Guide to Volunteering in London
London is one of the most cultural and diverse cities in the world and if you would like to do something worthwhile then consider applying to volunteer. There are short and long term opportunities available all year round in all areas of the city. If you are applying from overseas some organisations will pay for your travel and food expenses whilst others will require you to fund this yourself. View our guide to volunteering in London today.
Benefits:
- Make a difference
- Learn new skills / gain different experiences
- Meet new people and make new friends
- Help career prospects
- Have fun and combine your interests / use existing skills
- Put something back into the community
- Keep yourself active and occupied
Questions to Ask Before Applying
Before you decide to volunteer, you might find it useful to ask yourself some of these questions:
- What do I enjoy doing?
- What skills do I have?
- What skills do I want to learn?
- How much time can I give?
How You Can Help
Types of volunteer opportunities in London include:
- Help Animals
- Befriending / Buddying
- Mentoring Children
- Youth Disability Education & Learning
- Elderly Environmental
- Events Management Organisation
- Events Stewarding
- Fundraising
- Healthcare
- IT / Business
- LGBT Support
- Environmental projects
- Charity shops
- NGO
Community Volunteer Opportunities in London
Helping peope is one of the most popular ways to volunteer.
- Homeless charity Crisis has a wide variety of volunteer opportunities in the UK
Religious Volunteer Placements in London
Several religious organisations offer volunteering programs all year round.
Volunteer with Animals in London
- Battersea Dogs & Cats Home - You can volunteer at three London centres caring for cats and dogs. Volunteer roles include cat fostering, cattery support volunteers, community engagement volunteers, dog fostering, events volunteers, front of house volunteers, grounds and garden volunteers, kennel support volunteers and specialist volunteers.
LGBT Volunteering
- London Friend have been supporting LGB&T people since 1972 making us the oldest LGB&T charity in the UK. We started humbly, providing vital support to gay and lesbian people at a time when social attitudes towards our community were significantly different to today.
Eligibility
People of all ages and backgrounds can and do volunteer. Most organisations will require you to be aged 16+ unless volunteering as part of a group or with your family. If you have a certain skill e.g. speaking a different language this will be really helpful. Please note some volunteer roles are subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service check (formerly known as Criminal Records Bureau or CRB checks) especially if you are looking to work with people or children.
How to Apply
You can search our featured projects and organisations or you might want to seek out opportunities locally. Most organisations will require you to make a formal application, usually by filling out an online form. Sometimes places are limited and spaces can fill up quick so don't be dissapointed if you don't hear back.
Past Participant Reviews & Experiences
"Last year I volunteered with Crisis which was an eye opening experience - highly recommend if you are looking to learn more about homelessness and the efforts being made to help people." - Paul, Clapham
"I have a volunteer job at a womens refuge which is challenging but so rewarding when you see the work being done to help vulnerable women and children." - Jo, Hackney
"I volunteer at a charity shop in my spare time. I do a few hours a week and it is a great way to meet likeminded nice people." - Chris, Balham
"Volunteering has given me some structure and purpose, London can be a large lonely city but my placement has allowed me to do something beneficial and also make new friends." - Natalia, Croydon
“I have been living and working in the Simon Community for six months and have just extended my time to a year because I realise what an exceptional organisation the Simon Community is. It allows me to look at people as human beings, instead of a ‘client group’, and getting to know them as individuals, rather than statistics. I believe that giving to others should be a way of life – not a job, and the Simon Community makes this possible. I have enjoyed the freedom of being able to think for myself, making it possible to contribute productively to our developing projects. I’d recommend this project to all those people who are willing to put in hard work to really make a difference.” - Beth Eleftheriades
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