Kickstart Your Year with Purpose
The Raise Your Hands charities have exciting plans for 2026 and you could be part of it by volunteering your skills. For a print friendly version click here
Listed below are some great opportunities to kickstart the year and support our charities in a meaningful way. Your skills and knowledge could be the key to helping these exceptional small children’s charities thrive.
All opportunities are desk-based unless marked otherwise.
To find out more or to express your interest in any of the opportunities listed below (with no commitment at this stage) please email Madelaine: [email protected]
Just one hour of your time can make all the difference
Try and break it!
May / June
Two charities (Become and Switchback) are looking for volunteers to spend approximately 20 – 30 minutes to explore, test and give feedback on their new website.
Who’s it for? Anyone – no specific skills required
Website User journey
March
We are interested in your thoughts on the messaging and design of our new website, Raise Your Hands Partners (where you are now!), which is designed for a corporate audience.
Who’s it for? Anyone – no specific skills required
Introductions and Networking
Throughout the year
Help Raise Your Hands by making an introduction to a company, foundation or individual who might be interested in supporting its platform of charities.
Who’s it for? Anyone – no specific skills required
Become a Charity Trustee
Learn more about what it means to be a Trustee. Read the official description of Trusteeship.
General Trustee
at Literacy Pirates
March / April recruitment
Literacy Pirates are seeking a trustee for its board.
Detailed role description will be provided.
Who’s it for? Experience or specific skills required tbc
Trustee with finance experience
at StreetDoctors
March / April recruitment
Street Doctors are seeking a trustee with a financial background for its board
Detailed role description will be provided.
Who’s it for? Experience in finance / accounting
Trustee with marketing experience at
MyTime Young Carers
March
MyTime are seeking a trustee with Marketing & Communications experience for its board.
Detailed role description will be provided. Two in-person meetings in Bournemouth a year.
Who’s it for? Experience in marketing and comms
Help with the Marketing and Communications
PR and Marketing mentor
For: Dandelion Time
Dandelion Time is interested in adhoc mentorship from a Marketing specialist who can help with the next phase of the organisation’s growth to gain national reach in terms of PR and Marketing
Who’s it for? Marketing / Comms specialist
Time commitment: 1 – 2 virtual meetings depending on volunteer’s capacity.
Impact and Comms Mentor
For: Switchback
Switchback is looking for a volunteer to help showcase its impact. You’ll analyse ROI and key stats, provide recommendations on best way to package the findings and how to craft compelling communications to highlight the organisation’s achievements.
Who’s it for? Marketing / Comms specialist
Ad-hoc Research and Data Analysis Projects
Event Research
For: Happy Baby Community
Happy Baby Community are seeking a volunteer to carry out some research of networking events that their team could attend in 2026 to help increase their network to boost fundraising
Who’s it for? Anyone happy to do some desk research
Time commitment: 2- 4 hours
Research Project
For: Dandelion Time
Dandelion Time is seeking someone to conduct desk-based research into house-building and planning developments in a specific area of Kent, so that it can use this information to extend the reach and impact of its work with young people.
Who’s it for? Anyone happy to do some desk research
Time commitment: 0.5 – 1 day before April 2026.
Data Analysis
For: Dandelion Time
Dandelion Time is seeking someone to carry out data analysis of new ONS data to map Kent’s deprivation indices with the goal of identifying high-need areas within travel radius of their farm sites.
Who’s it for? Anyone happy to do some data analysis
Time commitment: 0.5 – 1 day before April 2026.
Research project on corporate partnerships
The Raise Your Hands charities are seeking someone to review each small charity and identify a potential company or business that would be a strong strategic fit, based on their work and values. A full brief will be provided.
Who’s it for? Anyone happy to do some desk research
Time commitment: 0.5 – 1 day before May 2026
Specialist opportunities to use your skills for good
Care experienced? Share your journey
Speak about your professional journey at one of Become’s Link ups (‘Speakers Corner’ section), a monthly meeting to inspire young people living in care.
Who’s it for? Those with lived experience of care
Where? Online workshops or London
Share your forensic accounting expertise
Volunteer half an hour of your time to speak with a young person living in care about working in forensic accounting – sharing any advice or your career journey
Who’s it for? Individuals with experience in forensic accounting
Where? Virtual, one-off informal conversation (30 – 60 min)
Use your photography skills for good
If you have a passion for photography / videography and can donate your time, a few Raise Your Hands charities are looking for volunteers to help capture content.
Who’s it for? Photography skills – you don’t have to be a pro, just a skilled amateur
Where? In-Person – Various locations London based and beyond.
Volunteer directly with young people on a regular basis
Surf therapy mentor
For: The Wave Project
The Wave Project is always looking for volunteer mentors to support the sessions it runs with vulnerable children. No knowledge of surfing required.
Dates: April to October
Where? Wave Project venue in Brighton
Time commitment: Four Saturday mornings within a six week period
Reading with children
For: Literacy Pirates
Literacy Pirates is looking for volunteers to work one-to-one with children who have fallen behind in their reading and need a little help to catch up.
Who’s it for? Anyone. Full training will be given.
Where? Online workshops or on board the ‘ships’ in Hackney or Haringey
Time commitment: One session a month, for a period of six months. Weekdays 3.45 – 6.15pm.
Mentor a young person with caring responsibilities
For: MyTime Young Carers
MyTime Young Carers are looking for professionals with various backgrounds to mentor young carers as part of their employability programme.
Dates: Throughout the year
Where? Virtual
Time commitment: One session a month for a defined period (TBC)
Female mentors wanted
For: BelEve
BelEve is looking for female mentors to help young women find their voice and make informed choices about their future. Full training will be given.
Dates: Throughout the year
Where? 1 in-person meeting in London, then virtual sessions
Time commitment: One session a month, for a period of 3-4 months