Whether you want to support your community, develop your skills in a specific area, get behind a cause you care about, or meet new people, you’ll find something that brings you joy.
Try a flexible/ short-term opportunity
Want to make a difference but have a busy schedule? One of these opportunities could be perfect for you.
🍵 Prepare hot meals for the community’s most vulnerable people with St John’s Soup Kitchen
Join a team of friendly volunteers for two shifts a month – you’ll be helping meet demand, which is very high due to the cost-of-living crisis. Guests are so grateful for your time and energy.
🏠 Welcome a Refugee or asylum-seeker in your home
Wondering what simple act you can take this Refugee Week? Provide shelter and a safe home for a refugee or asylum seeker in Hackney. You could host them in a spare room or sofa for a few nights to several months, depending on what works for you.
👩🏾🌾 Grow your own food with Edible Landscapes
Join a community of like-minded volunteers, and find out about forest gardening – growing food in a way that mimics natural ecosystems. You’ll get to try different edible plants, and try out a variety of activities like propagation, planting, carpentry, composting, harvesting, sign making, and garden taste tours.
🤸🏻♀️ Create a safe space for vulnerable young people with Free to Be Kids
As a residential Group Leader, you’ll stay on-site for 1 week, and gain invaluable experience working with a dynamic range of truly incredible children to help them have a break and receive some nurturing and positive adult support. Alongside at least one other volunteer, you will help empower young people from a variety of underprivileged backgrounds to explore opportunities and have fun, within a safe and inclusive environment.
Support your community
🤗 Befriend an isolated neighbour and support carers with our Community Befrienders service
Do you enjoy a chat and a cup of tea? For a couple of hours a week, you can support carers to take some time for themselves. Carers often experience stress, loneliness and isolation. They can find it difficult to go out because they cannot leave the person they look after on their own. You’d be making a huge difference, by taking part in activities with the cared for person, like playing a board game or going for a walk.
🏃🏽♀️ Help run free parkrun sessions for young people in London Fields
You’ll be lending a hand on Sunday mornings to keep children and young people safe and having fun. Activities could include setting up the course, scanning people’s barcodes at the finish or ensuring everyone gets safely around the route as a marshal.
🙏🏾 Help older Caribbean people in Hackney be active, independent, and love life
Lend a hand at Hackney Caribbean Elderly Organisation. You could be helping meet and greet members, help set up lunch, or support with activities like arts and crafts, music, and games.
Boost your CV
All volunteer experiences will give you transferrable skills – these are a few highlights for roles that can help you gain a range of skills, including admin, leadership, fundraising and more.
🌈 Help make organisations more LGBT+ inclusive with East London Out Project
You are invited to join this dynamic Training and Education Team to help deliver training to professionals, and encourage people to start talking, thinking and planning for change that makes a real difference to LGBT+ people’s lives.
You could take part in a range of activities, like writing to a local newspaper, lobbying an MP, or supporting campaigns. You’re in control of how much or how little you do.
✍️ Raise money to support disabled people in Hackney
Choice in Hackney is a local charity run by disabled people, for disabled people. They need volunteers to help with their fundraising – you could be researching grants, writing applications, or contacting other charities. You’d be helping them make sure that disabled people from all communities can access the services they need to live independently, with dignity and to make choices about their own lifestyles.
Didn’t find what you’re after? Head to our volunteer page to find more opportunities.