Student volunteering

Volunteering roles

If you wish to look at active roles that are seeking 18-25 year olds, follow this link 

Research

In February 2025, we launched a piece of research into student volunteering in Greater Manchester, bringing together VCSE organisations, universities and colleges, and student volunteers. The session sparked valuable cross-sector conversations and confirmed a strong appetite to make student volunteering more inclusive, visible, and impactful across the city region.

The research explores the motivations and barriers for students, alongside organisational challenges and practical recommendations. What stood out in the room were the stories: students keen to contribute but feeling unsure how to connect; organisations open to working with students but needing clearer pathways and support; and a shared recognition that small, intentional changes – like flexible opportunities and targeted recognition – can unlock real value.

Download The Current Climate of Student Volunteering in Greater Manchester Impact Research Project: Business Report By Anushka Swannell, Volunteer Development Worker

Download Student Volunteering Research Tool Kit


Get involved or share your ideas, we'd love to hear from you. You can get in touch by emailing: info@volunteercentremanchester.co.uk 

Volunteering Opportunities

Displaying 25 - 48 of 120
IntoTech Mentoring
Summary: Brightside are looking for mentors to support us with our technology based programme IntoTech in partnership with HG Foundation and Futures for All. The programme will connect 2,000 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds across the country with professionals working across different technology roles, helping them explore future career opportunities in tech.
Area of Interest: Advice & Employment, Befriending, Mentoring, Student Volunteers (18+), Virtual Volunteering
Homework Club Volunteer
Summary: Northmoor Homework club is a free after-school project for children aged 8-16 which provides a safe, nurturing space for children to do their homework and to take part in games and arts and crafts afterwards. The homework club is an informal, relaxed environment but we still maintain the strictest of Safeguarding procedures and expect the children to adhere to the agreed boundaries.
Area of Interest: Children Young People & Families, Education & Literacy
Outreach and Publicity Volunteer
Summary: Northmoor Community Centre is based in Longsight and part of Northmoor Community Association. We need help with spreading information on advice, activities and services to the local community as well as improving communication and engagement.

Skills needed: Creative, good communication skills,
Skills desired: Previous experience in local outreach and publicity, can speak Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi or Bangla.

We will provide:
Induction to the role
Flexible hours
Paid out-of-pocket expenses such as bus fares

We require a commitment to Equal Opportunities, (treating all individuals equally and with respect) and our Confidentiality, Safeguarding and GDPR standards.
Area of Interest: Digital and Tech, Marketing & Social Media
Resettlement Volunteers
Summary: Caritas Diocese of Salford is leading the Afghan Welcome Project, a partnership initiative supporting the safe and legal resettlement of 125 Afghan households in the North West UK and nearby areas over the next five years.

Caritas Diocese of Salford is looking for community groups and volunteers to support with this mission, securing housing, help families access English classes, healthcare etc.
Area of Interest: Administration, Advice & Employment, Campaigning & Advocacy, Disability, Education & Literacy, Finance & Fundraising, Health & Social Care, Homelessness & Housing, LGBTQ+, Mental Health, Migrants & Refugees
HR and People Trustee
Summary: HR and People Trustee - MileShyClub is a preventative health charity helping people who feel intimidated by exercise to become more active through welcoming running, walking, mental health and Restore groups. Our guiding principle is simple: no one gets left behind.
Area of Interest: Disability, Mental Health, Migrants & Refugees, Older People, Sports & Movement
Retail Volunteer
Summary: As a Retail Volunteer you can focus on a department or acitvity that is of most interest to you or you can do a bit of everything!
Departments include: fashion (womens, mens, kids) books, music (vinyl and CDs), homeware, and bric-a-brac.
Area of Interest: Retail
Squirrels Section Team Member (Volunteer/Helper) 4-6yo
Summary: Bringing the ‘Wow!’ to our youngest Scouts (4-6yo), in a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment, the Section Teams make it happen for our Squirrels
Area of Interest: Children Young People & Families, Finance & Fundraising
Fundraising Assistant (Trusts and Foundations)
Summary: Write funding bids to help fund a national conference helping organisations and businesses take action on (single-use) plastic. Role is with Action on Plastic
Area of Interest: Events, Finance & Fundraising
Volunteer Graphic Designer
Summary: In this role with Bolton Lads and Girls Club, you will:
• Be confident using Canva to create high-quality, engaging, branded designs.
• Use our brand guidelines to develop a range of templates across the organisation, including posters, flyers, social media graphics and website content.
• Refresh and improve existing designs, ensuring they are on-brand and aligned with best practice.
• Help to create resources / templates that are easy for colleagues to adapt, use and maintain consistently.
• Have an understanding of social media platforms and create content tailored to what works best on each channel.
Area of Interest: Children Young People & Families, Digital and Tech, Marketing & Social Media
Help with our Festive Cook-Up 30th Nov/1st Dec
Summary: We need volunteers to help set up on the 30th Nov (details to follow) and to help on the day itself, 1st December from 9am until 17:30pm.Various roles will be assigned to our volunteers from signing in our participants to helping with the refrshments. Everyone will be helping to clear up, wash up and assist our chefs and our guests. It's a fun filled day for all with music, lunch and if you have one, wear your Christmas Jumpers!
Area of Interest: Events, Food Cooking & Foodbanks
Mentor in a Local School
Summary: Looking for a rewarding opportunity to support young people in your community whilst developing your own skills and experience?

Volunteering as a ReachOut mentor in a local school provides the rewarding experience to help build your mentees' skills and confidence, whilst working with a team of like-minded people and developing your own skills and experience in youth development! Choose a project in a local school that fits your schedule and give just 2 hours a week of your time over our 12-week projects to make a real difference to a young person's life.
Area of Interest: Children Young People & Families, Education & Literacy, Health & Social Care, Mental Health, Mentoring
Conservation Volunteer (Midweek)
Summary: The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) bring people together to create, improve and care for green spaces.

Looking for volunteers who are interested in conservation and would like to develop skills in practical conservation, volunteer leadership and supporting individuals to access nature-based, well-being activities.
Area of Interest: Environment & Conservation
Marketing & PR Assistant (Voluntary Role)
Summary: This is an exciting opportunity to gain real hands-on experience in international marketing, PR, partnerships, and business development while working closely with senior leadership.
Area of Interest: Education & Literacy, Marketing & Social Media
Retail Volunteer (Donation Centre, Chorlton)
Summary: Barnardos are looking for volunteers to help in their charity shop. You would:
Work on the till processing sales and returns
Prepare stock, including sorting, steaming and pricing
Create stylish window displays
Replenish stock on the shop floor
Stock-take and other administrative tasks
Area of Interest: Children Young People & Families, Finance & Fundraising, Retail, Student Volunteers (18+), Young Volunteers (under 18)
Join the Choir
Summary: Join ATML Choir as a member and become part of an inclusive community using music to build connections and tackle loneliness. Whether you are an experienced singer, a beginner, or simply enjoy singing, there is a place for you. No auditions are required, and you do not need to be a professional musician. Take part in rehearsals, performances, workshops and community activities while meeting people from different backgrounds, sharing your voice and helping us create a supportive music family. Find your voice. Build connections. End loneliness, one song at a time.
Area of Interest: Arts Culture & Music, Events, Mental Health
Coram Beanstalk Reading Helper (Primary School) Wythenshaw
Summary: Reading Helpers are adult volunteers living or working within a 5 mile radius of a school that has asked for our help. You need to commit to at least an afternoon a week for a whole year during term-time, and as we invest in your training we'd appreciate it if you could stay longer.

The role isn't about listening to children read, but creating a relaxed session that allows children to work alongside you to discover the joy of books.
Area of Interest: Children Young People & Families, Education & Literacy
Event Assistant
Summary: Your tasks as an event assistant volunteer are to help set up and decorate the venues, greet people, take money, sell raffle tickets, support with quizzes and karoke, helping people to dance and socialise and most importantly, help people to have a fun time at the event, making sure people feel comfortable and are connecting with others.
Area of Interest: Disability, Events
Volunteer Youth Football Coach
Summary: Join ESCA-UK as a Volunteer Youth Football Coach in Manchester! Backed by Sport England, our project provides weekly 2-hour Sunday sessions for children aged 5–16 from diverse communities.
You will assist in delivering fun, high-quality football drills and mini-matches, setting up equipment, and acting as a positive role model in a safe, inclusive environment. The project runs until April 2027. We reimburse travel expenses and fully fund your Enhanced DBS check.
If you hold a valid coaching certificate and want to make a real community impact while building your CV, apply today!
Area of Interest: Children Young People & Families, Migrants & Refugees, Sports & Movement
Volunteer Music Director
Summary: We are seeking a passionate and skilled music professional or music student to lead rehearsals, guide vocal development, support song selection and arrangements, and prepare the choir for performances and recordings. This is an opportunity to use your musical talents to make a meaningful difference by bringing people from diverse backgrounds together through music, fostering friendships, and helping us challenge loneliness and social isolation. Retired professionals and individuals with relevant musical experience are encouraged to apply.

Position: Voluntary (unpaid) | Location: Manchester, Greater Manchester
Area of Interest: Administration, Arts Culture & Music
Community Outreach Ambassadors
Summary: The ATML CIC Choir, a Manchester-based Community Interest Company, is seeking Volunteer Community Outreach Ambassadors to help combat social isolation and loneliness through choral music. As a Volunteer you will be responsible for representing the choir to local stakeholders, coordinating information distribution, and executing grassroots advocacy campaigns to help the organization reach potential beneficiaries and its goal of over 60 active members within 3 years of operation. The role supports a diverse and inclusive social enterprise model that combines cultural activities with social and legal support services. This role is hybrid.
Area of Interest: Arts Culture & Music, Campaigning & Advocacy, Marketing & Social Media, Mental Health, Virtual Volunteering
ESOL Language Assistant
Summary: What You Will Do
Provide friendly, informal support to learners during 1:1 or small‑group sessions.

Help learners practise speaking, listening, reading, and writing in everyday situations.

Support classroom activities led by the main tutor, such as vocabulary building, conversation practice, and simple exercises.

Encourage learners to build confidence, ask questions, and use English in real-life contexts.

Offer guidance with practical language needs, such as filling in forms, understanding letters, or practising workplace communication.
Area of Interest: Advice & Employment, Education & Literacy, Mentoring, Migrants & Refugees, Student Volunteers (18+)
Volunteer Driver
Summary: Nightstop prevents homelessness through community hosting. It helps people who are in immediate housing crisis by providing safe accommodation while Nightstop finds longer term appropriate accommodation.

They're looking for volunteer drivers who will put Nightstop guests at ease and enable guests to find their way to a new hosts-home.

Nightstop provides training, support and supervision to volunteer drivers so they can provide a space that really does make a difference to people's lives.
Area of Interest: Children Young People & Families, Driving, Homelessness & Housing, LGBTQ+, Mental Health, Migrants & Refugees
Trustee
Summary: Chorlton Good Neighbours (CGN) is a well-established charity supporting older people in Chorlton and Whalley Range since 1967, offering a wide range of social activities, practical support and befriending services. Based at Wilbraham St Ninian’s Church, it is supported by a small staff team, activity facilitators and over 100 volunteers. Trustees play an active role in overseeing the charity, supporting its management, shaping its future direction and ensuring good governance. The Board meets monthly, with additional training and development opportunities.
Area of Interest: Befriending, Trusteeship & Coordination
Retail Volunteer (Manchester, Lee Road)
Summary: Role with Barnardos.. Work on the till processing sales and returns
Prepare stock, including sorting, steaming and pricing
Create stylish window displays
Replenish stock on the shop floor
Stock-take and other administrative tasks
Area of Interest: Children Young People & Families, Finance & Fundraising, Retail, Student Volunteers (18+), Young Volunteers (under 18)