Volunteering opportunities

Volunteering with Shaw Trust gives you the unique opportunity to help people build foundations for life and overcome disadvantages and barriers.

You will join a friendly network of volunteers each with their own unique set of skills, experience and motivations. We provide full training and initial and ongoing support, as well as flexibility around when you volunteer.

With a wide variety of opportunities, we have something for everyone – whether it’s volunteering in one of our charity shops, supporting young people just starting out in their careers or mentoring sessions that empower people to find fulfilling work and greater independence.

Becoming a volunteer with Shaw Trust enables you to:

Develop new skills
Gain invaluable experience
Make new friends
Join one of our internal networking support groups
Undertake training and gain qualifications
Make a real impact on people’s lives

All volunteers make a vital contribution to our vision of supporting more than 5 million people by 2030.

Be part of an amazing community making a difference to people across the UK. Browse our opportunities below or complete our referral form for a friendly chat with one of our advisors.

Live Volunteering opportunities

Garden Centre Support Assistant Volunteer

You will support service users with horticultural, landscaping, DIY and crafting activities. Share your experience and knowledge with service users to help them build their skills, knowledge, and confidence in a workplace setting.

Garden Centre Shop Support Assistant Volunteer

As a charity, our Garden Centres provide supported employment placements for people in our community.

Customer Service Assistant

You will use your customer service skills to support the shop management team and help Shaw Trust deliver a successful community business, that raises much-needed funds for the charity. 

Stockroom Assistant

The Stockroom Assistant role is a great way to contribute to our charity at your own pace. We know that everyone has something to offer even if you have no retail experience.

Retail Volunteer

Whether you prefer to volunteer behind the scenes or in a customer-facing role, there’s plenty for you to get involved with.

Visual Merchandising Volunteer

As a Visual Merchandising Volunteer, you will help our shop look its best by creating fantastic displays. You will put your creativity to good use to make the most of our fantastic donations.

Retail Supervisor

As a retail supervisor volunteer, you will be supporting a local shop for a national charity that helps people facing disadvantage gain skills, find work, and take control of their futures.

Volunteer Community Mentor (Children and Young People Services, London)

We work with some of the country’s most vulnerable young people. They are often at risk of poor educational attainment, social exclusion, exploitation and substance misuse issues.

Volunteer Job Coach (Children and Young People Services, London)

We work with some of the country’s most vulnerable young people. They are often at risk of poor educational attainment, social exclusion, exploitation and substance misuse issues.

Volunteer Wellbeing Coach (Children and Young People Services, London)

We work with some of the country’s most vulnerable young people. They are often at risk of poor educational attainment, social exclusion, exploitation and substance misuse issues.