Volunteering frequently asked questions

Who can volunteer?

Everyone’s welcome to volunteer with us, but there might be some restrictions depending on which role you choose. Take a look at some of our commonly asked questions to find out more.

If you are a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you are free to volunteer your time for us.

If you’re from outside these areas and require a visa to visit, study or work in the UK you’ll need to check that you don’t have restrictions on your visa precluding from volunteering in the UK.

To prevent volunteering from breaching your visa conditions, we recommend that you contact  UK Visas and Immigration.

How do I volunteer?

We have lots of volunteer opportunities for you to choose from; you can start searching online now.

What happens once I’ve applied?

Once you’ve signed up, one of our volunteer team will be in touch. Depending on what role you’ve applied for, you might be able to start right away, or there might be some more information and training required.

To make sure everyone is safe we carry out certain checks, such as references. Don’t worry if this is your first job or volunteering opportunity, you could ask a teacher, colleague or neighbour. If you’re not sure who to put as a referee, you can contact us for further help.

Some roles require a standard or enhanced DBS check. We ask all applicants to let us know if they have any unspent convictions to consider whether this is relevant to your volunteering. If a DBS check is required, it will be indicated in our role descriptions.

Disclosing a conviction will not necessarily exclude you from becoming a volunteer, however we may discuss this with you before you begin volunteering.

DBS checks for volunteers are free of charge, and we can help you complete them.

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What's it like to volunteer?

Volunteering frequently asked questions

Who can volunteer?

How do I volunteer?

What happens once I’ve applied?

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