Make a difference days
Living in the community
Enrich your University experience by making a positive difference to others and develop an abundance of new skills through volunteering. Play an invaluable role through participating in rewarding one-off and short-term volunteering in the local community. There are also unique online opportunities, where you can make an impact nationally and globally.
Make a Difference days are opportunities for students and staff to volunteer, help others and support causes that impact the local community. These one-off and short term activities don’t require ongoing commitment, giving you the opportunity to gain experience and support your personal development, well-being and sense of community.
Windrush High Tea Party Event Volunteer
Saturday 21 June 2025
Join Opal22 as an Events Volunteer for the Windrush High Tea Party, a vibrant and joyful community event celebrating culture and connection. This event honours Windrush elders and brings generations together for a day of entertainment, connection and fun. Now in its fourth year, the annual Windrush Day celebrations, delivered by Opal 22 Arts and Edutainment, are a chance to honour the Caribbean men and women that answered the call to help rebuild Britain after WWII. They rolled up their sleeves and became the backbone of essential services, from the newly formed NHS to transport services and postal services.
Enthusiastic volunteers are needed to support with tasks such as setting up and packing down, serving food to elders, assisting at the bar (age-dependent), selling raffle tickets, helping with children’s activities and conducting guest surveys.
This is a great opportunity to give back, develop teamwork and hospitality skills, and be part of a joyful, family-friendly day. Food and refreshments will be provided for all volunteers.
The Windrush High Tea Party will be taking place in Museum Square at New Walk from 12.00pm to 8.00pm.
Apply through the Students' Union Volunteering Hub
Twilight Walk Event Volunteers
Saturday, 26 July 2025
Can you help make LOROS’ Twilight Walk shine bright?
One of LOROS' biggest and brightest events of the year, the Twilight Walk, is taking place in the summer and the team need enthusiastic volunteers to help to make it glow!
This year is extra special as LOROS Hospice celebrates 40 incredible years and with around 1,000 walkers taking part, it’s going to be a night to remember!
LOROS are looking for brilliant volunteers to help:
- At the start and finish line at King Power Stadium
- Along the route to cheer on walkers and keep everyone safe
Whether you’ve helped before or it’s your first time, your energy and enthusiasm are what bring this event to life. So grab your brightest 80s gear, round up a friend or two, and come join the party atmosphere while making a real difference.
If you are available to volunteer, please email kimblount@loros.co.uk to sign up.
England Women v Jamaica match day event volunteers
Sunday 29 June 2025 at the King Power Stadium, Leicester
Are you passionate about football and eager to be part of the action?
Join the FA Here to Help Team as a volunteer and as a brilliant bonus, you will receive a ticket to the game, as well as a FA blue cap, hot drinks and a snack pack. Volunteers will need to attend an online training on the evening of Thursday 26 June and will need to be at the King Power Stadium from 2.00pm on Sunday 29 June for a stadium tour and briefing before the match. Volunteers will be needed for a range of roles on prior to kick off and during the game.
Roles:
- Engaging with fans and handing out stickers and face paint
- Crowd and queue assistance
- Ushering and turnstile support
- Taking photos for fans
- Answering questions from fans and visitors
What you get:
- Free event access
- Snacks and refreshments
- New skills and experiences to add to your CV
- A chance to be part of a fun, energetic and memorable event
Apply to volunteer by 25 June 2025.
Stomp round Leicester Volunteer
Stomp Round Leicester is a public sculpture trail that will leave a BIG impression! From July to September, 40 magnificent elephant sculptures will be stampeding into Leicester to raise vital funds and commemorate LOROS Hospice, in its 40th anniversary year.
Each Elephant will be sponsored by a business and beautifully designed by a talented artist to create a free, fun, family-friendly trail of discovery for the community to enjoy whilst exploring our great city.
The Stomp round Leicester team are looking for some ele-fantastic volunteers to join the herd! There are a range of volunteering opportunities from providing key information to the public about the trail and supporting events. This is a fun and innovative opportunity taking place in Leicester over the summer, so why not register your interest to join the ‘tusk force.’
School Reading Buddy
Help local children to flourish through this fortnightly school-based volunteering role.
As a School Reading Buddy, you will inspire and encourage children to thrive by helping to ignite a love for reading.
This fun, impactful and rewarding opportunity will involve listening to and reading to children in small groups, whilst offering support and a confidence boost, which they may not always get at home. The role is flexible as you will just need to commit to a minimum of 2 hours of volunteering every fortnight, during term time.
You will develop new transferable skills and experiences, plus it’s an easy way to help children in a classroom setting and give back to the community.
Commitment
Please note, this is a long-term volunteering role and the host school have requested a minimum commitment of 6 to 9 months. The school are keen to take on committed and reliable volunteers who want to make a difference.
No previous experience is needed but you would need to:
- Have a good reading ability and be confident in your spoken English
- Have good communication and organisational skills
- Be reliable, friendly and willing to support children with their tasks
- Undertake any necessary guidance from the school
You will also need to complete a DBS check, which the school will provide.
A school-based Volunteer Induction Session will take place in October 2025.
Please complete the Reading Buddies Expression of Interest Form by 5 October to be added to the waiting list.
If you have any questions about this volunteering opportunity, please email: volunteer@le.ac.uk.
Summer Reading Challenge
Do you love reading?
Plant the seeds of imagination and sign up to volunteer for the Summer Reading Challenge.
Leicester City Council have a fantastic opportunity for you to volunteer in libraries this July and August to support the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge. This year’s ‘Story Garden’ theme celebrates the key role of imagination in nature.
Every year Leicester City Council provide a programme of free activities and events around the city to encourage children to keep reading during their long summer holidays. Hopefully this will help develop a lifelong passion for reading and using the city’s libraries.
This is an ideal opportunity for anyone interested in reading, libraries, being creative and working with children and families.
You can volunteer as much or as little as you like.
If you love books and reading, want experience working with children and enjoy talking with people, then why not sign up?
- Find out more and apply by 22 June 2025
NSPCC Childhood Day Volunteer
Childhood Day is the NSPCC’s national flagship day of fundraising and action that brings communities together and gives everyone a way to help keep children safe.
Childhood Day collections will be taking place across the UK from May to June. They have a number of collections across the country that they need volunteers for.
- Find out more and enter your post code to find out how you get involved in your area.
Mind Volunteer
Mind is a charity that is dedicated to developing innovative mental health services to support individuals dealing with mental health challenges. If you have an interest in mental health and would like to gain valuable and rewarding experiences whilst helping your local community, why not consider volunteering for Mind, latest opportunities include:
- Peer Support Volunteer
- Events Support Volunteer
- Social Media Volunteer
LOROS Volunteer
Volunteering with LOROS Hospice offers you the chance to make a meaningful impact in your local community while developing valuable skills.
As a Shop Volunteer, you’ll help operate the till, serve customers, sort donations, and keep the shops organised. This role is perfect for gaining retail experience, developing customer service skills, and supporting hospice care.
If you prefer a more social environment, consider joining the LOROS Café (Peppercorns) in Abbey Park or based at the Hospice café on Groby Road. You’ll provide a warm and friendly service, prepare food and drinks, handle cash transactions, and ensure the café remains clean and welcoming.
Alternatively, you can make a difference behind the scenes as a Warehouse Donation Volunteer. In this role, you’ll sort and manage donations, handle Gift Aid, and advise customers with queries. It’s a great way to develop organisational skills and gain practical experience in retail.
If you would like to discuss opportunities, please get in touch with the Team at LOROS via email volunteering@loros.co.uk or phone (0116) 231 3771
Weekly litter picking with Buzzing Roots
Help to revitalize Clarendon Park Gardens by joining a weekly litter pick, organised by a community interest company called Buzzing Roots. Join other friendly locals to make a positive change in small steps. Equipment will be provided and you don’t need to attend every week.
To get involved, meet next to Knighton Library, 165 Clarendon Park Road on Tuesdays from 3.00pm - 4.00pm. There is no need to book, so you can just turn up.
If you’d like to contact Buzzing Roots, you can reach them by email at buzzingroots@gmail.com or phone on 07425867969.
The Climate Ambassadors Scheme
Climate Ambassadors is an initiative funded by the Department for Education to help all education settings make and implement a Climate Action Plan. By supporting nurseries, schools and colleges to build their climate action plans, Climate Ambassadors can help to ensure that young people have access to the learning and skills they will need for their future in the green economy while also helping education settings meet the challenges of a changing climate.
Becoming a Climate Ambassador is a great way to:
- Put your sustainability interest and experience into practical use in your community
- Contribute to your community’s ability to tackle climate risks
- Develop your own climate skills and knowledge
- Inspire the next generation of climate leaders
The Trussell Trust Leicester South Foodbank
Volunteer Warehouse Packer
The Trussell Trust is an anti-poverty charity and community of food banks providing practical support to people who can’t afford the essentials. The Trussell Trust’s vision is to end the need for food banks.
Acting as the link between food donations coming in and reaching those in crisis, as a Warehouse Packer, you’ll support the smooth running of your local food bank. You’ll be part of a team sorting and packing food in the warehouse.
Time for Trussell Volunteer
- Can you create great social media content?
- Do you want to make a positive impact?
Time for Trussell volunteers help raise awareness of the work that the Trussell Trust do, using social media.
By sharing our social media messages, you can help the Trussell Trust campaign for change and build a consensus among the public to ensure that everyone can afford the essentials.
If you have good online communication skills and working knowledge of at least one social media platform, you could help us raise awareness and call for change.
IntoUniversity volunteer mentors and academic support tutors
IntoUniversity is a nationwide educational charity that supports under represented young people with their educational journeys. From their learning centres, they run after-school academic support sessions and mentoring.
How can you help?
Volunteer mentors and academic support tutors are needed to help make a real difference as positive role models in the lives of the young people who need that additional help. The roles would be great for anyone who has an enthusiasm for education, strong interpersonal skills and the ability to use their initiative.
Students Union Volunteering Hub
The University of Leicester Students Union also work with a range of voluntary organisations and charities who opportunities that you can sign up to now. You can also record your volunteering hours through the Students Union online portal called the Volunteering Hub.
Visit the Volunteering Hub to view the latest volunteering roles.
Virtual and micro-volunteering
Micro-volunteering enables you to offer your time in small chunks. You can manage how often you take part in micro-volunteering activities and can fit them flexibly around other commitments. Roles are mainly virtual and can be done using a lap top or phone. Examples of micro-volunteering and online roles include:
Warning Zone
Educational tour volunteers needed for Warning Zone.
As a life skills centre for children aged 10-11 years who visit them on a school trip, Warning Zone relies on the generosity of volunteers to guide small groups of children around their interactive life skills centre. They educate the children on how to keep themselves safe both online and offline, helping them to recognise hazards, assess risk, avoid consequences and navigate the many different aspects of growing up that they might face such as peer pressure and coercion. Their interactive safety centre has life-like zones covering areas such as fire safety in the home, building sites, water safety, arson, road safety, railways, alcohol, knife crime, grooming, cyber-bullying, posting photos online and so much more.
To sign up, please email volunteer@warningzone.org.uk or call +44 (0)116 262 9739.
CoachBright online volunteer
CoachBright are a social mobility charity that exists to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds become more independent and resilient so they can lead the lives they want. Volunteers work with pupils in schools to build confidence through academic coaching.
St John Ambulance
Volunteering with St John Ambulance is a fantastic way to enhance your CV, meet new people, and learn lifesaving skills. Most volunteering opportunities are community based and full training is given after you have been accepted to do your chosen role.
View the range of roles available and apply
Barclays Digital Champions
The Barclays Digital Champion programme provides a way to build and develop digital skills within organisations and communities, helping people get the most out of technology to thrive in the digital world.
You don’t need to be a digital expert to become a Digital Champion but you do need a passion for helping others. We’ll give you all the training, resources and support you need.
To become a Digital Champion you’ll join three 90 minute virtual sessions hosted by Barclays Digital Eagles where you’ll meet like-minded people who want to become Digital Champions too.
Age UK day care passenger assistant volunteer
To volunteer with Age UK, all you need is some spare time and a passion for helping others.
Patient and friendly volunteers are needed to provide support within an Age UK community day centre situated on Humberstone Gate in Leicester City Centre. The role will involve assisting the day care team in delivering optimum quality of care and support to their service users. This may include assisting the minibus driver when picking up and dropping off clients from 8.30am to 10.30am and/or 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
No previous experience is needed as full training will be given. You would need to have the physical ability to help move and support older people and have good team working and communication skills.
If you are interested in applying, please email volunteer@le.ac.uk for more information.
Age UK befriender befriending volunteer
Could you spare 20-30 minutes a week as a telephone befriender to make a couple of weekly phone calls to Age UK service users who may be experiencing isolation and loneliness to offer support and companionship?
You also have the option to do regular face-to-face befriending for 1 hour a week which could be at a day centre location or in the older person’s home.
If you are interested in applying, please email volunteer@le.ac.uk for more information.
Environmental volunteering with Leicester City Council
Leicester environmental volunteers fulfil a vital role in keeping our parks and open spaces, waterways and streets clean and well maintained so that we can all enjoy them.
Make a difference in a park near you and enjoy the benefits of the wide-open spaces, fresh air and physical exercise.
Roles include gardening and horticulture, conservation, environmental improvements, litter picking and more.
Short term opportunities
Age UK volunteers and fundraisers
Age UK Leicestershire and Rutland is celebrating 70 years of support in 2022. They have a busy year of exciting events and activities planned, which you can support through fundraising and volunteering.
Action Tutoring
Volunteering as a tutor with Action Tutoring is an easy and rewarding way to make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged young people living in your community. It’s your chance to give back, share your skills and boost your CV.
By volunteering for just one hour a week, you will directly support disadvantaged pupils to build their confidence and help ensure they leave school with the grades needed to build a bright future, as well as developing your own skills.
Park Run event volunteers, Victoria Park, Leicester
Park Runs are free, weekly, community events all around the world.
Volunteers make parkrun happen. They do all of the high-profile tasks at the event like marshalling, timing, result recording, setting up the running course and more, as well as all the behind-the-scenes roles too.
Whatever you want to do, there is a role for you. To volunteer during a Saturday morning Park Run, you would need to register by the Thursday before, so your name can be added to the volunteer rota in advance. Email leicestervictoria@parkrun.com to help.