Support:

  • Support the development of email campaigns, including drafting email copy and ensuring timely distribution.

  • Help maintain and update the charity's contact database, ensuring accuracy and compliance with privacy standards.

• Post-Event & Programme Reporting:

  • Help in post-event evaluations, collecting feedback from participants, and reporting on outcomes.

  • Assist in maintaining and updating event and programme documentation for future reference.

• Collaboration & Teamwork:

  • Collaborate with internal teams and volunteers to ensure Access Academia's message is shared correctly and consistently.

  • Contribute and attend all meetings for the Outreach & Marketing team and directions from the Director of Outreach & Marketing.

  • Meet all given deadlines on time and consistently.

What You’ll Gain:

• Hands-on experience in outreach, community engagement, and relationship management.

• Opportunities to develop communication skills, including email marketing and networking strategies.

• A letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the volunteership.

• Certification of participation at the end of the volunteership.

• LinkedIn endorsements and the chance to be considered for future hiring cycles with the charity.

Lead the Way: Become Our Volunteer Virtual Community Activities Coordinator at SUNSHINE!

Are you a tech-savvy community builder with a passion for connecting people online? SUNSHINE—a soon-to-be registered charity dedicated to combating loneliness and building stronger communities—is seeking a visionary Virtual Community Activities Coordinator to pioneer our digital engagement initiatives. In this role, you will work closely with our Founder and CEO to conceive, plan, and run interactive online events that spark genuine connections and brighten lives.

About SUNSHINE

At SUNSHINE, our mission is to illuminate lives by forging genuine connections and nurturing vibrant communities. As a grassroots initiative in its early days, we’re laying the groundwork to officially register as a charity. Our aim is to deliver moments of joy and fellowship through both face-to-face and digital platforms, ensuring that even those feeling isolated can experience belonging. Your expertise in curating engaging virtual events will be crucial in amplifying our impact and extending our reach.

Your Role as Virtual Community Activities Coordinator:

As our Volunteer Virtual Community Activities Coordinator, you will be the digital catalyst behind SUNSHINE’s online initiatives. Your mission is to design meaningful virtual events—from interactive meet-ups and creative workshops to conversational cafés—that bring isolated individuals together in the digital space.

Key Areas of Impact:

• Digital Engagement Strategy: Craft and implement a comprehensive plan to host regular at least monthly virtual events that resonate with diverse audiences, addressing themes such as creativity, storytelling, and community support.

• Online Event Planning & Execution: Organise and oversee the entire lifecycle of virtual activities—from conceptualisation and technical setup to facilitation and post-event evaluation—ensuring that every session offers value and connection.

• Volunteer Coordination & Mentoring: Recruit, train, and guide a team of digital volunteers who will assist with event moderation, technical support, and community engagement. Empower them with the tools and insights needed to foster a warm online environment.

• Resource & Technology Management: Leverage and manage digital platforms (like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or interactive web forums) to deliver seamless virtual experiences. Identify innovative tools and trends to elevate the quality of our online activities.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Constantly explore new formats—such as breakout sessions, digital creative workshops, or themed conversation circles—that enhance interactivity and keep our digital community vibrant and engaged.

What We’re Looking For

We’re searching for a proactive, forward-thinking leader who is enthusiastic about shaping digital connections. The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven Digital Engagement Experience: A background in organizing online events, community management, or digital content creation—experience in start-ups or non-profit environments is a plus.

• Creative & Strategic Thinking: The ability to design innovative virtual experiences that maintain engagement while addressing the challenges of digital isolation.

• Excellent Communication Skills: Clear, empathetic, and inspiring communication—both in writing and verbally—to ensure a smooth and inclusive virtual atmosphere.

• Tech-Savvy & Adaptive: Proficiency with current digital platforms and a willingness to experiment with emerging tools to enhance community participation.

• Passion for Community Impact: A genuine commitment to social change and the belief that digital initiatives can create real-world connections and drive transformative change.

Why Join SUNSHINE as Our Virtual Community Activities Coordinator?

Taking on the role of Volunteer Virtual Community Activities Coordinator is more than just managing digital events—it’s about helping shape a movement dedicated to inclusivity and well-being online. By joining our leadership team, you will:

• Shape Our Digital Future: Influence key decisions that build and strengthen our online community, ensuring that our digital initiatives are effective and accessible.

• Drive Innovation: Be at the forefront of pioneering creative virtual solutions that enhance engagement and extend our community’s reach.

• Grow Professionally: Expand your skills in digital community management and event facilitation while working in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment.

• Experience Deep Fulfillment: Enjoy the satisfaction of directly contributing to a cause that transforms lives and brings hope to those battling loneliness.

Ready to Connect the Digital World?

If you’re excited to craft and drive virtual initiatives that bring people together and use your digital leadership to combat loneliness, we want you on our team. Join SUNSHINE as our Volunteer Virtual Community Activities Coordinator and help us build a brighter, more connected future—one online event at a time.

Welcome to SUNSHINE—where every virtual connection lights up lives and communities.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care. We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising events organisers have the exciting and varied role of helping plan and deliver local fundraising events to raise the vital funds needed to help our feline friends. Our fundraising events organisers use their passion for cats and people to plan cake sales, barn dances, quiz nights and everything in between.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Planning fundraising events and activities like cake sales, quiz nights and barn dances in Mid-Sussex RH15, RH16, RH17, BN6, BN45.
• Providing the treasurer with information on funds raised from fundraising events
• Encouraging and promoting a professional image of Cats Protection 
• Following policies and guidelines and ensuring licences and permits are obtained for events

A bit more information about this role and the team

• This is a flexible role. The amount of time you offer can work to your availability and convenience.
• There may be opportunities for your activities to be fully remote and/or admin based if you'd prefer.
• You will need your own transport if you wish to attend events, ideally a car or van since items, stock and equipment will usually be needed.
• We ask that you complete training to support you in your role. This can be completed online if you have access to the internet and the necessary device (computer/laptop/tablet etc). Support can be offered or paper versions of much of the training if needed.

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by helping raise funds through events. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated group of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• Good organisational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• The ability to prioritise and delegate
• An appreciation of the importance of handling money and charity resources responsibly
• Knowledge of your local community

Time expectation

Our fundraising events organisers usually spend two to three hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer.

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.

Provide holistic end-of-life care to people who are suffering of a terminal illness, under the direction of the Palliative Care Nurse Team Leader. By caring for those often isolated, hopeless, and fearful, this position is a living example of God’s love and compassion for the weak, lonely, and marginalised members of society. This position works primarily off-ship; hot and dusty or wet (depending on season) conditions can be expected. Visiting people in their house requires cultural sensitivity.

What You Will Contribute

• Support terminally ill patients and their family members through the grieving process, preparing them for death

• Train and assist family members with wound care for the afflicted person

• Share basic health principles with terminally ill patients and family members in order to improve their health

• Encourage the use of local, affordable materials for wound care and locally available analgesia

• Encourage the family to find ways to be self-supporting and teach them about planning for the future

• Assist in reaching out to local healthcare professionals who care for palliative patients, build meaningful relationships, assess their practical and intellectual needs and assist them in sustainable and culturally appropriate ways, through mentoring and teaching

Chatterbox Befrienders offer one-to-one telephone support and will call a client once a week offering companionship and a listening ear for an individual who might otherwise go unheard. Chatterbox volunteers befriend a variety of people including carers, socially isolated individuals who are struggling with loneliness, people with ill health and those that have been bereaved.

This role could be for you, if you:

• Would like to make a real difference in someone’s life
• Want to challenge loneliness and can commit to a weekly phone call
• Are a good listener
• Are empathetic, patient and of a caring nature
• Have good verbal and inter-personal communication skills
• Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can uphold this in practice
• Are committed to inclusion and treating people with dignity and respect

Requirements of a Befriender include:

• Calling your client once a week for a chat of up to 45 minutes; this is a 26 week initial commitment, at the end of which each client’s needs are reviewed
• Completing an online call log record promptly after each phone call
• Ensuring immediate contact with the Chatterbox Coordinators if you feel that the client might be a risk to themselves or others
• Liaising with the Chatterbox Coordinator on a regular basis regarding the service, as well as discussing personal learning and development needs
• Respecting service standards, appropriate boundaries and recognising the range of policies and procedures that impact on befriending vulnerable adults

Benefits of this role may include:

• Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life
• Joining the Omega Team who are taking action against loneliness and isolation
• An opportunity to enhance your CV or learn new skills
• An opportunity to engage with your community

Support and training provided:

• Omega Chatterbox induction program
• Safeguarding training
• Ongoing support from Chatterbox Coordinators for all questions, concerns, and support
• Out of pocket expenses are reimbursed and a mobile phone can be provided if appropriate
• Monthly Befriender group support meetings via the Zoom app

Location of the role:

• Home-based

When are you needed:

• Provided on enquiry

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required for this role. If you have a criminal record this does not automatically prevent you from being considered as an Omega Chatterbox Befriender. We will take into account the nature of the offence, when it happened and whether it is relevant to the voluntary role. If you are shortlisted, this will be discussed with you during the recruitment process.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care. We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising events organisers have the exciting and varied role of helping plan and deliver local fundraising events to raise the vital funds needed to help our feline friends. Our fundraising events organisers use their passion for cats and people to plan cake sales, barn dances, quiz nights and everything in between.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Planning fundraising events and activities like cake sales, quiz nights and barn dances in Mid-Kent
• Providing the treasurer with information on funds raised from fundraising events
• Encouraging and promoting a professional image of Cats Protection 
• Following policies and guidelines and ensuring licences and permits are obtained for events

A bit more information about this role and the team

• This is a flexible role. The amount of time you offer can work to your availability and convenience.
• There may be opportunities for your activities to be fully remote and/or admin based if you'd prefer.
• You will need your own transport if you wish to attend events, ideally a car or van since items, stock and equipment will usually be needed.
• We ask that you complete training to support you in your role. This can be completed online if you have access to the internet and the necessary device (computer/laptop/tablet etc). Support can be offered or paper versions of much of the training if needed.

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by helping raise funds through events. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated group of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• Good organisational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills
• The ability to prioritise and delegate
• An appreciation of the importance of handling money and charity resources responsibly
• Knowledge of your local community

Time expectation

Our fundraising events organisers usually spend two to three hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer.

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.

This flexible home volunteering role is worthwhile and rewarding. Make a real difference writing letters. As a Volunteer Penpal Writer you’ll be a key member of the Letterbox Team. Your letters will cheer someone up and establish a trusting, supportive relationship with a client who might be lonely or socially isolated.

What tasks can this role include (some or all of the following):

• Writing letters to clients
• Building trust and companionship with a client through correspondence. Omega befriends a variety of people including: caregivers, the lonely, isolated or people with ill-health.
• Liaising with the Letterbox Team by email or post.
• Respecting service standards, appropriate boundaries and recognising the policies and procedures that are necessary when befriending adults at risk.
• Making suggestions to help us improve the service we provide to clients and Volunteer Pen pal Writers.

This role could be for you, if you:

• Enjoy writing and receiving letters
• Are enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Associate strongly with Omega’s values and strategy
• Have knowledge or understanding about a variety of client issues including caring, feeling isolated and lonely and its impact on people and society
• Have satisfactory written and inter-personal communication skills
• Recognise the importance of confidentiality and can show this in practice
• Are committed to inclusion, treating people with dignity and respect

What support and training will be provided?

• Feedback from clients and colleagues
• Regular and ongoing support from Letterbox Team Leader
• Answering questions
• Stationary and pre-paid envelopes can be provided making the service free.
• Opportunity for peer support events and invitation to Omega events
• Reward system and opportunity for volunteer of the month rewards

What are the benefits for you?

• Knowing you are making a difference to someone’s life by doing something you enjoy
• Joining the Omega Team, who are taking action against loneliness and isolation as well as helping people in crisis
• An opportunity to enhance your CV or learn new skills
• An opportunity to engage with your community

Location of the role:

• Mainly your home

When are you needed?

• At a time to suit you

EDI Volunteer Role  - EDI Activity Group Member 

We’re the MS Society – a community of people living with MS, volunteers, scientists, campaigners, listeners, organisers, ambassadors and fundraisers. Join us today so that together we can stop MS.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team. As a volunteer you will play a crucial part in helping us deliver our EDI work. By attending four monthly meetings you will provide advice, feedback, guidance and personal opinion on our work. You will act as a bridge between our EDI activity group and our EDI reference group.

The EDI reference group is a group of people affected by MS who helped develop our EDI strategy and now help support our work towards its delivery. The EDI activity group is a staff group who have responsibility and accountability for the delivery of our EDI strategy.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion are at the heart of our work. We work with volunteers, professionals and people with lived experience of MS to guide and direct our approach to EDI.

This role is a home-based role, which will require attending four online monthly meetings, and up to an hour of pre-reading before each one. One of these meetings will be between 12-5pm.

What the role involves 

• Attending four monthly, online meetings
• Reading documents and preparing any feedback in advance
• Providing constructive and honest feedback on our ways of working, processes and future initiatives
• Representing the MS community with lived experience
• Taking comprehensive meeting notes, to share information between the EDI reference and activity groups
• Regular 1:1 catch ups with our EDI programme manager 

 What you need for this role

•  Confidence to speak and input into meetings 
• Experience of attending and reporting in meetings
• Passion for the MS Society and for EDI in our work
• Good IT skills
• Awareness of EDI in a broader context – provide challenge outside of lived experience 

 What you may gain from this role 

• Understanding of how we work
• Working in a professional environment
• Board room experience 
• References 
• Training 
• Improve understanding of EDI in corporate environment 

 In order to volunteer in this role, you will need to undertake:

Must do training  Role specific training  Data protection eLearningInduction with your volunteer Manager Cyber Security training 
EDI training 

Sources of support:

We will ensure that whist volunteering with us you will have access to all the support you need to feel comfortable, confident with what you are doing, and able to achieve the most impact though your time with us.

 Your staff contact is here to support you, answer any questions you might have about what you’ll be doing, your learning and where you can get more information.

 The Supporter Care Team is your point of contact for queries to other MS Society departments. They can signpost you to the right person:

Additional information about our volunteering programme:

  When you volunteer with us, you join our powerful community of people

living with MS, scientists, campaigners, listeners, organisers, ambassadors and fundraisers.

 Our shared commitments help keep our volunteering programme enjoyable, meaningful and safe for everyone.