Volunteering About

Want to volunteer?

In-person volunteering opportunities

The NHS

The NHS (and the country) has been overwhelmed by the good people within local communities and who are volunteering to help during this crisis. They need more helpers – volunteer for the NHS.

The Felix Project

The Felix Project is looking for volunteers to help distribute food to vulnerable people around London – volunteer to support this effort.

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust, a health and wellbeing charity, is looking for volunteers for a number of roles, including befriending volunteers, groceries pick up volunteers and mental health champions. Please see its website for more information – volunteer for Manor Gardens Welfare Trust. View the roles at Manor Gardens Welfare Trust on the Careers Portal.

Peter Bedford Housing Association

The Peter Bedford Housing Association are planning to co-ordinate deliveries of food and essential supplies to the most vulnerable members of our community. They have properties across Hackney and Islington, so if you live in either borough and could safely make deliveries, please get in touch. You would be asked to leave packages on people's doorsteps, practising distancing in-line with government advice.

Email learn@peterbedford.org.uk to find out more and apply.

Toynbee Hall - Phone Befriending scheme

Toynbee Hall is looking for volunteers to call isolated elderly people twice a week minimum and having a chat to help them get through the isolation brought on by the Coronavirus crisis. The phone calls ned to be on the same times and days each week; and following the phone calls there will need to be reporting on the content in case there will be follow up actions, such as getting food, prescriptions, medical care. This activity will be need for 12 weeks, and may be extended if restrictions continue.

Email miry.mayer@toynbeehall.org.uk to find out more and apply.

Online volunteering opportunities

Parkinson's UK

As a patient and public involvement (PPI) volunteer you'll work alongside researchers to ensure research is relevant and meaningful to those affected by the condition. Some of these opportunities allow you to do them from home – view more information about becoming a PPI volunteer.

ARCA Generation

ARCA Generation has been running football, youth group and employability sessions for youth three times a week. With the current situation under Covid-19, all of its activities have had to cease, but the group is looking to deliver online support to its beneficiaries as best it can.

The youth group would greatly appreciate volunteers to deliver online interactive sessions with its youth. Some examples of what these sessions could look like include:

• support with their studies
• online exercise sessions to keep them active in their homes
• online tutorials (eg media workshops, creative ideas etc)
• online workshops and seminars on something youth might find relevant and interesting
• online games

View more information on ways you can help ARCA Generation through online games and exercise sessions.

View more information on ways you can help ARCA Generation online tutoring support.

Multiple Sclerosis Society

More than 130,000 people live with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the UK. Every one of them shares the uncertainty of life with MS. The Multiple Sclerosis Society is looking for volunteers that can commit to a two or three-hour telephone shift a week. Become an MS helpline volunteer. 

Boston Manor House

Layers of London is a map-based history website developed by the Institute of Historical Research. Users can access free historic maps of London and contribute stories, memories and histories to create a social history resource about their area. Its partners include the British Library, the London Metropolitan Archives, Historic England, the National Archives, MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) and a wide range of national and local archives, institutions, community groups and individuals. View Layers of London remote volunteering opportunities.

Children of the Mekong

Volunteers have helped Children of the Mekong translate some of the French content on its website. Now the international charity needs the finishing touch – to put the videos together – and is looking for someone to edit videos, adding subtitles and making shorter versions for the charity's social media channels. Volunteer as a video editor.

South London Cares

South London Cares has plans evolving in the coming weeks but opportunities are likely to include phone befriending volunteers. Please contact:

• matt.scaysbrook@southlondoncares.org.uk
• 020 7118 0404 (Option 1)

Southwark Irish Pensioners Project

Southwark Irish Pensioners Project has set up a keep-in-touch phone service and is accepting volunteers to phone clients, especially those with Irish accents, to maintain community links wherever possible – Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are required. If anyone can help the community service set up video conferencing, that would be great! Please contact:

• andrews@irishinlondon.org

Better Safer Communities

Better Safer Communities (BSC) is a social enterprise for public good, run by volunteer professionals in the neighbourhoods of Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham.  

They now work closely together with 40+ local social enterprises who are affiliated with Better, Safer, Communities and would like to offer London Met students remote work experience opportunities in the following areas:

• App Creation: Help develop an app for the wellbeing industry
• Administration: Provide administrative support and manage databases 
• Graphic Design: Design packaging and logos 
• Newsletters and Flyers: Write online content that is unique and engaging
• Fundraising: Identify potential ways to fundraise 
• Researching: Research learning difficulties and identify their needs
• Social Media: Promote and manage social media accounts
• Website Design: Create websites for local social enterprises 

To apply for the opportunities send your CV to peu@londonmet.ac.uk with the name of role(s) in the email.

Peter Bedford Housing Association

Provide 1:1 basic computing tutoring from your home, to help a person in need to connect with their loved ones, access benefits, and develop necessary skills to manage both during and after lockdown.

Find out more

ScrubHub

ScrubHub is a network of voluntary community groups who love to sew, and are making scrubs to order for NHS staff who are struggling to get them during this crisis. If you're a keen sewer, go to the ScrubHub website to find out how to get involved. 

Other volunteering opportunities

As a London Met student, you can find other volunteering opportunities via our Careers Portal.

View more volunteering opportunities published by the Greater London Authority – here you'll also find guidance about how to volunteer safely.