Every week or so, in Lewisham

Depaul UK At your own home

Nightstop Host

Give a young person in crisis your spare room for a night, with an evening meal, breakfast, a shower and a friendly ear.

Hours

Evenings you choose from a rota

Term

A few odd hours

Only for

Must have a spare room

Asked of you

DBS check required — level not stated

Note

Full training and ongoing support

Shelter London

Winter Bucket Collection Volunteer

Hold collection buckets at community events and in public spaces across London to raise money for Shelter, picking the events that suit you.

Term

A few odd hours

Asked of you

Not checked recently

Shelter London

Volunteer Van Driver's Mate

Ride with a Shelter van driver around south London, collecting donated stock and furniture and delivering it between shops and pick-ups.

Term

A few odd hours

Only for

Must be able to lift heavy items of furniture

Asked of you

Not checked recently

Stonewall Housing Anywhere — remote

Live Chat Volunteer

Reply by typed chat from home to people visiting the website, pointing them to services and information, with a supervisor on every shift.

Hours

Live chat runs weekdays 14:00-17:00

Term

A few odd hours

Only for

People aged 18 or over, living in the UK

Asked of you

DBS check required — level not stated, aged 18 and over

Note

Full training from caseworkers, a supervisor on every shift, and ongoing support from the Volunteer Coordinator

Crisis London

Retail Volunteer

Serve customers and run the till, sort, price and display donated stock, and help dress the shop at a Crisis charity shop in London.

Hours

At least 4 hours or one full day a week (some shops set times with management) · 4 hours

Term

A slot each week

Asked of you

No DBS needed, aged 18 and over

Note

Induction and on-the-job training, with a supervisor to support you.

999 Club Lewisham

Gateway Volunteer

Help run the Gateway day centre: make breakfast, do laundry, manage the shower rota, clear up after meals and chat with people who come in.

Hours

Mon-Fri, 8:45am-12:30pm or 12pm-3:15pm, or all day

Term

A slot each week, 6 months at least

Asked of you

DBS check required — level not stated

Note

Full induction, skills training, supervision, monthly reflective practice, Level 2 Food Safety

999 Club Lewisham

Reception Volunteer

Greet people at the day centre, carry out first assessments for new clients, use the client database, answer phones and book appointments with support services.

Hours

Mon-Fri, 8:45am-12:30pm or 12pm-3:15pm, or all day

Term

A slot each week, 6 months at least

Asked of you

DBS check required — level not stated

Note

Service induction, In-Form database training, benefits awareness, supervision, reflective practice

999 Club Lewisham · part remote

Volunteer Admin Assistant

Assist the Volunteer Coordinator with the volunteer newsletter, recruitment and induction tasks, orientation events, feedback surveys and updating application forms.

Hours

Mon-Fri, 8:15am-12:30pm or 12pm-3:15pm, or all day

Term

A slot each week, 6 months at least

Asked of you

Not stated

Note

Full induction and ongoing supervision

Crisis London

Welcome and Reception

Greet people arriving at a Skylight centre, sign them in, answer phones and point them to activities and appointments.

Hours

Croydon: Thursdays, ideally 10am to 4pm. London: 4 hours per week

Term

A slot each week

Asked of you

Basic DBS, aged 18 and over

Note

Essential learning first: safeguarding, equality and diversity, data protection. A named supervisor throughout.

Crisis London

Handyperson Volunteer

Help Crisis's facilities team with small repairs and decorating at its sites: shelves, taps, door handles, light fittings and painting.

Hours

A few hours a week, preferably for a minimum of six months

Term

A slot each week

Asked of you

No DBS needed, aged 18 and over

Housing Justice East London, North London, South-east London

Citadel Volunteer

Give one-to-one practical and emotional support to someone moving into a new home, such as coffee chats, setting up bills and linking them to local services.

Hours

1-3 hours a week

Term

A slot each week

Asked of you

DBS check required — level not stated

Note

Full induction, training and ongoing supervision

Solace Women's Aid Across London

Volunteer Staff Counsellor

Counsel Solace employees one to one each week, in person or remotely, offering trauma-informed support with stress, burnout and wellbeing.

Term

A slot each week, 12 months at least

Only for

Qualified counsellors, or final-years trainees with over 150 clinical hours

Asked of you

DBS check required — level not stated, aged 16 and over

Note

Induction training, plus role-specific training delivered on site

The Big Issue Foundation Location not stated

Frontline Office Volunteer

Work in their London frontline office — admin, and the front desk where vendors come in for magazines and for help with whatever else is going on.

Term

A slot each week

Asked of you

Not stated

Note

Training in safeguarding, health and safety and data protection. Some roles ask for a reference.

Single Homeless Project Location not stated

Corporate and Individual Fundraising Support

Help the fundraising team run events, either on a one-off day or regularly.

Term

A few odd hours

Asked of you

Not stated

Single Homeless Project Location not stated

Hostel Maintenance and Gardening Volunteer

Help with gardening, repairs and DIY jobs at SHP hostels, including one-day team days.

Term

A few odd hours

Asked of you

Not stated

akt Location not stated

Volunteer Mentor

Meet one LGBTQ+ young person for an hour a week. Their volunteers say empathy and being reliably there matters more than having lived it yourself.

Hours

About an hour a week · 1 hours

Term

A slot each week

Asked of you

Not stated

Note

Induction to the organisation plus role-specific training

We could not confirm these particulars — read their own page before you go.

999 Club Lewisham

Housing, Employment and Advice Team Volunteer

Help people without stable housing look for private rentals, contact landlords and agents, arrange viewings, and work through social housing bids.

Hours

Thursdays, 10:00-15:00 · 5 hours

Term

A slot each week, 6 months at least

Asked of you

DBS check required — level not stated

Note

Full induction, skills training, supervision and monthly reflective practice

999 Club Lewisham

Women's Sanctuary Volunteer

Staff the women-only Sanctuary room: greet visitors, offer a drink and a listening ear, keep the space tidy and make referrals through the Female Lead.

Hours

Mon-Fri, 8:45am-12:30pm or 12pm-3:15pm, or all day

Term

A slot each week, 6 months at least

Only for

Women only (a female volunteer is sought for the women-only Sanctuary)

Asked of you

DBS check required — level not stated

Note

Full induction, skills training, supervision, monthly reflective practice

999 Club Lewisham

Project Volunteer

Support the day centre Project Worker by running first assessments for new arrivals, helping with benefit or literacy problems and booking people with advisors.

Hours

Mon-Fri, 8:45am-12:30pm or 12pm-3:15pm, or all day

Term

A slot each week, 6 months at least

Asked of you

DBS check required — level not stated

Note

Full induction, skills training, supervision, monthly reflective practice

Groundswell Location not stated

Homeless Health Peer Advocate

Accompany someone to health appointments, speak up for them, explain what is said and support their choices about treatment. Open to people with relevant lived experience.

Hours

At least two days a week, plus monthly team meetings

Term

A slot each week

Only for

People with lived experience of homelessness, addiction, recovery, mental health or prison

Asked of you

DBS check required — level not stated

Note

Four weeks of training first, then monthly team meetings and supervision

Housing Justice Across London

Winter Night Shelter

Work a night at a church shelter — welcoming guests, cooking, sitting up. Every night of the season, in Croydon and elsewhere across London.

Hours

Every night through the season

Term

A slot each week

Asked of you

Not stated

Note

Induction and training sessions run by Housing Justice before the season starts

Season

January to April