Young People

We believe that young people can make all the difference to their communities and their lives through the power of volunteering. We run a wide range of volunteering programmes and projects across the country that help them do just that.

With us young people discover what they care about, and are empowered to do something about it. We refuse to see any young person, no matter their circumstances, as anything other than an asset. Volunteering enables them to make a positive difference in their communities. It not only boosts their confidence and expands their social circle, it enhances their life skills and future employability.

Our Full Time Volunteering programme has been changing the lives of its volunteers and the communities they support for over 50 years. Our Positive Futures programmes work with young people to design and deliver the social action they care about. Our peer-led sexual and mental health programmes, such as Sex Matters and Mind Matters, improve volunteers’ confidence and awareness. Our volunteers also support children and young people – through befriending, mentoring, reading in schools and supported volunteer programmes.

But don’t take it from us – we regularly share stories from our volunteers about their experiences!

                                           

Connect+Go

Connect+Go is a volunteer transport service funded by Department of Transport, helping to tackle lonelines and isolation in young people.

Equip Mentoring (Ipswich)

Equip Mentoring provide support for young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET).

Equip Suffolk

Equip Mentoring provide support for young people who are not in employment, education or training (NEET).

EVS

EVS (European Voluntary Service) is an international volunteer program funded by the European Commission. It enables all young people legally resident in Europe, aged between 18 and 30 years, to carry out an international volunteer service in an organisation or in a public body in Europe, Africa, Asia or South America for a period ranging … Continued

Full-time Volunteering To Close

Volunteering Matters will be closing the Full-Time Volunteering programme in 2023. We have immediately stopped accepting applications from International and UK applicants. Volunteering Matters will continue with other local projects that support communities across England, Scotland and Wales.

Futures Matter

Futures Matter trains and supports volunteer leaders to devise and run volunteering initiatives for the benefit of their local community in Ipswich.
filmon grandmentors intergenerational mentoring

Grandmentors

Grandmentors: building better futures for young people leaving care in 11 areas of the UK. Volunteer Grandmentors share their skills and experience with young people leaving care to help them get on in life.

Hounslow Allies

The Hounslow Allies project recruits, trains and supports adults from the local community to become allies (Independent Visitors) to looked after children and young people.

Peer Perspectives Clackmannanshire

Led by volunteers aged 16-25, who have been supported and trained by our team, these young people want to play an active role in their community by championing mental health, whilst developing their own skills at the same time.
reading in schools volunteering

RSVP Reading in Schools

Our Retired and Senior Volunteer Programmes (RSVP) offer volunteering in local schools across the UK, for people aged 50+, where they can support pupils with with reading, maths or specialized subjects.

SAFE (Sexual Awareness for Everyone)

The S.A.F.E project (Sexual Awareness For Everyone) is for women living in Gwent aged 16 – 35 who have a learning need or disability. The project aims to give vulnerable young people the tools to identify appropriate and safe relationships.

SAFE Male

Volunteering Matters’ SAFE (Sexual Awareness For Everyone) male project is aimed at males aged 16-35 in Gwent who have a learning need or disability.

The Loop

The Loop gives beneficiaries the opportunity to become volunteers. It enables participants to access the social group as and when they need support, progress onto the Goals Group when ready and take their learning further within the Projects Group.

Volunteer Centre Newcastle

Volunteer Centre Newcastle acts as a connector between people and communities with a database of opportunities across the city.
WASSUP

WASSUP (Women Against Sexual Exploitation and Violence Speak UP)

WASSUP is a project run by local young women in Ipswich. They focus on raising awareness of sexual exploitation, domestic abuse, honour based violence and gang grooming. They also prioritise lobbying for changes to social policy and practice on these issues promoting young people’s voice.

We Are Patrick

Inspired by Ipswich-based project WASSUP, We Are Patrick is a youth social action programme delivered by young men in Ipswich.

Grandmentors Volunteer (Lewisham)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Lewisham.

Grandmentors (Midlothian)

Grandmentors Midlothian is an innovative volunteering project where older volunteers use their life experience and skills, to support and mentor care experienced young people, or young people with barriers to achievement.

Grandmentors – Volunteer (Suffolk)

Volunteers will be matched to a young person who is out of employment, education or training to provide mentoring, guidance and skills development.

Grandmentors – Volunteer (Surrey)

Volunteers will be matched to a young person who is out of employment, education or training to provide mentoring, guidance and skills development.

Peer Perspectives Clackmannanshire

The Peer Perspectives project involves recruiting young people aged 16-25, training them on issues related to mental health, working with them to create workshops that can be delivered to other young people, and providing volunteers with a valuable development opportunity along the way. This project is very much about giving young people the space and the tools they need to talk confidently about mental … Continued

GRANDMENTORS – VOLUNTEER (Wandsworth)

Grandmentors is an innovative volunteering project where older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support and mentor young people leaving the care system. These young people who are out of employment, education or training (NEET) often need a guiding hand and role model to support them to find work, continue their education or … Continued

GRANDMENTORS – VOLUNTEER (BRENT)

Grandmentors is an innovative volunteering project where older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support and mentor young people leaving the care system. These young people who are out of employment, education or training (NEET) often need a guiding hand and role model to support them to find work, continue their education or … Continued

RESPECT – Call for volunteers

If you want to be involved in helping your community through the COVID-19 crisis, but are unsure how to get involved, this is your opportunity.  If you are 16-years and older and interested in making a difference, then contact us for more info using the form below.

We Are Patrick – call for volunteers

We’re looking for volunteers aged 18-24 who want to make a positive difference in Suffolk. Develop new skills and gain a qualification, help your peers realise their potential, build confidence, improve their wellbeing and overcome the issues that affect them.

GRANDMENTORS – VOLUNTEER (WARWICKSHIRE)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Warwickshire.

GRANDMENTORS – VOLUNTEER (WOLVERHAMPTON)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Wolverhampton.

GRANDMENTORS – VOLUNTEER (Milton Keynes)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Milton Keynes.

GRANDMENTORS – VOLUNTEER (Wiltshire)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Wiltshire.

SAFE – Peer Mentor Volunteer (Gwent)

The SAFE (‘Sexual Awareness for Everyone’) project running across Gwent will help improve the personal safety and good sexual health of young women (aged 16 to 35) with learning difficulties through peer led workshops, one to one peer support and through the production and distribution of a SAFE card.

Grandmentors – Volunteer (Ipswich)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Ipswich.

Grandmentors – Volunteer (Islington)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Islington.

Grandmentors – Volunteer (Hounslow)

Grandmentors is an innovative project that sees older volunteers use their lifetime of skills and experience to support young people leaving the care system. This opportunity is for Grandmentors Hounslow.

Grandmentors and Hounslow Allies

All local authorities have a statutory duty to provide independent visitors to all children in care (aged 8 – 16+) who would benefit. In Hounslow, London, we’ve been providing an Independent Visitor Service – Hounslow Allies – for over 12 years. We also run Grandmentors in Hounslow. Grandmentors is an intergenerational mentoring programme that matches … Continued

WASSUP: Amber’s Story

'It feels to me that I have gone full circle in the volunteering world, by starting as a volunteer and being empowered by the staff there, to becoming a staff member myself and empowering the next generation of volunteers.'

Full-Time Volunteering: Carers’ Support Bexley

The role of a Full-Time Volunteer (FTV) can be very varied, and supporting full-time carers is just one of the ways that FTVs provide incredible support to those they volunteer with. Volunteering Matters has been working with Carers’ Support Bexley for over 20 years (back when we were known as Community Service Volunteers!) and we … Continued

Futures East: Beth and Halimah

Lisa, our Project Officer for Futures East, recently spoke to two of our volunteers about their roles. Futures East is a programme that empowers young people with learning disabilities, autism and additional support needs to undertake a fulfilling and worthwhile voluntary role in the community. 

Full-Time Volunteering: Lea’s Story

Lea volunteers in a school with children with disabilities, and she loves it. She feels she has grown in confidence and has developed her personality, getting to know her strengths and her flaws.

SAFE: Rhianydd’s Story

Rhianydd has autism and feels she’s a good candidate to volunteer on a project for people with learning disabilities. She says “I am their peer and they engage with me as I understand.”

Full-time Volunteering: Sandy’s Story

Sandy spent a year as a full-time volunteer on project Vocal, supporting people with learning disabilities to become actively involved in their community by volunteering.

Full-time Volunteering: Larry’s Story

Ever wondered what a full-time volunteer actually does? Each opportunity is different, and we heard from Larry who volunteers for the disability and well being service at the London School of Economics.

Behind Every Kick: Rosalind’s Story

Meeting on the pitch for training sessions before one-to-one mentoring helped Rosalind to build a positive relationship with her Behind Every Kick mentee.

North Lanarkshire Befriending Project: Ross’ Story

'After I graduated volunteering as a befriender gave me a sense of satisfaction and reward that no desk job ever could – giving your time to someone who just needs a pal is an amazing gift, and one that a young person will remember forever.'

What it’s like to be a Grandmentor

Karen heard about Grandmentors through the local business community, and is already seeing a great difference in her mentee, only a few weeks into supporting her as a volunteer.

North Lanarkshire Befriending Project: Evelyn’s Story

'I originally thought as a befriender I was there just to give my young person time out from their family life and to allow them to have some fun whilst also helping them make positive choices going forward in their lives. I didn’t think for one minute how much I would benefit and gain from being a befriender.'

Grandmentors: Ed’s Story

"Mentoring gives us an opportunity to continue to deploy our skills and knowledge, but in a very different environment."

Sex Matters Too: Rhys’s Story

"I think that volunteering with Volunteering Matters and having it on my CV made me stand out from the crowd and more able to get a full-time job."

Employee Volunteering: Simon’s Story

"Getting involved with this project has been one of the best decisions I have made during my time at Pearson, and I am grateful to the company for its support."

Grandmentors Programme Review

An external review of the Grandmentors programme, conducted between June and September 2017. The review looks at what Grandmentors offers in the current policy and commissioning environment, and how the model could be evolved for the future.

Job Bridge – Erasmus+ project

The Job Bridge project has come to an end. We are glad to announce that we have been able to achieve the aspired result. Here is what we did, in a nutshell: As part of the Job Bridge project, facilitators of learning initiatives for young people participated in an extensive training course in Göttingen in February … Continued

Grandmentors Golf day raises £5,000 for care leavers

Seventy supporters raised £5,000 for Grandmentors, an inter-generational award-winning project of Volunteering Matters. The money will help to provide weekly support for young care leavers over a 6-12 month period, ensuring greater well-being, autonomy and career prospects.

Volunteering Matters welcomes new Civil Society Minister

Volunteering Matters featured in an article about the appointment of the new Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Barran, in which we stated we looked forward to working with her to ensure that more people can change lives and transform communities trough volunteering.

Volunteers honoured at the Royal Garden Party 2019

Our volunteers and guests from projects running across Scotland were nominated to attend as a gesture of thanks for their commitment to their roles supporting vulnerable people in the community.

Sunshine Cafe celebrates anniversary

Sunshine Café, which acts as a social hub for the village of Leeswood celebrated its first anniversary. The morning’s filling included the usual fare of hot chocolate, teacakes and laughter.

Grandmentors programme wins National Mentoring Award

Volunteering Matter’s Grandmentors programme won a prestigious national award recognising its transformational work in mentoring young care leavers. The Grandmentors programme received the honour in the Third Sector category at the recent National Mentoring Awards, in recognition of the 1:1 support that Grandmentors provide young people leaving care. One of the key areas that impressed … Continued

Speaking out against sexual harassment

Our new project for women aged 16-35 across Gwent who have learning difficulties or autism, empowering them to recognise sexual harassment and abuse

Our Volunteer Awards 2018

At this year's AGM we wanted to recognise the incredible individual efforts made by our volunteers, and the impact they make every day up and down the UK. We developed a new set of Volunteer Awards, to cover the full range of our work

Volunteers attend Queen’s Garden Party 2018

For the second year, volunteers from our North Lanarkshire Befriending Project, Help at Hand, and the Employee Volunteering team from the Co-Op were honoured at the Royal Garden Party at Holyrood Palace!

Mind Matters team wins at Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards

Our Mind Matters team were awarded at the Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards 2018! The peer-led approach allows for a safe space for young people to discuss worries, concerns and work towards supporting the 1 in 10 children in the UK who are affected by mental health problems.

Volunteering Matters scoops charity award!

We are delighted to announce that Volunteering Matters has won the award for ‘social care, advice and support’ in the 2018 Charity Awards for our Grandmentors programme.

Volunteering for all – all year round!

As thousands of volunteers are being celebrated up and down the country as part of Volunteers’ Week, we of course couldn’t let the moment pass without three cheers for our incredible volunteers!

We’re challenging young people to start their revolution!

This month sees the launch of our brand new campaign to change young people’s perceptions of volunteering. Titled ' Revolution You ', our campaign aims to challenge preconceived notions of volunteering and encourage more young people to consider a gap year in the UK. 
Karen and Sarah

Taking Grandmentors to new places!

Both Stockton Council and Wiltshire Council will be teaming up with Volunteering Matters to launch Grandmentors in their area, providing new inter-generational mentoring to young people leaving care. 

Positive Futures for young people in Ipswich

We’re delighted to announce that our work with and for young people across Ipswich has been given a boost this month with the arrival of a new youth volunteering project in the area – Positive Futures.

Mind Matters volunteer Sophie scoops Diana Award

We are delighted to announce that one of our amazing volunteers, Sophie, was presented with a Diana Award at the Inspire Wales award ceremony in Cardiff City Hall today for her outstanding contribution to our Mind Matters project.

Ipswich Through the Looking Glass

Volunteering Matters took over Christchurch mansion in October 2017 to showcase our volunteering projects running across Suffolk.
AGM Awards

Volunteers take centre stage at our AGM

We have launched many amazing new projects in the past year, all made possible by talented and dedicated volunteers across the UK. We were delighted to shine a spotlight on some of them at the Volunteering Matters 2017 Annual General Meeting which took place on the 28th of September.

Sex Matters Too volunteer Ryan wins Diana Award

Ryan Crewe-Rees, a young volunteer on our Sex Matters Too project from Pontypool (south Wales), was given a Diana Award at the Inspire Wales award ceremony at Cardiff City Hall today.
#givingtuesday

Volunteering Matters mobilises people power on #GivingTuesday

In 2015, #GivingTuesday broke the world record for the highest amount of money donated online in a 24 hour period. We think this is brilliant – but #GivingTuesday shouldn’t just be about giving money so we are asking our supporters to donate the gift of time by volunteering in their communities.

WASSUP win big at the House of Commons

Women Against Sexual exploitation and violence Speak UP (WASSUP), our Ipswich-based youth volunteer project, has been named runner-up in the British Red Cross Humanitarian Awards.
uk volunteering wales learn together cymru

CARMARTHENSHIRE CANINES ENCOURAGE PUPILS TO READ

On 9th June in Llandeilo Primary School, Carmarthenshire, dogs Riley and Layla enjoyed a star-spangled celebrity reception for the launch of new project, Reading with Dogs associated with Learn Together Cymru and Carmarthenshire Therapy Dogs.

Sex Matters Too Awards Success

Our Sex Matters Too project had a fantastic end to Volunteers Week 2016, deservedly recognised with not one, but two awards.

Employee Volunteering

Deutsche Bank and Volunteering Matters are celebrating 15 years of working together to support young people from economically deprived areas through a Volunteering in Schools Programme.
Read On. Get On. Report for Save the CHildren - two young girls reading

Reading Wales’ Future

Over the course of the next Assembly, an estimated 26,000 children in Wales, including 10,000 of the poorest children, are at risk of leaving primary school unable to read well, if action isn’t taken.

Continued austerity a threat to communities

Worries of continued austerity, calling for the next government to acknowledge the value of the volunteering sector given its critical role in helping to promote and sustain the well-being of individuals and communities.

#iwill Ambassadors reflect on launching the Vision for Volunteering

 By Aoife Murphy, Communications Manager, with Emma-Jane Hampsheir-Gill, Gracie Chick & George Fielding As part of Volunteers Week and in time for Power Of Youth Day, we want to champion the voices of the young people who launched the Vision For Volunteering and were instrumental to the inclusion of a wide range of voices and perspectives … Continued

Work With Us: Natasha’s story

We asked Natasha Craike, Project Co-ordinator of Grandmentors Surrey, to tell us about what it feels like to work at Volunteering Matters. Natasha told us about her experience of being a working mum at Volunteering Matters. As a mum to an 18 month old baby I didn’t think that I could go back to work … Continued

Health Champion, Paramveer Sanghera & friend, Will Mann, create a free wellbeing app

Health Champion Paramveer (Paz) and friend Will Mann, founder of Spudg Studios, have developed a free well-being tracking app called Sentient. Paz is a volunteer Health Champion with our project Health Champions Warwickshire, empowering volunteers in the local community to connect  with individuals and community groups to make healthy lifestyle choices. What is Sentient?  Sentient … Continued

RESPECT Project

RESPECT Project – sourcing & donating educational packs to support families’ home-learning. One of the many things we’re doing in response to COVID is RESPECT. Based in Suffolk, our volunteers are creating activity packs for children. These are helping families with home-schooling, especially those who may not have English as their first language. The packs, … Continued
volunteer recruitment active volunteering hackney

Top Tips for Recruiting Volunteers

We share our top tips for volunteer recruitment in a new area, making sure you can stay safe while providing essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shining a light on the link between universities, communities and volunteering

  Modern universities which are embedded and respected within local communities will be distinctive, sustainable and of greater appeal to all stakeholders. An organisation like Volunteering Matters, which facilitates volunteering projects across the UK, is perfectly placed to work with universities to promote the wider advantages of volunteering and the mutually beneficial impacts on the … Continued

‘Youth Cast’ giving young Londoners a voice

Covering a whole range of exciting, high-impact activities, the term ‘Social Action’ can mean everything from campaigning and fundraising to volunteering. At Volunteering Matters we refuse to see young people as anything other than as asset, whose voices should be heard and ideas taken on board. This is why we focus on youth social action … Continued
Young Volunteers in Health and Social Care

Prescribed reading

Our Director of Strategy Paul Buddery reflects on what we can learn when we focus on empowering young volunteers in health and social care