Latest volunteering opportunities | University of Reading

Explore the latest volunteering opportunities, on-campus, locally and online. We'll update these opportunities regularly, so keep checking back to view the newest!

These can be used towards your RED Awards activities. Not signed up? Find out more and register for the RED Awards.

*Please note, there are University policies regarding work and study for full-time students applied to volunteering. You can find out more about the limitations of this on our work and study page.

This is a signposting webpage for available volunteering opportunities in the local area, if you have any questions or have a volunteering provider you'd like to be featured on this page, please email volunteer@reading.ac.uk⁠.

Accessibility & Inclusion

Opportunity	What will you be doing?	Online or in person?	Awards Link
Be My Eyes Volunteer	Provide virtual assistance to the visually impaired through the ‘Be My Eyes’ app. This app allows a visually impaired individual to live video call a volunteer for help with tasks such as: checking expiry dates, distinguishing colours, reading instructions and navigating surroundings.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 10
Dimension	Dimensions support people with learning difficulties and autism to achieve more. They have a number of online volunteering opportunities available, including project assistant or in-person football buddy.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 10
Guide Dogs	Guide Dogs helps blind and partially sighted people across the UK through the provision of guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services. They have a range of voluntary roles, and you can search by your postcode to find opportunities close to you.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 10
Hidayah	Hidayah provide support, education and welfare for the Muslim LGBTQ+ community. Hidayah are currently seeking volunteers to assist with sponsorships and fundraising.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 5, 10
Keen London	If you enjoy sports and fun, volunteer with KEEN London and help them run free weekly sport and game sessions for children and young adults (age 5-25) with a wide range of disabilities.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 3
Me2Club	Me2 Club is a charity who support children with additional needs and disabilities in the Wokingham and Reading Boroughs attending mainstreams activities such as uniform groups, sports clubs and drama groups. This is achieved by matching a child with a 1-1 volunteer who can support them throughout such activities.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 5, 10
Sense Virtual Buddying Volunteer	Sense matches volunteers with disabled people to meet online for an hour a week. Join our amazing volunteer team to make a difference to disabled people who are lonely.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 10
Smart Works	Smart Works Reading uses the power of high-quality clothing and one-to-one coaching to support women to succeed at interview, get the job and transform their lives. There are plenty of different roles to choose from that cater to a wide range of skills and commitment. This includes supporting social media content creation, event organisation, booking in clients and ensuring the smooth running of our service.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours, RED Sustainable Action Award SDG 5
Tarjimly Volunteer	We are always in need of multi-linguals who can donate some of their spare time and skills to help refugees and immigrants with interpretation and translation on the Tarjimly app. There is no minimum time you need to commit, and you can volunteer flexibly according to your schedule.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 10 RED Global Engagement Award
TED Talk Translator	TED Translators are a community of volunteers who subtitle TED talks so that the talks may reach a global audience.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Global Engagement Award
VocaliD Volunteer	VocaliD volunteers record personal voice notes for VocaliD to enhance their research in building unique digital voices to uplift those who rely on assistive technology, and to diversify the voices they hear.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours

Animal Welfare

Opportunity	What will you be doing?	Online or in person?	Awards Link
Charity Buddy	Charity Buddy help volunteers to support animal welfare organisations whilst using existing expertise. They advertise a range of different opportunities to support organisations and projects.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Take action for insects volunteer	Help The Wildlife Trusts in taking action for insects and see how you can practically help the insects in your own home and garden!	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 15
Run, Herring, Run! Volunteer	Help count emigrating herring through online footage to help researchers further understand this threatened fish species.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 14

Arts

Opportunity	What will you be doing?	Online or in person?	Awards Link
The Rising Suns Arts Centre	The Rising Sun Arts Centre is an award-winning, independent arts centre. There are a variety of volunteering opportunities, including bar work, marketing and fundraising.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Thames Valley Police Vocalists Volunteers	Thames Valley Police Vocals is a choir that performs at events including their Open Day, carol concerts and Road Death Memorial Service. They are looking for volunteers to join the choir at events and Saturday morning rehearsals.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours

Community

Opportunity	What will you be doing?	Online or in person?	Awards Link
Sport in Mind	Sport in Mind is a mental health charity that hosts an exciting programme of free physical activities & weekly sessions throughout the year. Sessions are open to anyone 17+ who is experiencing low mood, loneliness or social isolation, and those with a diagnosed mental health condition. And we’re looking for volunteers! If you want to give back to your local community and help support adults with mental health challenges become more active to support their recovery and wellbeing, get in touch! We’re looking for volunteers who are caring, understanding, patient, nurturing and invested in promoting a positive experience for the participants. Yes, it’s important you have a passion for advocating the benefits of being active, but you don’t have to be good at sport, it’s all about having fun & encouraging sport for all! There are options to support regularly at one of our weekly sessions, or as a one-off at local community events attended or hosted by Sport in Mind.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award SDG 3, 10
Keep Caversham Tidy	The purpose of the charity is to keep Caversham tidy. In particular, the charity is committed to working with Reading Borough Council and other organisations to: - eliminate litter from Caversham and nearby areas - improve public space There are regular events (such as litter picks) that volunteers can join.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 11, 13
CSSC (Civil Service Sports Council) Volunteer	CSSC is a volunteer organisation, with each region and area within it run by a team of volunteers who manage the area finances, run local events, local sport, help with marketing or communications. CSSC is looking for volunteers who would start up and support online and virtual activities, that encourage members to get active and feel happier.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Girl Guiding Volunteer	A girl guiding volunteer will volunteer with girls at unit meetings every week. Volunteers can choose to work with Rainbows, Brownies, Guides or Rangers.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Museums Partnership Reading (The MERL and Reading Museum)	The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) and Reading Museum aim to offer volunteering opportunities to the local community to improve wellbeing, connect people to their personal histories and identities, and get to know more about Reading's rich cultural heritage.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Reading School Combined Cadet Force	Supporting the training and development of cadets aged 13-18 through a varied training programme involving fieldcraft, leadership, aviation, first aid and shooting (amongst others), both on after school parade nights once a week and on the training weekends and camps run throughout the year.	In Person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award SDG 4

Conservation

Opportunity	What will you be doing?	Online or in person?	Awards Link
eBird Volunteer	Assisting in global bird research by simply tracking your bird sighting on the eBird website - contributing to a community network of worldwide birdwatchers.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 15
Project Plumage	Help to extract colour information to answer key questions about bird colour evolution by analysing photographed museum specimens.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
RSPB Volunteer	RSPB offer a wide range of volunteering opportunities dependent on the requirements of your local centre.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 15
ZSL Volunteer	Supporting ZSL conservation work by tagging animals seen in live videos and images provided by ZSL.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 15
Zooniverse Project Volunteer	Zooniverse offers a few different volunteering roles, from data analysis, beta tester and project moderators to help moderate discussions and act as a point of contact for the project.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - depends on activity RED Global Engagement Award - depends on activity

Creative

Opportunity	What will you be doing?	Online or in person?	Awards Link
American Cancer Society Virtual Volunteer	You will work alongside team members to complete a ‘Relay for Life’ - a virtual online relay completed using avatars in the ‘Second Life’ 3D virtual world. This virtual event raises money for the American Cancer Society.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
CHD Living Volunteer	‘Adopt a Grandparent’ campaign partners an individual with an elderly in CHD Living Home, to provide them with company through having phone/video calls and sending photos/postcards/letter via post or email.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
HenPal Volunteer	As a HenPal volunteer you will become a ‘pen pals’ with an elderly individual to create friendships through letter writing or visual correspondence, reducing social isolation among older people and engaging their interests.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Letters Against Isolation	Send Self-Isolating Seniors Letters to Brighten Their Days!	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Post pals	Help Post Pals to ‘post a smile on a sick child’s face’ by sending cards, letters and little gifts to ill children and their siblings in the UK.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Loving Hands Volunteer	Using knitting, sewing and crocheting skills to craft items to donate to charities and groups all over the world. There are various Loving Hands groups across the UK, more information on this is available on the website.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Sands	Knit or crochet blankets to go inside memory boxes to bring comfort to parents after the death of a baby	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours

Education

Opportunity	What will you be doing?	Online or in person?	Awards Link
CoachBright	Volunteer to coach school pupils from low-income backgrounds in person or online for one hour per week for 8 weeks to help them improve their grades, confidence and ability to realise their ambition. You'll get full training in how to coach and can draw on CoachBright's extensive library of resources for support with session planning. You will also be supported by a programme officer every step of the way.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 4 RED Global Engagement Award
English teaching with Reading Refugee Support Group	Help refugees and asylum-seekers in Berkshire to practice and learn English on a one-to-one basis.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 4 RED Global Engagement Award
The Access Project	Help a student from a disadvantaged background beat the odds and get to a top university by signing up as a volunteer tutor with The Access Project.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 4
Tutor the Nation	Tutor The Nation is looking for university students, recent graduates and experienced tutors to volunteer 1 hour per week to provide free 1:1 online tutoring to disadvantaged GCSE and A-level students.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 4
Learning Ally Volunteer	Learning Ally relies on volunteers to share their talents and create human-read audiobooks that provides support in helping them reach the 30 million students who struggle to read.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 4
Studenteer	Studenteer was formed to serve as an educational platform encouraging the next generation of professionals to develop skills in the world of work, support a cause that matters to them and virtually network with a diverse range of individuals and organisations during this challenging time.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 4
Governors for Schools	School governors offer strategic guidance, rather than getting involved in the operational aspects of a school. This involves: Working with other board members to plan the school’s strategic direction. Overseeing the school’s financial performance, ensuring money is well-spent. Holding the headteacher or school leadership to account.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 4

Projects

Opportunity	What will you be doing?	Online or in person?	Awards Link
By the People	Help transcribe Library of Congress documents. Volunteers create and review transcriptions to improve search, access, and discovery of these pages from history.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Crowd2map	Crowd2map helps girls fleeing female genital mutilation (FGM) who come from very remote villages, that are absent from any map. Volunteers contribute their time to adding roads and buildings into a free open-source global map, so that help can reach those in remote locations.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Distributed Proofreaders Volunteer	Distributed Proofreaders convert public domain books into eBooks. Volunteering for Distributed Proofreaders is great for someone with an eye for detail and passion for preserving literary history.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
F Cancer volunteer	Become a remote F cancer volunteer and help support charities fighting cancer. You can join a variety of projects to help from website design to social media.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 10 RED Global Engagement Award
Localgiving	Localgiving support thousands of local charities and community groups with their online fundraising every day.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 4
Maturity of Baby Sounds Volunteer	Help researchers to understand the early stages of language learning by classifying short recordings of babies’ speech sounds.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Missing Maps Volunteer	This role requires you to use OpenStreetMap to help map areas where humanitarian organizations are trying to meet the needs of vulnerable people.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 10 RED Global Engagement Award
Project Implicit	You will be required to assist in psychological research on thoughts and feelings by taking an Implicit Association Test (IAT) from a list of various topics.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Smithsonian Digital Volunteer	This role involves using transcription to make historical documents and biodiversity data more available.	Online	RED Award - Volunteer Hours
Translate Without Borders Volunteer	You will be required to be fluent in one other language, other than your native language. There is various engaging projects where translating assistance is required. There are also other volunteer roles such as graphic or webpage designers.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award -SDG 10 RED Global Engagement Award
Volunteers for Study	The Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition at the University of Reading is recruiting volunteers for a study to assess the food and nutrient intake of adults eating in University of Reading catering outlets. This study will run for 6 weeks in the 2024/2025 semester . Once a week, participants will need to complete an online questionnaire reporting all the food and drink consumed that day; this will take approximately 30 minutes per week. We are interested in recruiting males and females aged 18 years and above who eat at least 2 meals per week in The University of Reading catered outlets.	In person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours

Welfare

Opportunity	What will you be doing?	Online or in person?	Awards Link
Amnesty Decoders Volunteers	Using your device to sift through pictures, information and documents to help expose human right violations. There are various projects available on their website.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 10, 16 RED Global Engagement Award
British Red Cross Support Line Volunteer	Some of those you will be helping will need emotional support as they are experiencing loneliness and isolation. Others may need help accessing their medication or food, or to be signposted to an external agency who can provide further support.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 2, 3
Cancer Research UK Shop Volunteer	As a Cancer Research UK Shop Volunteer, you will have the opportunity to be involved in many aspects of the day to day running of the store including sorting stock, customer service, till work, window dressing and more.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Care4Calais	Support asylum seekers and refugees as they arrive in the UK with a range of support tasks including things that can be done both virtually and in-person.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 10 RED Global Engagement Award
Centrepoint Volunteer	Centrepoint is a charity that has a positive impact on homeless young people’s lives. Through various roles, Centrepoint’s volunteers support young people’s career ambitions, engage them with their services and programmes, help them into accommodation or give them a little extra nudge to try something new.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Change Grow	As a Volunteer Recovery Outreach support, you will be working with a team to support people with their or their own loved ones’ drug and/or alcohol issues.	In- person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Crisis Text Line Volunteer	Provide online support for those in a crisis over text. Volunteers aid those texting the crisis text line through active listening, collaborative problem solving and safety planning.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 3
FoodCycle	FoodCycle provides free, nutritious takeaway meals to those in the community who needs it. FoodCycle volunteer roles include cooking, collecting or hosting	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 1, 2
Forward	Be part of our global network working towards ending FGM, child marriage and violence against women and girls.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 3, 5, 10 RED Global Engagement Award
Freerice	When playing Freerice, every correct question answer triggers an advertisement that appear on your screen. Every advertisement you see provides a financial payment to the World Food Programme to support changing lives across the globe.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 1, 2 RED Global Engagement Award
National Youth Advocacy Service	The National Youth Advocacy Service (NYAS) is a UK charity providing children's rights and socio-legal services. It offers information, advice, advocacy and legal representation to children, young people and vulnerable adults though a network of advocates throughout England and Wales.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 10
NHS Volunteer Responder	The NHS are recruiting volunteer responders to help secure the NHS and social care sector during COVID-19. There are varying roles available (listed on application website).	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award -SDG 3
Royal Air Forces Association	Volunteering for the RAF Association is a great way of developing your skills and meeting new people, at the same time as supporting members of the RAF community in your local area who need your help.	Online	RED Award - Volunteer Hours
Royal Voluntary Service - Hospital Volunteer	Supporting the NHS, the Royal Voluntary Service offers a wide range of hospital volunteer opportunities.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 3
Samaritan Listening Volunteer	As a listening volunteer you’ll answer calls and messages from people who really need someone to talk to. You’ll be based in one of 201 branches in the UK.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Starting Point	Starting Point provides mentoring and creates opportunities for young people in the Reading area. The young people are predominantly vulnerable or facing disadvantage, not in education, employment, or training, or are at risk of leaving education early/being excluded. By partnering with the local community, we match each young person to a mentor who is best suited to them. The mentor provides consistent and reliable support, helping the young person towards a brighter and more hopeful future whilst celebrating small steps along the way.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Student Minds	One in three students report clinical levels of psychological distress, with students facing academic, social and financial challenges. We believe it does not need to be this way, all students and members of the university community should be able to thrive at university. Join us and become part of a passionate and innovative team working hard to transform the state of student mental health.	Both	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
Sue Ryder Retail Volunteer	Support the charity work for palliative, neurological and bereavement care, from working in a charity shop, supporting care services or fundraising.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours
The Sapphire Foundation Soup Kitchen	The Sapphire Foundation Soup Kitchen rely on their donations and volunteers to support and feed over 150 people every week.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 1, 2
Trussell Trust Foodbank Volunteer	Local foodbanks across the nation are requiring volunteers to: sort and pack food donations in their warehouses, collecting donations from supermarkets, delivering food to those in greatest need	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 1, 2
UN Volunteers	UN volunteering offers lots of different online volunteering opportunities depending on your skills. These skills may range from translation, writing and editing, technology development, research, art and design.	Online or in-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award -depending on activity RED Global Engagement Award - depending on activity
Volunteer West Berkshire	Providing help to those most vulnerable in the local community during Covid-19, this includes tasks such as: delivering essential items, providing transport to appointments.There are similar volunteer schemes available in most areas nationwide, however, tasks may slightly vary.	In-person	RED Award- Volunteer Hours RED Sustainable Action Award - SDG 3
7 Cups Volunteer	7 Cups listeners offer emotional support to those that need it via online chat by simply listening to their personal troubles.	Online	RED Award- Volunteer Hours

Key:

SDG (Sustainable Development Goals)

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