Youth leader volunteer roles in saint margarets, greater london

You will be part of our team at a Challenge Event e.g. London Marathon and located on the race route. You will be responsible for cheering on and supporting our runners, cyclists or walkers, encouraging them to keep going.

Cheering at events is lots of fun as your part of the whole positive energy and event experience. It helps to lift the spirit of our participants so that they cross the finish line and feel valued for their efforts. Your time will make a huge impact in our participant’s challenge, and you’ll have a nice time while doing it.

What we are looking for

As a Young Epilepsy Volunteer Events Cheer Leader, you will need to have:

· Lots of enthusiasm.

· The ability to help make sure Young Epilepsy is the best cheer squad at the race.

· Good interpersonal skills: you will be talking to some of our incredible supporters’ friends and family as well as the                  Young Epilepsy team.

· Endurance as the days can be quite long, and we have no control over the weather. It can be cold and wet or                       extremely hot – this is the UK!

Benefits

· Meeting new people.

· Gaining new skills, knowledge and experience.

· Making a difference and helping to raise awareness of epilepsy for children and young people.

· Travel expenses paid

· Lunch expenses paid

What Support will I Get

Young Epilepsy will give you everything you need to cheer on our lovely participants. Whistles, bangers and even a free Young Epilepsy T-Shirt. The team will brief you on the runners before the event, so you know who you are cheering for. 

Where are the events.

We have events in Brighton, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Sussex, Scotland. You don’t need to be able to travel to all these areas. Just let us know when you apply which areas would be better suites to you.

How long would I be required at the event.

It depends on the event; a normal event day starts at 9am and ends by 3pm. This is subject to change depending on the event and we are flexible, let us know the times you are available, and we will try to make it work for you.

Become a Creative Workshop Leader with Bright Futures UK

Are you passionate about sharing your creative talents and inspiring the next generation? Bright Futures UK is looking for enthusiastic and skilled individuals to lead engaging workshops for young people who have taken time out of education due to illness.

About the Role:
As a Creative Workshop Leader, you will work with us to design a fun and meaningful workshop tailored to your expertise, which you’ll deliver on a Wednesday afternoon. Whether your speciality is henna design, cake or cookie decorating, crochet, glitter art, or another creative discipline, we’d love to hear from you! You’ll have the full support of our team to ensure your workshop runs smoothly and makes a real impact.

What You’ll Need:

• A skill or craft that can be shared with young people.
• Enthusiasm for teaching and inspiring creativity.
• A willingness to collaborate with us in planning the session.

What You’ll Gain:

• The chance to make a difference in the lives of young people facing significant challenges.
• DBS and training provided at no cost.
• Opportunities to develop your teaching and facilitation skills.
• The rewarding experience of sharing your passion with others.

Why You’ll Love Volunteering with Us:
At Bright Futures UK, we believe in supporting young people as they rebuild their confidence and reengage with education. Through your workshop, you’ll help create a positive, nurturing environment where creativity thrives and connections are made.

Become a Hospital Workshop Leader with Bright Futures UK

Would you like to brighten the day for children and young people undergoing hospital treatment? Bright Futures UK is looking for enthusiastic and empathetic individuals to lead engaging workshops for young people on the ward at University College Hospital in London.

About the Role:

As a Hospital Workshop Leader, you’ll deliver fun and creative workshops on a Wednesday each month. The workshops are planned for you and you will be responsbile for engaging the young people, demonstrating the activties and keeping conversation flowing. Examples of workshops include: painting, tie dye, seed planting etc. You’ll have the full support of our team to ensure your workshop runs smoothly and makes a real impact.

What You’ll Need:

1. Enthusiasm for working with young people. 

2. Strong communication skills.

3. Positive, outgoing energy. 

What You’ll Gain:

1. The chance to make a difference in the lives of young people facing significant challenges.

2. DBS and training provided at no cost.

3. Opportunities to develop your teaching and facilitation skills.

Why You’ll Love Volunteering with Us:

At Bright Futures UK, we believe in supporting young people as they rebuild their confidence and reengage with education. Through your workshop, you’ll help create a positive, nurturing environment where curiousity thrives and connections are made.

Application Instructions

Please follow the link to fill out an application form and tell us a little bit about yourself. We look forward to hearing from you!

Youth Action Alliance (YAA) is seeking a dynamic and well-connected individual to take on the role of a Philanthropic Development Lead from March 2025. This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate and influential leader to drive our fundraising efforts and expand our network of high-net-worth individuals, corporate partners, trusts, and foundations.

We are expanding our donation efforts and are seeking a dedicated volunteer to help us achieve our vision of becoming a trusted charitable organisation for philanthropists and corporate partners. This is the ideal fit for someone with deep connections in the local area wanting to help their less fortunate neighbours.

About the Role

As a Lead, you will play a pivotal role in strengthening YAA’s donor network, leveraging your expertise, connections, and influence to help us grow our income and increase our impact. Unlike Trustees, the Philanthropic Development Lead will not hold governance responsibilities; instead, they focus solely on supporting fundraising efforts.

Your skills and expertise are what we need to continue to grow. Our volunteers are essential in supporting the growth of our charity and bringing our mission to life.

Key Responsibilities:

● Lead and energise our ‘Friends of YAA’ initiative, engaging donors and stakeholders.

● Cultivate relationships with corporate sponsors, philanthropic foundations, and high-net-worth individuals to secure funding.

● Advocate for YAA’s mission, articulating our strong return on investment and impact to potential supporters.

● Attend networking events and donor engagement opportunities.

● Provide strategic guidance on fundraising approaches, identifying opportunities for sustainable financial growth.

Who We’re Looking For:

● A well-connected individual with deep knowledge of RBKC and its philanthropic landscape.

● A charismatic and strategic leader with experience in fundraising, corporate engagement, or development.

● Someone with a strong interest in youth and community development and a passion for social impact.

● A professional with a background in business, finance, philanthropy, or non-profit leadership.

Why Join Us?

This role offers an incredible opportunity to drive meaningful change, working alongside a dedicated team committed to empowering young people. YAA provides exceptional value for money and measurable impact, making this a unique chance to champion a cause that positively impacts young people's lives and truly delivers results.

To express your interest, Please click on the 'How to the Apply' Button

Become a STEM Workshop Leader with Bright Futures UK

Are you passionate about inspiring the next generation and showcasing new and innovative STEM learning? Bright Futures UK is looking for enthusiastic and skilled individuals to lead engaging workshops for young people who have taken time out of education due to illness.

About the Role:

As a STEM Workshop Leader, you will work with us to design a fun and meaningful workshop tailored to your expertise, which you’ll deliver on a Wednesday afternoon. Whether your speciality is coding, digital tools, engineering, Computer Aided Design or another skill within the world of STEM, we’d love to hear from you! You’ll have the full support of our team to ensure your workshop runs smoothly and makes a real impact.

What You’ll Need:

1. A skill or practical activity that can be shared with young people.

2. Enthusiasm for teaching and inspiring curiosity.

3. A willingness to collaborate with us in planning the session.

What You’ll Gain:

1. The chance to make a difference in the lives of young people facing significant challenges.

2. DBS and training provided at no cost.

3. Opportunities to develop your teaching and facilitation skills.

4. The rewarding experience of sharing your passion with others.

Why You’ll Love Volunteering with Us:

At Bright Futures UK, we believe in supporting young people as they rebuild their confidence and reengage with education. Through your workshop, you’ll help create a positive, nurturing environment where curiousity thrives and connections are made.

Application Instructions

Please submit your CV and, if you would like to, a cover letter outlining what your workshop may involve. Following this, we will be in touch to inform you of any next steps.

As a Group Leader, you’ll play a key role in delivering our life-changing therapeutic services by co-facilitating weekly self-help groups. Using a proven model rooted in Exposure-Response Therapy and CBT, you'll help guide members through understanding their conditions and moving toward recovery.

We’ll train you to confidently co-lead sessions with another volunteer. All you need is empathy, warmth, and a genuine desire to support others. Lived experience of anxiety, OCD, or phobias is a bonus, not a must. We ask for a commitment of just 2 hours a week for at least 12 months.

You’ll be part of something truly meaningful—helping others while growing personally and professionally.

What will you be doing?

Therapeutic Responsibilities

• Co-facilitate therapeutic guided self-help groups every week.
• Interact with relevant service users to arrange their initial attendance at therapeutic groups.
• Consistently work within the scope of your training and recognise the limits of your practice.
• Liaise closely with the organisation's Clinical Director to discuss challenging cases and clinical concerns.
• Inform the Clinical Director of any expected instances of absence two weeks before the event. 
• Administrative Responsibilities
• Record service users' attendance every week.
• Maintain service user attendance databases to the highest possible standards of accuracy and detail.
• Disseminate psychometric measures to service users by the organisation's evaluation strategy
• Promote a culture of evaluation amongst service users attending your groups to enhance the amount of individualised feedback available to them.
• Respond to service user enquiries, and organisational communications, in an appropriately timely manner.
• Actively engage in the initial training workshops that are provided by the organisation.
• Maintain a commitment to continual personal development and engage in additional training opportunities when provided.
• Actively engage in organised peer reflective practices
• Make use of the organisation-wide digital communication channels to share and learn therapeutic practices. 

• Safeguarding - It is every volunteer's responsibility to safeguard and protect adults and children from abuse, regardless of the setting in which your care takes place. It is the volunteer's responsibility to be aware of the charity's policies and procedures and proactively maintain safeguarding procedural knowledge.

Additional Responsibilities

• Adhere to all organisational policies and procedures.
• Support the organisation's promotion of a positive approach to diversity and inclusion, treating others with dignity and respect.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with colleagues, taking account of their age, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, marital or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or maternity status and any disability.
• Maintain an approachable nature, ensuring that your conduct towards colleagues is open and honest, dealing with differences in opinion in ways which avoid offence.

The People and Culture (P&C) Committee is responsible to the Board of Trustees for oversight of the People and Culture Strategy and its effective implementation, including the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion agenda. The scope of the P&C Committee includes HQ volunteers as well as the staff workforce.  It sets and reviews the salary of executive management; oversees the annual cost of living review, is focused on developing the right working culture for the organisation and scrutinises and approves HR policies.

The role of an Independent Member is to provide the People and Culture Committee with advice, guidance and scrutiny to assist the Committee in making key decisions.

Main Responsibilities

Along with other members of the Committee:

• Review the People & Culture Strategy which supports the organisational strategy and recommend it to the Board
• Act as advisor to ensure Equity, Diversity and Inclusion considerations for staff and HQ volunteers underpin the objectives within the People & Culture strategy
• Conduct high level monitoring and oversight of the achievement of objectives within the People & Culture strategy
• Oversee the HR function to assure that we are legally compliant, effective and responsive to the needs of the organisation and its people
• Ensure that the culture of the organisation is appropriate to achieve its objectives and support its values 
• Monitor HR key performance indicators to assure the Committee and the Board that the Scouts is a good employer
• Ensure that robust and suitable HR policies and procedures are in place, that ensure fairness, equality and best practice in the management of staff, including an effective Reward Policy to underpin the successful recruitment and retention of staff
• Recommend to the Board the annual staff pay award
• Ensure the effective recruitment of ELT members via the Chair of the Committee
• Approve remuneration for ELT (with the exception of the Chief Executive whose remuneration is determined by the Board)
• Ensure an effective performance management policy and appraisal process is in place for ELT
• Assure itself that staff/volunteer relationships are effective
• Oversee the wellbeing of our people, working in collaboration with the HQ Health, Safety and Welfare Committee.

The person

A commitment to the vision and values of Scouting and the ability to challenge the Association’s policies and practices positively are essential.

Candidates should:

• Have a strong track record of achievement, especially in the area of Reward and Recognition
• Have experience of contributing to, supporting and or/leading HR policy formulation and culture setting across a large organisation or movement
• Have experience of designing and managing pay, benefits and non-financial incentives to motivate people
• Have a breadth of vision and a grasp of governance issues alongside an eye for detail
• Have unquestioned integrity, effective communications skills and experience of high-level discussion
• Have an understanding and commitment to The Scout Association’s evolving strategic plan and vision
• Be able to digest and act upon large amounts of written material, and have the ability to consider and constructively challenge the performance, strategy and objectives of The Scout Association
• Have experience of the Scout Movement and, ideally, the role of HQ volunteers
• Have experience of working at, or volunteering with, a charitable organisation
  
  

Time Commitment

For this role, the appointed candidate should expect to spend the equivalent of a day per quarter on The Scout Association’s work after the induction phase. This is based on preparation for and attendance at the scheduled People and Culture Committee meetings (three in each year, generally two meetings online and one face to face in London)

Appointment term

Appointments are typically for an initial three-year term, with the possibility of a further term of three years subject to a satisfactory appraisal.

Remuneration and expenses

In common with other registered charities, there is no remuneration directly associated with the role, although the Association will reimburse fully for all reasonable and properly documented expenses incurred in performing duties in accordance with the Association’s Expenses Policy.

THE ROLE

The role of the Independent Member is to provide the Finance Committee with knowledge and experience to making key decisions in respect to the organisation’s affairs, ensuring its financial viability and ensuring that proper financial records and procedures are maintained in accordance with the Association’s Bye-laws and in compliance of legal requirements.

Main Responsibilities

· To assist the Finance Committee with the review and monitoring of The Scout Association (TSA)’s financial policies and making recommendations to the Board where appropriate.

· To assist the Finance Committee with recommending the annual budget and financial plan to the Board for TSA and its trading subsidiaries; reviewing performance against this and contributing to the development of the Association’s long term financial plan and strategy.

· To assist the Finance Committee with TSA’s investment policy and asset allocation; the review and recommendation of a rolling strategy for all property and land owned by TSA and to contribute to the development, operation and performance monitoring of all National Centres.

· To contribute to the development of TSA’s Fundraising strategy and monitor performance against this.

· To support the Finance Committee in monitoring financial and deliverable performance against TSA’s Digital and Digital Technology strategies.

· To assist the Finance Committee in recommending to the Board the appointment of external auditors and meeting with auditors to discuss audit plans, fees, and key findings from the audit.

· To contribute to the detailed review and approval of TSA’s statutory accounts.

· To consider decisions and recommendations that involve substantial expenditure outside of budget.

· To assist the Finance Committee in the monitoring of TSA’s insurance arrangements and the financial impacts of TSA’s Pension Schemes, Development Grants Board and other TSA funds and making recommendations to the Board where necessary.

THE PERSON

Skills

· Communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences including, senior staff, volunteers, other Committee members, and others.

· Effectively contribute in meetings.

· Quickly assimilate a broad knowledge of Scouting’s purpose, policies, activities and structures.

Experience

· All round management experience with some element of either pensions/ investments/ insurance expertise.

· Experience of working in Finance, Financial qualifications (or working towards a qualification).

· An interest in charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes.

· Experience or knowledge of working or volunteering with charitable youth organisations.

· Looking ahead, there is the potential for the Finance Committee to evolve into a broader Audit and Risk Committee. While this role is currently focused on financial oversight, we would welcome applicants who bring additional experience or understanding of internal controls, risk management, and audit practices.

 Characteristics

· Commitment to The Scout Association’s Purpose and values.

· Sufficient time available for the role.

Other essential criteria

The Finance Committee will meet at least four times a year (generally two meetings online and two face to face in Central London), with the requirement to read papers and contribute to occasional discussions and specific issues between meetings. The appointed candidate should expect to spend around two days per quarter on The Scout Association’s work after the induction phase.

Appointment term

These appointments would normally be for three years (subject to a 6-month review), extendable by mutual consent for a further three years.

Remuneration and expenses

In common with other registered charities, there is no remuneration directly associated with the role, although the Association will reimburse fully for all reasonable and properly documented expenses incurred in performing duties in accordance with the Association’s Expenses Policy.

Are you passionate about the natural world and inspiring others to engage with it?

Join us as a Trustee at the Field Studies Council and help shape the future of environmental education.

• You can be based anywhere in the UK
• You’ll need to commit approx. 10 days a year
• It’s a voluntary position but reasonable expenses are reimbursed

About Us

Field Studies Council is an environmental education charity. For over 80 years, we've been inspiring people to understand and care for the natural world. Through our network of centres across the UK, we provide fieldwork and outdoor learning experiences for all ages — from school groups and university students to families and lifelong learners.

We are a leader in biodiversity training, the publisher of best-selling wildlife ID guides, and a champion for accessible outdoor education, particularly for disadvantaged young people. Our mission is simple but vital: to create outstanding opportunities that inspire everyone to engage with and care for the environment.

Your Opportunity to Make a Difference

We’re currently looking to appoint four new Trustees to bring fresh perspectives and help us grow in diversity, representation and expertise. As a Trustee, you'll help guide and shape our charity’s future.

While the day-to-day running of our charity is handled by our staff and volunteers, the Board of Trustees plays a key role in making sure everything stays on track.

That includes overseeing our work, making big-picture decisions, and ensuring we meet our legal and regulatory responsibilities. It’s an important role, but you won’t be doing it alone. You will:

• Provide strategic oversight and guidance to support our mission and values
• Use your insight and experience to influence decisions that impact tens of thousands of learners annually
• Act as an ambassador for environmental education and social inclusion
• Contribute to Board and committee meetings, and participate in key annual activities including visiting one of our field centres each year to see our work in action
• Use your knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to help us innovate, grow, and reach more people

Who We’re Looking For

You don’t need to be an academic, ecologist or environmentalist to join us or have charity trustee, company director or equivalent experience — we welcome applicants from all walks of life. We are especially interested in candidates with skills in:

• Charity governance
• Finance (qualified professionals – potential Honorary Treasurer role)
• Fundraising & stakeholder engagement
• Marketing & communications

Above all, we want individuals who are:

• Passionate about equal access to outdoor learning
• Ready to speak up and bring a new perspective
• Willing to give their time and energy to support the Field Studies Council

We’re committed to building a Trustee board that is inclusive, representative, and reflective of the diverse communities we serve.

We warmly encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in charity governance — including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ communities, young people, and those with lived experience of social or economic disadvantage.

If you're excited by our mission and ready to help others experience the power of nature, we’d love to hear from you.
 

What’s Involved

• Approx. 10 days per year commitment for an initial 3-year term (this includes board and committee meetings, and a centre visit)
• Most meetings are held virtually, with one in-person event annually
• All reasonable expenses are covered
• Appropriate training and support will be provided

Please download the Trustee Candidate Information Pack to learn more and take the next step in helping us connect people with the natural world

Role: Welcome volunteer

Team: Tooting Hub – CARAS ESOL (Youth/Adult)

Supervised by: Team Project Coordinator

Location: Tooting Hub site

Activity times: Monday or Wednesday

Time commitment: 2 hour shifts on a rolling basis.

We ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 4 months

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community.

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives.

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support.

Our values are at the centre of all our work:

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests.

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society.

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes.

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do.

About the Role:

We are currently recruiting a team of volunteers to join our new Welcome team at Tooting Hub. This is a new role. Welcome volunteers will provide a friendly face to existing community members attending our regular projects. They will also be the important ‘face of CARAS and our welcome at the door’ to people attending projects for the first time, to visitors and to people dropping in unannounced to enquire about CARAS’s service. Volunteers will meet and greet, and ensure all visitors are responded to appropriately and introduced to the relevant member of staff, activity, project, or meeting. There will be an administrative element to the role (updating registers and emailing enquiries to CARAS staff, for example).

Who will you be?

We work hard to ensure our services feel welcoming and inclusive. It is important that this new team is representative of our diverse local and internal CARAS community. Whether you are new to volunteering with CARAS or are a regular volunteer looking to vary your role or a community member wanting to develop some leadership skills or volunteering experience, this might be the exact project for you.

Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities: 

· Signing up to a shift/s on the Tooting HUB welcome team rota

· Able to be at Tooting Hub in person to complete agreed shifts

· Welcoming staff, volunteers, existing and potential new community members and visitors

· Ensuring all visitors are responded to appropriately and introduced to the relevant member of staff, activity, project, or meeting

· Ensuring everyone completes the onsite register on arrival to comply with safeguarding, health and safety and fire evacuation policies

· Taking agreed initial intake information for new / drop in visitors wanting to attend a taster activity

· Conducting induction tours of the building and introductions to facilities, key staff, and partners

Requirements (all experience can be from paid or voluntary roles): 

Essential: 

· A calm, friendly, kind, and patient approach

· Happy and confident to meet new people and put them at their ease

· Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English

· To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds

· Confidence in using one’s own judgement to follow agreed policy

· Good IT admin skills in using Microsoft office, outlook, Google search, online forms etc

· A commitment to confidentiality and data protection

· Punctual and reliable

· To be able to volunteer on Mondays or Wednesdays for a minimum of four months

Desirable:

· Lived experience of seeking sanctuary and/ or the UK immigration system.

· Personal experience of working with people seeking asylum.

· Proficiency in one or more of the following community languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu, or Vietnamese.

We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process.

Benefits to Volunteering:

· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum.

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team.

· Develop your skills and competencies.

· Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training.

· Obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months’ regular volunteering

· All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. *

· You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role.

About the role

As the UK 4–10 Programme Team Leader, you’ll shape and lead the strategic direction for our youngest sections—Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs—ensuring they experience a high-quality, exciting programme that equips them with skills for life. You’ll work closely with dedicated volunteers across the UK, supporting and inspiring them to deliver engaging content that meets our national priorities. This role involves setting priorities, overseeing key projects, and leading a motivated team focused on Programme and Community Impact.

You’ll also represent and promote our work at events and workshops, acting as a passionate advocate for what we do. We’re looking for someone with strong leadership skills, experience working with volunteers, and a deep understanding of what young children need to thrive. If you're committed to The Scouts’ values, enjoy collaboration, and want to make a real impact on thousands of young lives, this is your opportunity.

Key tasks

• Strategy - creating and leading the strategy for the sections
• Prioritising - agreeing focusses of the team and balancing different demands
• Projects - sponsoring projects or being part of project teams
• Team - leading and managing the 4-10 Section and Community Impact teams
• Promotion - acting as an advocate for Programme at events, presentations and workshops

Find out more on our webpage...

INDEPENDENT READING GROUP VOLUNTEER (FACE-TO-FACE) 

CARAS Youth ESOL Programme – Monday, Wednesday mornings  

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About Youth ESOL: 

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

• CARAS is looking for Reading Group Volunteer to support our face-to-face study programme for young people.
• The reading group is in Tooting and is an important element of a study programme for young people aged 14 to 18 who are out of formal education.
• Students will be supported to read at length and complete challenges that are adapted to their ability level.
• The reading group aims to foster independence and a joy of reading among the young people and requires volunteers to learn about the young peoples' interests in order to help them select an appropriate text.
• The ESOL teacher will provide volunteers with tips to support reading and understanding for emerging learners of English, such as phonics and elicitation strategies.
• Volunteers will work with 1-5 students, mostly reading out loud with them or helping them to decode unfamiliar language.
• Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates. 

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities: 

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within the Reading Group sessions; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources; 

• Contributing to debriefs to inform the ESOL teacher how each student found the lesson/task and the students’ areas of greatest challenge and success;  

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Listening and supporting students to select, read and understand a text; Showing flexibility to the wide range of ability levels in the classroom; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential

• To be 18 years or older; 

• An interest in education and English language teaching;

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• * Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK.  

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (food and travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds; 

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Good communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• An interest in books and stories, writing and poetry 

• The ability to volunteer on Wednesday during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of four months; 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish; 

• Experience of reading with young people or learners of English, or teaching ESOL or phonics. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies such as literacy and phonics strategies for emerging learners of English; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering. 

Purpose of the Role

This role is ideal for someone who thrives on connecting with others and enjoys being active in the community. As a Volunteer Engagement & Outreach Ambassador, you will play a vital role in promoting RollaDome’s roller skating clubs, birthday parties, and employability programs by visiting schools, attending events, and networking with local organisations. Your energy, people skills, and passion for getting others involved will help bring new participants into our programs and increase our presence across boroughs.

Key Responsibilities

• Represent RollaDome at schools, youth centres, and community events.
• Promote our services, including skating clubs, classes, parties, and training programs.
• Build and maintain relationships with school staff, community leaders, and youth organisations.
• Distribute leaflets, posters, and program information within schools and key community venues.
• Gather expressions of interest and pass them to the relevant team members.
• Share regular updates on outreach activities via email, short voice notes, or a simple log sheet.
• Provide informal feedback from schools and communities to help us tailor our services.

What You Bring

• Confidence in speaking with people and promoting activities you believe in.
• A friendly, enthusiastic, and proactive approach to engaging with new communities.

• Basic IT confidence (email, WhatsApp, and phone communication are sufficient).
• Ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.

Support & Training Provided

• Full induction and ongoing support from the team.
• Access to clear promotional materials and talking points.
• Flexible work style – no fixed desk, no set times, just impactful engagement.
• Reimbursement of pre-approved travel costs related to outreach activities.

Educators and facilitators wanted to help East London Waterworks Park deliver its environmental learning goals.

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for educator and facilitator volunteers to participate in our community-led working group, who are collaborating with schools, universities and youth groups that help the design of the park. 

Examples of projects are: 

• collaborating on nature walk activities for schools
• supporting university students interviewing teachers
• creating lesson plans to co-design the park. 

Schools, universities and youth groups we've collaborated with include:

• Buxton School, Leytonstone
• Kingsmead School, Enfield 
• UCL 
• Royal College of Art
• University of Westminster 
• Project Zero
• Voyage Youth 
• Loyola University Chicago 
• Vanderbilt University Nashville. 

We're looking for people to lead on these projects and facilitate the direction of the learning working group.

The Learning Circle currently meets monthly on a Wednesday evening at 8pm for an hour on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

You should be an experienced teacher, educational consultant, forest school leader, training and development specialist, learning designer, facilitator or any other kind of role creating learning projects, programmes and experiences. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role. 

Your support will help young people and learners improve their environmental knowledge of design and research as well as contributing to our community-owned park. This will in turn provide a sense of stewardship over the land once the park is created and student's ideas have been built into the park. 

Creating learning projects with educational institutions will also help our charity with the strategy to buy the land through showing the value of our environmental education programme before we create the park.