If you want to get involved in volunteering but don’t have the time to commit to something long-term, are unsure of how you want to volunteer your time or just fancy volunteering your time and skills every now and again – why not get involved in a one-off opportunity?
These low-commitment opportunities are incredibly valuable to our community partners and offer a brilliant chance to dip into volunteering, and make it work around your life.
We’ve listed 10 opportunities that are on the King’s Volunteering Platform, for you to discover!
1. Create vibrant outdoor spaces as a Gentle Garden Volunteer with Coin Street Centre Trust
Where? Bernie Spain Gardens, London, SE1 9PH.
When? Every Tuesday from 11.30-14.00 (free lunch included)
Take a break in nature and visit Coin Street Centre Trust as a Gentle Garden Volunteer .
Working to provide free and affordable youth and adult programmes, Coin Street Centre Trust are committed to building a vibrant, diverse and welcoming place for people to live, work and play.
In this one-off volunteering opportunity, grow your gardening knowledge and connect with people in the local community. Sign up to King’s Volunteering and apply to be a gentle garden volunteer.
2. Spruce up your community and get some fresh air with The Conservation Volunteers.
Where? Various locations across London
When? Various times, depending on location
Get outdoors, learn new skills, and make a difference in your community with the Conservation Volunteers. From planting trees and wildflower meadows, to building stiles, clearing footpaths, or creating new food growing projects, there’s something for everyone to do! London Volunteering takes place across London, offering a variety of opportunities to improve green space.
Once you find one that suits you, sign up to King’s Volunteering and when sending the application to become a conservation volunteer, be sure to specify where you would like to help.
3. Help tackle loneliness and reduce hunger as a host or cook volunteer with FoodCycle
Where? Various locations across London
When? Various times, depending on location – 4 hour commitment
FoodCycle is a national charity that puts on free, weekly community meals for people in need. As a cooking volunteer you’ll join the kitchen to help produce a three-course meal using surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. Host volunteers will serve meals to our guests, as well as share the meal and the conversation with them - we believe no one should be hungry or lonely!
Sign up to King’s Volunteering and start volunteering with FoodCycle.
4. Be part of the King’s Community Garden
Where? King’s College Guys Campus. Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 1UL.
When? Every Friday from 13.00-15.00.
Interested in gardening, growing your own food, or improving the biodiversity at King’s? Join King's Community Garden, our growing community on Guy’s campus. The garden is open to everyone and there is no experience required. Come along for a quick screen break or a full-on gardening session.
Sign up to King’s Volunteering and to start volunteering with King’s Community Garden.
5. Interested in Sports Thearpy? Enhance your skills with King's Sports & Wellness
Where? Waterloo Wellness Centre (127 Stamford Street, SE1 9NQ)
When? Various times
King's Sports and Wellness deliver unique sport and wellness experiences, to unite our communities and optimise our people and the potential to achieve - to make the world a better place.
As a King's Sport & Wellness Massage Therapist you will have the opportunity to practice massage techniques in a learning environment! You will deliver 45min massage slots, enhancing the wellbeing of a wide variety of clients, from performance athletes to staff and students at the university.
Sign up to King’s Volunteering and register your interest to be a Sports Massage Volunteer.
6. Fancy yourself as a chef? Use your cooking skills to help feed young people at InSpire at St Peters
Where? Crypt at St Peter’s - Liverpool Grove, London, SE17 2HH.
When? Friday from 16.00-21.00
InSpire at St Peters host a Youth Group every Friday evening for social and group activities and they provide a hot meal for 60 young people.
The team are looking for a volunteer with a love for cooking, to create a menu from the different ingredients that are delivered on the day!
If you enjoy cooking, like to be creative and want to bring much joy to the young people at InSpire, this role is for you!
Sign up to King’s Volunteering and apply to become a Volunteer Cook.
7. Help give new life to surplus food as a Warehouse or Kitchen volunteer with The Felix Project.
Where?
- Warehouse volunteer: Various locations across London
- Kitchen volunteer: Unit 12, Thomas Road Industrial Estate, Thomas Rd, London E14 7BN
When? Various times, depending on location – 4-hour commitment
The Felix project aims to give new life to surplus food, by redistributing it across London to a variety of recipients such as schools, food banks and homeless shelters. There are two roles available – Kitchen Volunteer and Warehouse Volunteer:
There are two main activities - Food Prep and Meal Packing. Food Prep involves chopping, peeling and the overall preparation of ingredients using surplus food. You may also assist chefs in the cooking of meals. Meal Packing is where you will help assemble meals into boxes, which then go out to vulnerable people across London.
This role involves sorting and processing surplus food coming from various sources and helping allocate food deliveries. Volunteering sessions are typically 4 hours at various days and times.
Sign up to King’s Volunteering and apply to become a Kitchen Volunteer at their Poplar depot, and/or to become a Warehouse Volunteer. Please note: to start volunteering you will have to attend an online info session.
8. Help prepare lunch for beneficaries of South London Refugee Association
Where? The Woodlawn's Centre, 16 Leigham Court Road, London SW16 2PJ.
When? Tuesdays and Thursdays. Chef’s start at 10.30, lunch is served between 12.00-13.00
South London Refugee Association is a front-line community organization providing specialist advice and support to refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants who are at risk or in crisis because of past trauma or restrictions related to their current immigration status.
Every Tuesdays and Thursdays, they offer and serve lunch. The team are looking for volunteers to support in a range of ways - you can get involved by shopping, washing, chopping, stirring, serving, cleaning and be part of a dedicated team.
Sign up to King’s Volunteering and register your interest to be part of the Kitchen Team with South London Refugee Association.
9. Support Little Village in sorting & packing children’s clothes
Where? Various locations
When? Various dates, 3 hour shifts
Little Village is like a foodbank, but for clothes, toys and equipment for babies and children up to the age of 5.
As a stock sorter and packer, you will support in checking the donated pre-loved items, ensuring clothing and toys are good quality and organising donations, by gender, age, and item type.
Sign up to King’s Volunteering and register your interest to sort and pack clothes for babies and children.
10. Be a Knitting Club Volunteer with Colèchi
Where? The Lab E20, Stratford
When? Last Sunday of every month
Colèchi are a collective and research agency actioning sustainable development in the fashion industry; working to humanise clothing again through curation, workshops and insight; working in between brands, education and government in collaboration with our collective that includes growers, weavers, designers, media to recycler. As a volunteer at the Knitting Club, you will work alongside the team to help set up, sign in guests, social media and creating a relaxing and a fun atmosphere.
Related Opportunities
Compassionate Neighbours are trained volunteers offering friendship and a listening ear to people living in their community, who are at the end of life through age or illness.
This volunteer role will give you the opportunity to befriend and support others in your local community. Our Carers Service volunteers support relatives and friends of our patients by providing providing companionship and emotional support.
Dementia Wellbeing East London needs volunteers to offer Practical, social and emotional support to people living in their homes in Newham, City & Hackney and Tower Hamlets affected by advanced dementia.
