Volunteering opportunities | Kent Coast Volunteering

We can help you find volunteering opportunities across Dover district (Deal, Dover, Sandwich and surrounding villages), the Folkestone, Hythe and New Romney area and Thanet. Our friendly advisors are on hand to answer all your volunteering questions and let you know about the many and varied opportunities available in your local area. Contact us.

Below we have listed some current volunteering opportunities. We change these regularly. You can also –

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Just visit our friends at Kent Volunteers where you will be able to search the many Kent-wide volunteering opportunities, including in your local area.

Current volunteering opportunities

January 2025

Thanet Volunteering Opportunities

Safe Families are looking for Family Friends to work directly with isolated local families in Thanet and Canterbury, coming alongside and giving support to parents, children or caregivers when they need it most, making sure they feel less isolated and helping to build connections into local community. If you enjoy being with, and making a difference to, young families contact Sarah Hammond, Community Volunteer Manager, on email sarahhammond@safefamilies.uk or call 07932 867758 for an informal chat and find out more here.

Is the new year inspiring you to reinvent yourself? If you’re keen to start volunteering or eager to meet new people, get in touch with Ramsgate Tunnels. We are a friendly, welcoming charity run by volunteers, offering various volunteering roles in our unique setting that celebrates our local history. We are currently seeking weekend volunteers for our café and those interested in being trained as guides. For more information, contact us at 01843 588123 or email us at admin@ramsgatetunnels.org.

6th Ramsgate Sea Scouts Group are looking for a Scout Assistant Leader to support the Team Leader in delivering a safe, engaging, and inclusive scouting program for young members. They will help plan and run activities, camps, and meetings that foster skills development, teamwork, and outdoor adventure, ensuring the safety and well-being of all participants. Additionally, the Assistant Leader assists with administrative tasks, such as maintaining records and communicating with parents. Contact Matthew Sayer, Group Lead Volunteer on email scouts@6thramsgateseascouts.org.uk

A Kitchen Gardener is required at Pilgrims Hospice, Thanet. Do you have a passion for gardening and fresh produce and a few hours a week to spare? If so, they are looking for reliable, committed individuals who enjoy working as part of a team and, although it isn’t essential, ideally have some basic gardening experience. Seeding, sowing, planting, watering and harvesting of all the fresh produce grown, both outdoors and in greenhouses is included in this important role helping to create a welcoming environment for their patients and their visitors. Contact Tiffany Carmen, Volunteer Coordinator on email Tiffany.carmen@pilgrimshospices.org

Folkestone and Hythe Opportunities

Bright Shadow are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to assist with their Zest project in Hythe by supporting artists of different disciplines and the Zest Hythe Coordinator in the delivery of creative sessions for people living with dementia, their family, friends, and carers and to work directly with participants with complex needs, enabling them to engage with each session. These sessions are fun and creative. You could be crafting, singing and story making along with preparing and tidying. More details are here and feel free to contact Niamh Barnard on recruitment@brightshadow.org.uk or call 01227 467272

Lyminge Church of England Primary School board is seeking a Governor. Do you have the skills and insight needed? You will work with an experienced and dedicated team to fulfil the statutory responsibilities of the Governing Board, supporting staff and holding them to account to ensure the school provides the best possible education for all its pupils. Governors are expected to uphold the school’s Christian values, and to maintain high expectations for behaviour and academic achievement. Further details can be found here or by contacting the school via the link above.

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.

Hougham Village Hall Trust are looking for an editor for their bi-monthly mainly digital newsletter called Hougham Herald to collect and collate articles from other reporters, report on events etc alongside writing occasional articles or editorial pieces, collating other articles posters adverts into word processor or desktop publisher. This is a great opportunity to be part of the community. Contact Peter Robinson, Chairman, Peter40robinson@gmail.com or call 07979 320474

Bright Shadow are looking for enthusiastic volunteers to assist with their Zest project in Deal by supporting artists and the Zest Deal Coordinator in the delivery of creative sessions for people living with dementia, their family, friends, and carers and to work directly with participants with complex needs, enabling them to engage with each session. These sessions are fun and creative and you could be crafting, singing and story making along with preparing and tidying. More details are here. Feel free to contact Niamh Barnard on recruitment@brightshadow.org.uk or call 01227 467272 for more information.

All Area Opportunities

Kent Public Health Champions Wanted! Champions spread the word about the local support available to help residents make healthy choices – like moving more, making friends and seeking advice for money worries. They also organise community activities such as walking groups, grow-your-own veg competitions or mindfulness sessions and they attend local events like festivals and coffee mornings, to help raise awareness of free healthy lifestyle advice such as One You Kent alongside signposting people to specialist support. All champions gain nationally recognised qualifications, and training is due to start in February. Find out more and apply 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.

December 2024

Thanet Volunteering Opportunities

SE Kitchen believe everyone should have access to affordable, nutritious food. Their social supermarket offers a wide range of seasonal groceries at reduced prices, helping to stretch budgets and reduce food waste. Their warm and welcoming shop is run by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers and they are looking for more volunteers to join the team as they expand into opening on Mondays too. Contact Helen on email h.tomlinson@sekgroup.org.uk

Heritage Lab Community Interest Company is seeking a Treasurer (Non-Executive Director) to join their Board of Directors. Reporting to the Chair, this is a key strategic position within the Board, enabling them to grow as an organisation, add value to the local community and support their creative regeneration projects with a particular focus on Ramsgate. Contact Rob Kenyon, CEO on email hello@heritagelab.org.uk or call on 07962 253 838

The Margate School’s Saturday Club is looking for volunteers. Are you passionate about art and design? Looking to build your teaching skills, gain hands-on experience and be part of a creative community? We’re looking for volunteers to help deliver our Art & Design Saturday Club—and we’d love YOU to get involved! This is a fantastic opportunity to gain practical experience in a dynamic, supportive environment. Whether you’re interested in education, the creative industries, or simply want to get involved in a cool project, we’d love to meet you! Interested? Reach out today to find out how you can join the team. Contact lucia@themargateschool.com

Ramsgate Lumiere organisers are seeking an Installation Steward who will make sure both the sculptures and public are safe, as well as answering questions about the artwork and the rest of the festival, and handing out maps of the trail. Don’t miss this limited time opportunity to be involved in this wonderful event which connects and promotes all the different light related events across the town! Contact Jess Hudsley, Event Producer on email ramsgatelumiere@gmail.com or call 07789232471

Folkestone Area Opportunities

A Social Groups Volunteer is required for MHA Communities Group Kent (Folkestone). MHA – Live Later Life Well – offers a variety of events and activities for older people in its care homes, retirement living, and community groups. Volunteers helping in these social groups assist with providing group members with the support they need to join in the activity, including working one to one with an older person, possibly helping with a craft activity or board games plus serving refreshments. Contact Crina Iftode, Volunteering Coordinator, on email crina.iftode@mha.org.uk or call 07874 626 828

Dover District Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteer with Kent Family Hubs to help children and young people get the best possible start in life. Give your time and change a family’s life. With only a few spare hours, you could help children and young people build resilience, get trained while doing something you love and fit it all in around your own schedule. Volunteer roles include Family Coach, Peer-to-Peer Volunteer and Youth Peer Mentors (a great volunteering opportunity for younger people). Find out more on the roles and apply here

The White Cliffs Countryside Partnership have sent us their task programme for December. It’s packed full of volunteer events and 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 give them a call beforehand as they will look out for you and let you know of any last minute changes.

All Area Opportunities

Kent Coast Volunteering is looking for volunteer Befrienders for 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 and a chat, support and encouragement is invaluable. We are also looking for ‘Super Befrienders’ for a new pilot scheme, 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).

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. You will be matched with someone who has similar interests, to make sure you have a great time. You and your buddy choose a time that suits you, and decide what activities you’d like to do together. Volunteers provide opportunities for people with complex disabilities to communicate and experience the world. Find out more here or email volunteer@sense.org.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.

November 2024

Thanet Volunteering Opportunities

Dolly Mixtures Community Baby & Toddler Group are looking for volunteers to help set up, pack up and facilitate the group, which runs at Sugar Rush in Ramsgate High Street on Friday mornings, 9am to 12 noon. Help with stories, rhymes, craft activities and with song and dance time, as well as chatting with parents and children. To find out more contact Sugar Rush Ramsgate on Facebook or Insta or email sugarrushramsgate@outlook.com

Friends of St Peters’ Churchyard are looking for a volunteer gardener for one to four hours per month. No experience is required, just a desire to be outdoors and gain pleasure from helping the environment, self-satisfaction and friendship, building self-esteem. Contact Lorraine Reese, Secretary, on email enyar@sky.com or call 07555 396134

Ramsgate Lumiere. Volunteer stewards are needed to help make Ramsgate shine! With the kick-off to the ‘six weeks of lighting up Ramsgate’ starting on Sunday 24 November, help steward the lantern parade as part of the Great British Carnival, or help steward to the wonderful light, music and projection shop at St George’s Church after the parade, or help out at Santa’s Grotto for the day at Sugar Rush in the High Street. This wonderful event cannot take place without the willingness of local volunteers. Contact Teresa@gbcarnival.co.uk or Volunteer Connector, Selena, on 07564 049315 for more details.

Folkestone and Hythe Opportunities

Shapeshifter Productions is a performing arts charity looking for passionate, experienced and committed volunteers. Could you use your social media and communications experience to raise the profile of our small, but successful, charity? Help us to increase presence and engagement, generate interesting content and also help promote and assist us to engage communities in group, musical activities that enhance confidence and self-esteem while reducing isolation. Our participatory singing project for vulnerable, older people, The Smiling Sessions, is delivered into care homes and sheltered housing in deprived areas of London, Kent and East Sussex. Contact Violaine on email violaine@shapeshifter-productions.com or call 02070971409

Folkestone College is seeking a gardening/landscaping volunteer to help with planting, digging and rubbish clearing to assist in the creation of a Music Corner. Moving pallets and creating a pathway is also needed as part of this project, so the volunteer would need to be able to lift and move heavy items. An enhanced DBS check will be undertaken for this role as it involves working with vulnerable adults. Contact Michelle Elks, Head of Inclusive Learning michelle.elks@eastkent.ac.uk to find out more.

Dover District Opportunities

Froglets is a popular stay and play parent and toddler group that runs during term time at St Richards Church, Mill Hill, Deal. It is volunteer run and the organisers are currently looking for more volunteers to help set up the group (Thursdays 4pm) and to assist in running the group on Friday mornings. Have fun with parents and children, help with crafts and play and tidy up after the session. If you can help please contact Wendy Manion stleonardsoffice@btinternet.com or call on 07411 432541

The White Cliffs Countryside Partnership have sent us their task programme for November. It’s packed full of volunteer events and 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.

Ash Wildlife Friendly Village have been awarded a hedgerow pack from The Woodland Trust and now its time to get planting! They are looking for volunteers to help create a Wildlife Corridor, supporting wildlife and biodiversity in the village. If you can spare some time to help with weeding, preparing the site and planting, please meet them at Pound Corner, The Street at 10am on Sunday 24th November, or find them at Chequer Lane Footpath (E112a). Wear outdoor clothing and footwear and bring any light gardening equipment you have. Contact ashwildlifevillage@gmail.com