Volunteers volunteer roles in plymouth, england

Ikoku Protection and Justice

Ikoku Protection and Justice empowers and supports juvenile offenders in Uganda through legal aid, psychosocial support, advocacy and engaging stakeholders through capacity building trainings to create a child-friendly justice system.

In 2023, 10,741 child-related offenses were reported to the police, with 70% of cases still pending in court. Unfortunately the trend continued in 2024 with 9,408 child-related offenses being reported to police, 57% of these cases are still pending and this excludes the 4,363 cases that are still under inquiry till to date. Uganda’s remand homes, which are designed to hold 40-45 juveniles, currently house over 100 inmates (excluding street children) with as few as 14 staff members managing them. These figures highlight a significant gap in the juvenile justice system, where children are often left without legal representation, face long delays in their cases, and are wrongfully classified as adults due to lack of proper age documentation.

We tackle the gaps in Uganda’s juvenile justice system through early legal education, legal representation, psychosocial support, advocacy, and stakeholder training. We teach children their rights using interactive games, provide free legal aid for capital and non-capital offenses, offer psychosocial workshops to address trauma and prevent reoffending, and share real stories through podcasts and documentaries to push for policy change.

Our residential capacity-building program trains key stakeholders to create a more child-friendly justice system. Through these interventions, we aim to reduce wrongful detentions, ease overcrowding in remand homes, promote faster trials, and give children in conflict with the law a real chance at a fresh start.

Welcome to the Ikoku family. We’re truly grateful to have you with us. By choosing to stand with children in conflict with the law, you’re not just offering your time and skills, you’re helping give them the second chance they deserve. Every effort you put in brings us closer to building something lasting, something that matters. We’re so excited to create this with you!

Web Designer

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

We’re looking for a passionate WordPress web designer to help us create a beautiful, easy-to-use website where our stories, podcasts, and programs come to life, making it simple for people to learn, volunteer, and support our mission.

Weekly Time Commitment

2-3 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

3-4 weeks

Why we need you?
The Halifax Charity Gala is organised by a committee of local volunteers in their spare time. The work required to plan and execute the gala is quite large & growing, with Committee members working all year round to support the 40 or so local good causes we represent. This all requires keeping the public (our customers) updated with relevant information, as well as openly engaging with our member organisations & suppliers.

What will you be doing?
Helping to organise Calderdale’s longest-running annual not-for-profit family event! On a more practical level, you’ll be sharing confirmed information (such as the arena acts, the Procession floats, where tickets are on sale) proactively on our social media channels, as well as republishing the posts into relevant groups. You may also post “call outs” for local performance groups, specialist vehicle owners, independent traders, etc to apply to be part of our next event. Furthermore, you’ll respond to any comments/replies/messages received, forwarding the query to the appropriate team internally if required.

As the Social Media Officer, over Gala weekend you will be asked to share photographs captured by our volunteer photographers, repost content shared by members of the public, and schedule “coming next” posts for our timetable of events.

What skills do you need?
You will need to be able to communicate well in written English. You’ll need access to a suitable device which can access Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn & X, and you’ll need your own accounts on those (so we can grant you permission to act as our channels).

How much time do you need to commit?
Scheduling proactive posts can be done at any time to suit you; over winter months, this may only amount to an hour per month, but as the event gets closer, could take 2-3 hours per week. Responding to comments/etc varies, though in winter is likely less than an hour per month, but in May & June can be 2-3 hours per week; this can be done flexibly to suit you, if notifications are responded to within a reasonable time.

Regular meetings over the year. These are held on weekday evenings usually once a month; we have an additional one in May as well as two charity meetings a year. You should aim to be able to attend every meeting, however there is provision in our constitution to attend our meetings virtually (via a web browser or mobile app).

As much time as possible over the weekend of the second Saturday in June, although this is not a requirement as we do have some Committee members that cannot help with setup or take down.

What support will you be given?
You can always speak to anyone else on the committee or the one of the other officers. We work as a supportive team and help each other when workloads are high, or life gets in the way. 

What are the benefits?
Satisfaction of knowing you are making a valuable contribution to a successful, high-profile event supporting local good causes and providing the people of Halifax a great family day out.
Enjoyment of meeting new people within your community and being a part of our team.
Knowledge that you will have made a positive impact and improved the experience of the public and our member organisations.
The opportunity to develop various skills.
Brunch & evening meal on setup day and lunch on Gala Day.

How to sign up?
Join as a Committee member and speak to one of the elected officers (Chairperson, Treasurer, Charity Liaison Officer, Committee Administration Officer or Honorary Secretary) to say that you are willing to be appointed as the Social Media Officer

Help us grow our young charity to get more children learning about germinating, nurturing, cooking and tasting food grown in nature, together with outdoor woodland activities.  This important part of learning is not yet in the national curriculum and school budgets are tight, so we need to fundraise.  Your help with this and the general develpment of the charity will be greatly valued..

We have three other trustees and three executive staff including the two founders. We hold at least quarterly virtual meetings which we'd wish you to attend. 

Most of our work is in West London schools but we also plant large numbers of trees, recenty in a London Park, involving local community volunteers and children from the local schools..

Please get in touch if this of interest.  We'd love to hear from you. .

Join our amazing volunteer team in this flexible opportunity that puts you at the heart of our work supporting blind and partially sighted people. You’ll make taking part in events and carrying out volunteering easier and more enjoyable for our customers and volunteers with sight loss. You’ll take some of the stress and anxiety out of getting around and taking part in activities as a blind or partially sighted person. The help you give will encourage people to do more. What you’ll be doing • Sighted guiding / giving practical help to individuals in and around venues, so they can take part in events. • Supporting volunteers with sight loss with their volunteering activities which range from facilitating a regular community group to delivering a talk about sight loss to a local business. Your role would involve things like guiding; Meeting and greeting at group activities or creating a welcoming and interesting display stand at events. In this role you will only be helping individuals in places open to the public, often in a group setting. We will provide training in sighted guiding techniques and understanding sight loss. We would particularly like to recruit support volunteers within the Downpatrick area (last Wednesday of every month) What you’ll gain from the role: • An opportunity to give something back. • A chance to build a strong community. • A sense of achievement through the difference you make. • A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people • An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. In return for donating your time we will provide: • A rewarding experience. • A great Induction and training. • A supportive manager. • Regular updates and catchups. • Expenses. • An opportunity to connect with other volunteers.

What skills and experience are needed?

• • An outgoing, friendly approach to meeting new people. • An empathetic and professional manner. • The ability to take the supportive and helpful role.

• Particularly looking for Volunteers in Downpatrick area - Last Wednesday of Every month

Main purpose of job: To host our Parent/Carer online community support group as part of Mast Cell Actions community support services.

Key tasks include:

· Host support sessions with professionalism and enthusiasm.

· Moderate Q&A sessions, and facilitate audience interaction to keep participants engaged.

· Manage technical aspects of virtual events, to ensure smooth execution.

· Take the register and send post event emails using our bespoke event platform

· Raise safeguarding concerns using internal processes and procedures. Training will be provided

· Maintain confidentiality and follow charity policies and procedures

· Undertake relevant training

Key Objectives Include:

· The main purpose of this role is to facilitate and host our Parent/Carer Support Sessions alongside another volunteer

· Host support sessions in a manner that captivates and engages the audience, keeping them interested and actively participating throughout the event.

· Reassure and validate participants' experiences whilst encouraging story-sharing.

· Manage the technical aspects of virtual events proficiently.

· Represent Mast Cell Action professionally at all times, demonstrating strong communication skills, reliability, and adaptability in a virtual environment.

Experience/skills required:

· Proven experience as a virtual event host, moderator, or similar role is desirable but not essential as we can train you.

· Must have personal experience of being a parent or carer for a child with MCAS or suspected MCAS

Bright Futures UK are looking for warm, energetic, and experienced volunteer tutors to provide educational support remotely and a fun, safe space for young people living with serious illness.

Please note you must be 18+ and live in the UK for this opportunity.

Starting from as little as one hour per week, you will:

• Offer engaging and dynamic online tutoring sessions to support a young person.
• Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions.

You are the perfect fit if you have:

• Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of subject concepts and theories.
• Teaching Skills: Ability to explain ideas in a clear and engaging way.
• Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
• Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment for a minimum of 14 weeks.

Your valuable time and experience will make a difference by:

• Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
• Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
• Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. 

In return, Bright Futures UK will support you by:

• Covering all expenses and materials used
• Providing DBS where needed
• Training you in safeguarding and other skill development opportunities
• Keeping in contact throughout your programme to ensure you feel comfortable and capable

If you are ready to make a difference in a young person's life and have the opportunity to tackle educational inequality, we would love to hear from you!

This is an exciting time in our growth as we look to grow our governance systems, build on our successes and ensure we are a radical, dynamic organisation rooted in our anti-racist and anti-oppressive values.  We are looking for a new Treasurer for our Trustee board, to join us and help lead and shape the future of the organisation.

Play your part in harnessing the value of the UK’s natural environment for everyone 

Recently celebrating its 10 year anniversary, the Ecosystems Knowledge Network (EKN) has gained widespread recognition as a trusted source of insight for all with role in the stewardship of land, water and nature. Through our events, resources, advice and communications, we support a wide range of people, from volunteers in small local environmental initiatives to representatives of big businesses. Our job is to help them harness the value of the environment for everyone’s wellbeing and prosperity. We are a registered charity and a growing social enterprise. 

From architecture to agriculture, ecology to engineering and finance to fisheries, EKN is a diverse network of professionals. We run pioneering events on ‘frontline’ topics not addressed by others, enabling mutual understanding, collaboration, and action between different sectors and interests.  For example, convening events on the role of games and gamification in nature recovery, and running the renowned series of conferences on the rapidly growing topic of nature finance (now into the sixth year).  

We think the natural environment has huge untapped potential to help resolve issues of concern people and businesses in this part of the 21st Century. The current Board is now recruiting up to three new trustees to guide EKN in this endeavour and to deliver to its 4,000+ members and stakeholders. The role includes attending quarterly Trustee meetings (normally online) and we are seeking candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas: 

1. Skills and knowledge development 

1. Treasurer - financial and commercial oversight 

1. Rural land and communities 

We are looking for people who are committed to using their expertise and professional networks in support of our charitable objectives and social enterprise goals. 

In accordance with Charity Commission rules, Trustees are not entitled to receive remuneration. All reasonable expenses incurred in relation to the role will be reimbursed. The positions are open to anyone who resides in the UK and has the right to work in the UK. 

New members of the Board will be asked to complete a declaration of their business interests. They will need to fulfil their role in accordance with the rules and guidance set of charity trustees in the UK. It is important that they are able to safeguard the independence and impartiality of EKN. 

At EKN we know that diversity of thoughts, perspectives and lived experience fosters innovation. We are committed to fairness, equal opportunity and inclusion and we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, abilities and identities across all UK nations

The Community Support/Reach Out volunteer will be volunteering remotely, providing online support and guidance to visitors of The Forward Trust Website communicating in real time using web chat.

The Reach Out Service sits within our Recovery Support Department and is aimed at offering friendly and confidential listening support and assistance. The role involves utilising your communication skills to establish rapport with individuals seeking drug and alcohol help and or to talk about their mental health or other varied life challenges. You will be supporting people who are seeking help for drugs and alcohol help for themselves or from family members concerned for their loved one.
Training is provided to all volunteers to support them with their volunteering role and enable them to further their skills and experience with our client group.

ACCOUNTABILITIES

Time Commitment: We recommend that volunteers can commit to an average of 3 hours online per week for a minimum period of six months.

Service Delivery

- Be available for the duration of the shift to answer web-chat/calls as they happen.
- Engage with individuals in a friendly and empathetic manner.
- Gain an understanding of the individual needs and sign post to appropriate organisations for further support or explore specialist services as required.
- Link individuals into Forward Trusts community drug and alcohol services when required and link individuals into drug and alcohol help in other geographical areas where Forward Trust does not have a service.
- Report any Safeguarding concerns to shift supervisor and follow safeguarding procedures as appropriate.
- Respond to offline messages at the beginning of each shift.
- Debrief with and ask for support and guidance from Reach Out Coordinator regarding any concerns arising from web chat conversations.
- Provide handover to supervisor and/or next volunteers covering the shift prior to logging off
- To book shifts in a timely fashion and inform the Reach Out Coordinator of any need to cancel a shift at the earliest opportunity.
- Engage with support and supervision offered by placement supervisor.

CHECKS REQUIRED FOR THE ROLE

- 2 References (this may be from a keyworker, volunteer supervisor, tutor or sponsor if you are not able to provide a work reference)
- Enhanced DBS Check

 Perks and Benefits
TRAINING & INDUCTION

Induction training will be provided to the volunteer and will include the following E-Learning (Data Protection/GDPR/PECR, Safeguarding – Knowledge and Health & Safety – Knowledge).

A full induction to your team including placement specific policies and procedures. Additional volunteer training will be discussed and offered according to the need of the volunteer in placement.

 Skills You'll Need
Below is a list of the qualities that we are looking for from volunteers:

- If in recovery, to be 12 months abstinence from all mood altering substances.
- Must be over 18 years of age.
- Ability to use computers and IT equipment.
- To have good verbal and written communication skills.
- To have a clear understanding and maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
- To have a clear understanding of how to set and maintain boundaries.
- To have the ability to reflect and receive feedback.
- To be reliable, flexible and committed.
- To treat individuals with respect and dignity.
- To have the ability to follow instructions.
- To be committed to own learning and development.

The Network of Wellbeing (NOW) is seeking two new Trustees to help guide and support its team. In particular, the organisation is looking for one individual to serve as Company Secretary and another to offer guidance on the management of staff and volunteers.

About the Network of Wellbeing

NOW is committed to Building Wellbeing Together for People and the Planet. Its vision is a world where both people and the planet thrive.

The organisation’s mission is to connect individuals, support community projects, and inspire action to enhance the wellbeing of both people and the environment. This mission is pursued through hosting events, cultivating a network of wellbeing advocates, operating Eden Rise—a retreat venue set in the beautiful Devon countryside—and running community initiatives such as the Share Shed, a mobile library of things that allows people to borrow a wide range of useful items.

Trustee Opportunities

NOW is looking to appoint two new Trustees who are deeply aligned with its vision. The successful candidates will contribute to strategic oversight and governance, helping the organisation continue its work in supporting wellbeing across communities and ecosystems.

One Trustee will take on the role of Company Secretary, while the other will provide valuable input on the management and development of NOW’s staff and volunteers.

This is an exciting time in our growth as we look to grow our governance systems, build on our successes and ensure we are a radical, dynamic organisation rooted in our anti-racist and anti-oppressive values.  We are looking for a new Chair for our Trustee board, to join us and help lead and shape the future of the organisation. 

Citizens Advice Plymouth employs 180 staff and has 50 volunteers, who work both locally and nationally to support people who have problems with debt, housing, welfare benefits, employment and many other advice areas.

We can all face problems that seem complicated and intimidating. At Citizens Advice Plymouth, we believe that no one should have to face these problems without good quality, independent advice.

We have a clear set of strategic aims. These allow us to provide the advice and support people need for the problems they face and work towards changing policies and practices that affect people’s lives. We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.

The Board of Trustees has an interesting and challenging task to ensure that the governance and finances of the charity are correct and to advise and support the senior leadership team

The Role

We currently have 9 Trustees and are looking to strengthen our Board of Trustees with 2 new Trustees, who can use their professional and lived experiences, skills and talents to contribute to the on-going success of the Charity. We are specifically seeking individuals who offer experience in one or more of the following areas:

- Chair designate to take over from the current Chair once inducted and has a full understanding of the organisation. We expect that to take approximately 6-12 months depending on time commitments.

- Finance and accounting (not necessarily within a charitable setting, but this would be beneficial) in order to succeed our current Treasurer in 2 years’ time.

- Leadership experience within a charitable organisation

- Previous experience as a Trustee or governor

- Local involvement in the City of Plymouth

We are committed to further diversifying our Board to represent the communities that we serve across Plymouth. We would particularly like to hear from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds and LGBTQ+ groups. We are also currently seeking to redress our current imbalance so we would particularly appreciate female applicants or people under the age of 30.

About IHF
The International Humanity Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to educating and empowering underserved children in Kenya, Indonesia, and Thailand. We believe in transparency, equal opportunity, and self-sufficiency.

Role Summary
We’re seeking experienced Fundraising Volunteers (remote) with a proven track record—at least 3 years of successful fundraising or grant writing. Your efforts will directly support our global programs and mission.

Responsibilities

Identify and pursue fundraising/grant opportunities

Craft compelling proposals and campaigns

Engage donors and support long-term funding strategies

 Work with and lead our fundraising team 

 Coordinating our At Home volunteers and Global Leadership Development candidates

Requirements

3+ years fundraising experience

Proven fundraising success

Strong writing and communication skills

Self-motivated, reliable, and results-driven

What You Gain
Strategic involvement in meaningful NGO initiatives

Opportunity to expand your global portfolio and build international credibility

Access to leadership roles and professional growth within a purpose-driven organization

A platform to make measurable, lasting impact in the lives of children and communities
Reports To:

Global Outreach Coordinator

Director of Fundraising Initiatives

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 are also the first point of contact for the shift’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• 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 and Mentors who can run shifts and cover additional shifts as necessary.

Leaders and Mentors 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 and Mentors 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 and Mentors:

• 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 during the following hours:

• Monday to Sunday, 5pm-7pm
• Friday and 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 & Mentors 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. If a Leader, work alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) when safeguarding risks are identified and, if a Mentor, take over responsibility for shifts when Leader and DSL have to address a safeguarding crisis.
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.