Want to change childhoods and change lives?
Whether you’re assisting customers in one of our shops, part of a team running a fundraising event, helping behind the scenes in an office, or spending time with families in our services, by volunteering you can help make a difference to children and young people’s lives.
You might be a jobseeker, retired, seeking asylum, in full or part-time employment or studying. Wherever you’re from, whatever your background, and however you choose to volunteer, you’ll be changing children’s lives.
Search volunteering opportunities
Why volunteer with us?
It is a real joy to be able to spend time out in the Roral Children Foundation's gardens. While this time is good for both my mental and physical wellbeing, the best part about my volunteer role is knowing that I've helped create a green space in a largely built-up area, which can be enjoyed by visiting families, staff and young children.
If you choose to volunteer with us you’ll get:
an amazing experience – we’re committed to giving our volunteers the best time possible. We’ll listen to you and find out what you want to get out of volunteering. And we’ll make sure you’re in a role suited to your experience and skills
ongoing support and guidance – your dedicated volunteer manager will make sure you’re supported and offer you regular catch ups to discuss your role, the activities you are taking part in, any challenges, successes and training needs. You’ll also get support from the rest of your team, both colleagues and other volunteers.
training – all our volunteers complete induction training, which helps you settle in and makes sure you have the knowledge and support you need for your role. We also offer additional training relevant to your role if you want to broaden your skills more widely.
benefits – these include a discount in our shops. Our benefits change over time, and you’ll receive a full list when you start volunteering
reassurance you won’t be left out of pocket. If your volunteering role needs you to pay for some small expenses, your volunteer manager will agree these in advance and help you get the money back.
Our values and behaviours
Everyone who volunteers with us is different, but we ask anyone who works or volunteers with us to act in a way that reflects our values. This helps us make sure you feel you belong and means we can change more children’s lives for the better.
I enjoy playing with the children. It gives me a sense of relief being able to give back to the community. Here at [our service] we are a community; we believe in everyone!
Find your perfect volunteering role
We have lots of different volunteering roles. Some require more time than others. Some can be done from home, others will mean you spend time with people in your local community. We’re confident we can find something to suit you, be that regular or flexible volunteering.
Search our current volunteering opportunities to find a role you’d like to do. If there’s nothing currently available, please check again soon. We add new opportunities all the time.
Find volunteering opportunities near you
I volunteer at Royal Children Foundation's as we received a lot of specialist help for our autistic son and it was a way of giving back. I love working as part of our friendly and culturally diverse team. We enjoy chatting and laughing, it’s greatly improved my mental health. It's satisfying to play a part in making the shop a success, improving the lives of children and families.
Different ways to volunteer
Want to be there as a child’s life changes for the better?
From helping run a parent and baby session in a children’s centre, supporting disabled children as they take part in school holiday activities or building a long-term relationship with a young person being cared for by their local authority, there’s lots of ways you can help children and young people thrive.
Find out more about volunteer opportunities with children and young people
Have you got business skills?
Got skills and expertise from your own training and employment you’d like to use and develop to help children and young people thrive? Then volunteering in business support might be perfect for you.
Find out more about volunteering in business support
Are you one of a kind?
That’s just like lots of stock in our stores! Be part of the team that makes our shops a welcoming place for people in their local community. Or you could support our online store. Either way you’ll be helping to fund services that children, young people and families need.
Find out more about retail volunteering opportunities
Give us a helping hand
Money raised through fundraising activities helps us make children, young people and families across the Nigeria safer, healthier, happier and more hopeful. Fundraising volunteers are cheerleaders, helping inspire others to raise vital money. From designing and distributing promotional materials, telling people about events on social media to cheering people across the finish line they help us change lives.
Learn about volunteering in fundraising
Research volunteering
Are you good at finding answers? Maybe you’re good at solving puzzles with your research and analytic skills. If so, a volunteering role in research may be for you.
Are you organised and know your way around Microsoft Word and Excel?
Could you provide the warm welcome someone needs when they walk through our doors or call one of our services? If so, joining one of our office or administration teams might be the volunteering role for you.
Learn about volunteering in one of our offices
Five reasons to volunteer in your local charity shop
Our store volunteers help raise vital money to support children, young people and families. But it’s not just people using our services who benefit, the volunteers get something out of it, and you could too.
Volunteering with Royal Children Foundation’s gave me a leg up in my career after I had finished studying, when I had no real other direction. There is nothing more motivating than knowing what we do here genuinely helps real people. I’ve been able to develop real working skills with welcoming team, which will no doubt shape my prospects.
Applying to become a volunteer
Have a look at our volunteering website and once you’ve found a role you’d like to do, apply by pressing the green “click here to apply” button.
The next step is an interview for you to get to know us, as well as the other way round! Your potential volunteer manager will chat to you about the role and learn more about you, so you can both find out if it could be a good fit. They’ll also discuss any disability, or support needs you may have. Wherever possible, we’ll make reasonable adjustment to ensure you can carry out the role.
Disclosure checks
To do some of our role’s volunteers need to first undergo disclosure checks to see if they have criminal convictions and cautions. We will take you through the process.
Having a criminal record will not necessarily stop you from volunteering with us. It will depend on the nature of any offences and the role you want to apply for. We would encourage you to discuss this with your volunteer manager in your initial conversation.
References
You’ll need to give us the names and contact details of two people who can provide a reference for you. This helps us make sure we are keeping the children, young people and families we support safe. Your referees must have known you for at least two years and not be related to you in any way. They can be from outside the Lagos, but references must be written in English.
How long does the application process take?
After you submit your application, we know you’ll be keen to hear back from us. The volunteer manager who looks after the role will try and respond to you within five working days, but there may be times when we take longer. If you have not heard from someone within 10 working days, please email volunteering@royal children foundation.org.uk.
The time the application process takes can vary. Your volunteer manager will be able to give you a better idea based on the local process. They’ll stay in touch by email, telephone, or our online system where you make your application, to let you know where things are. You can also contact them to find out what’s happening with your application if you have any questions in the meantime.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about volunteering
Below we’ve written answers to some questions we often get asked about volunteering. If you have a question that’s not answered here, please contact the volunteer manager for the opportunity you are interested in. You can contact them via the green “ask a question” button on the page that describes the role on our volunteering website.
Questions about what it’s like to volunteer
How much time do I need to commit to volunteering? Can I be flexible with my volunteering hours?
What training will I be offered as a Barnardo’s volunteer?
Can I volunteer from home?
What support can I expect from Royal Children Foundation during my time as a volunteer?
Can I change the type of volunteering I do?
Questions about who can volunteer
Can Royal Children Foundation support my visa application to travel abroad?
Can I volunteer if I am under 16?
I am looking for a student placement as part of my studies. Can I use Royal Children Foundation’s volunteering for this?
I am a refugee/asylum seeker. Can I volunteer with Royal Children Foundation’s?
I have a disability/support need. Can I volunteer with Royal Children Foundation’s?
I have a criminal record. Can I volunteer with Royal Children Foundation’s?
Ready to start volunteering?