Volunteer in your area

Volunteers freely give their time to help others.

From providing meals and care to homeless people in a shelter, to supervising the local Scout group, volunteers are at the heart of the non-profit sector. The range of services that volunteers provide are invaluable to the individuals and organisations they support.

If volunteering appeals to you and you want to get involved before London 2012, there are some amazing projects going on in your local area today.

We have been working with various volunteering groups and associations to help you get started.

Go to the UK Volunteering website for opportunities and organisations that are close to you.

Alternatively, check out the links below for opportunities in the different regions across England and in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

England

Do-it is the national volunteering database for England, with over 1.6 million opportunities to volunteer - so hopefully there'll be something to suit you. You can also find opportunities at TimeBank, where you'll also be able to read up on other people's experiences of volunteering.

If you're between 16 and 25 years old, take a look at vinspired.com

Your local volunteer centre will be able to provide you with advice and support on volunteering, and should offer a range of opportunities with hundreds of different organisations. Find your nearest volunteer centre

Alternatively, use the links below to find volunteering opportunities in your area:

East of England:

• Bedfordshire and Luton
• 
  Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 
• Essex
• Hertfordshire
• Norfolk
• Suffolk

East Midlands

• Championing the East Midlands

London

• Team London
  

North East

• 
  Voluntary organisations' network north east

North West

• be inspired North West
  

South East

• Do-it: volunteering made easy

South West

• Team South West
  

West Midlands

• West Midlands for 2012

Yorkshire

• North Yorkshire
• South Yorkshire
• West Yorkshire
• Hull
• The Humber
  

Northern Ireland

Volunteer Now leads the way for volunteering in Northern Ireland. They work to promote, enhance and support volunteering across Northern Ireland

Scotland

Volunteer Development Scotland is leading an Inspire mark project called People Making Waves, which connects the people of Scotland with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Find out more about this and other volunteering opportunities in Scotland

The Wave of Friendship project (delivered in partnership with Greater London Volunteering) is offering bursaries for volunteer exchanges between Scotland and London. Find out more about the project

The Organising Committee for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games is responsible for coordinating volunteering at the 2014 Games. Visit the official website for more information. 

Alternatively, find opportunities connected with the Glasgow 2014 legacy

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisation works to advance the values and shared interests of the voluntary sector in Scotland.

Wales

Find out about general volunteering opportunities in Wales and specific youth volunteering opportunities 

You can also call the helpline for Wales Council for Voluntary Action on 0800 2888 329.