February 2025

Thanet Volunteering Opportunities

The Young Lives Foundation is an award winning independent children’s charity in Kent with expertise in advocacy and youth programmes, and they are looking for volunteer Mentors. Are you compassionate and dedicated? Join them in making a difference in the lives of young people in Thanet by supporting individuals aged eight to 18, either one-on-one or in small group settings. Your involvement can reshape lives —and the role is flexible, tailored to meet the specific needs of our charity and the young people it serves. Contact Hannah Chant, East Kent Services Coordinator on hannah.chant@ylf.org.uk or call 07808 772902.

Community Lifesavers are a not-for-profit, volunteer run, community interest company with the sole purpose of improving chances of the public being able to help save a life following a sudden cardiac arrest. They provide free hands only CPR training, including how to use a defibrillator, to secondary school pupils, community groups and local businesses in Thanet. Everyone at CLS are volunteers (with full enhanced DBS certificates) and they need to recruit and train more volunteers in order to be able to respond to the increasing number of requests for their services. Contact steve.turner@communitylifesavers.org.uk for more details.

Take this opportunity to join the amazing Volunteer Team at MiCommunity Foodbank in Margate. They need volunteers who can lift heavy goods, unload vehicles, and stack shelves to be a part of this essential community asset and fabulous volunteer family! 🌟 If you are ready to make a difference? Call now! Contact Shop Manager, Su Mills, on 07860 255675.

Folkestone and Hythe Opportunities

Gui de Dogs are seeking a Merchandise Coordinator. In this role you will be responsible for ordering and looking after Guide Dogs merchandise and, in return for your time, you will get a dedicated volunteer manager/key contact who will help you settle in and support you during your time with them. Find out more about this interesting role here or contact Tim Seamark-Coope, Local Volunteer Attraction Coordinator on email tim.seamark-coope@guidedogs.org.uk or call 0800 781 1444.

Urban Pastors operates mainly in Folkestone and Cheriton, providing community support and helping to keep our streets safer. They do this by engaging with people who have been out partying, find themselves homeless, people of all ages facing difficult situations plus signposting where necessary to other agencies and organisations. They are recruiting to expand their team of volunteers now. To find out more email urbanpastors@cheritonbaptist.co.uk or call 01303 278717

Dover District Opportunities

The White Cliffs Countryside Partnership have sent us their latest task programme. It’s packed full of volunteer activities and ways that you can meet new people while helping your local countryside – dip in as and when it suits you! If you would like to find out more about any of the tasks, please contact the Ranger listed and always give them a call beforehand as they will look out for you and let you know of any last minute changes.

If you have a few hours a week, or a few hours a day to spare, Dover Big Local would love to have you as a volunteer! Their community hub at the Charlton Centre in Dover hosts social and learning sessions most days of the week, and they are looking for a Front Desk Volunteer to welcome and signpost visitors. Contact Linda Aldred, Projects and Partnerships Manager, on 01304 449385 or 07771 500567 for more information.

Everglow – the Rebecca Kruza Foundation Charity is looking for Administrators for funding applications who, through applications and fundraising, will work with them to bring about their aims to procure improvements in maternal/perinatal services and care, in order to help to prevent maternal/perinatal mental ill health and suicide. More details on the charity before you apply can be found here. Contact Lyndawn Richardson, Founder and C.E.O. therebeccakruzafoundation@gmail.com or call 07879 627373

All Area Opportunities

Help Porchlight to continue their invaluable service by volunteering in one of their current vacant roles. There are opportunities in Admin, Gardening, Fundraising and as Translators (Romanian translator and a Bulgarian translator required). As a volunteer for Porchlight you’ll have the chance to develop your skills and gain valuable work experience as part of a friendly team in a reputable charity and you can access any relevant courses in their training programme and you will also receive full travel expenses and be provided with any equipment needed in your role. Contact Donna Evans, Volunteer Services Manager at volunteer@porchlight.org.uk or call 07734 595306

Sense Virtual Buddying volunteers make a real difference to supporting young people and adults who may be lonely or isolated. Volunteers are matched with disabled people to meet for an hour a week on Zoom or by phone – learning new skills, having fun, and forming fantastic friendships to provide opportunities for people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world. If you have any questions regarding the role or would like some more information please contact the volunteering team at volunteer@sense.org.uk

St John people make a positive impact every day, responding to emergencies, supporting communities and saving lives, and there’s never been a better time to begin your volunteering journey with them. Take a look at these great opportunities available: Community First Aider, County Clinical Lead, Fundraising and Priority Lead, Education and Volunteer Experience Lead, Operations Lead, President, Quality Assurance Lead, Youth Lead, Deputy County Commissioner, Safeguarding Officer. All roles are county-wide. For more details and to apply go to the website here.

Kent Coast Volunteering is looking for volunteer Befrienders for their Good Neighbours Service which is aimed at people who may otherwise not have anyone to support them. Your client could be someone who lives alone and is isolated, or they have family who they do not see often. Just to have someone visit for a coffee, maybe a volunteer who could take a client shopping, to hospital appointments, activities or just go for a walk – someone who could be that extra support for someone who needs it. Find out more details here and contact Sarah Murnane on sarah.murnane@kcv.org.uk or you can pop into the office in Park Street, Deal (adjacent to Age UK).

Kent Coast Volunteering also runs the Community Transport Service across Thanet, Dover, Folkestone & Hythe districts, and we are urgently looking for more drivers to join our team. Did you know that you can do voluntary work, including driving, if you have a mobility car? Well, you can! What a great way to do something enjoyable and help your local community at the same time. Contact Jess and the team at transport@kcv.org.uk. Mileage is paid and full training and support is provided.