Facing life alone is hard, and when you feel there is no one there to support you it is a scary place to be. Therefore, at Safe Families, they offer support, hope and belonging to improve the lives of those in our communities. They link children, young people and families with local volunteers who can offer them help and support.

Family Friend – family friends work directly with families. Coming alongside and giving support to parents and children when they need it most, making sure they feel less isolated

Host Families – host families open their homes to look after children from a night or two up to a couple of weeks. This gives a regular break and space to families dealing with issues or challenges.

Resource Friend – individuals who are able to provide (or transport) useful items, such as a cot or children’s clothing. We also welcome those with helpful skills, such as cooking or gardening.

Requirements:

Safe Families requires all volunteers to go through a seven-step ‘safer recruiting’ programme that includes:

• Completing an application form

• Three written references

• DBS check

• Home assessment

• Attending training prior to coming into contact with families, and regular ongoing training events

• Approval by a review panel Receiving a formal accreditation letter and signing a volunteer agreement

Get Involved: Visit Safe Families website to learn more & apply

Wednesday 7:45-10:15PM

Embrace’s Outreach volunteers are the hands, feet, and mouthpieces of Jesus to the women we encounter, offering practical support, a compassionate listening ear, and the voice of hope in darkness. Every Wednesday they go to meet the women that are out on the beat (or red light district) to give them hot chocolate, hygiene products and sandwiches. Even more importantly, it’s their chance to build relationships with the women and offer prayer if they would like. They are always looking for Outreach Volunteers, but also for drivers who are confident and willing to help transport us there and back!

Requirements:

Embrace requires volunteers to be a Christian and plugged into a local church, so that we know they have pastoral support. Male and female volunteers are welcome!

All volunteers are required to give two references, complete an interview, a DBS check, and then attend a training evening before joining the outreach team.

Embrace asks that volunteers do 1-2 outreaches per month.

Get Involved: Please email kaeli@embrace-uk.org for an application form

UDB is passionate about the children and young people of Erdington.

Children, Families Activities - Weekdays between 3-5PM

Youth Activities — Weekdays between 3-8PM

Ad-hoc Support

• Schools Work

• Community Events

• Practical Jobs (e.g. Garden Maintenance)

• Specific Skills (e.g. Social Media)

More information on activities can be found here

Requirements:

UDB require their volunteers to have DBS checks which will be provided, and they can cover travel costs should you need it. 

Get Involved: Complete the volunteer form or email ash.porter@urbandevotion.org for more information

Administration - assisting with admin in the main KNS office and data entry 

Advisor/advocate - generalist advice for our drop-ins, greeting and chatting with waiting clients. If you have knowledge of another language, that would be super helpful!

Advocacy volunteer - providing advocacy and basic advice and support to clients, usually in a drop-in setting. Again, knowledge of another language would be super helpful!

Baby Bank Helper - helping sort baby clothes and equipment, receiving donations from members of the public, occasionally offering hospitality to clients

Befriending (family) - visiting the home of a family once a week, fortnight or month. Befriending them through social activities such as a cup of tea, a walk, etc. This requires a six month minimum commitment, and a basic DBS

Befriending (older person) - visiting the home of an older person once a week, fortnight or month. This may also involve telephone contact. Befriending them through social activities such as a cup of tea, a walk, etc. This requires a six month minimum commitment, and a basic DBS

Creche Helper - helping look after pre-school aged children whilst parents attend ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes on a regular basis. This is only open to women and requires a basic DBS

Women’s Drop In Helper - greeting and chatting to clients at weekly women’s drop in, helping with pre-school aged children, serving refreshments and helping clear up after, running crafts and activities for families. This is only open to women

Practical Helper - carrying out practical tasks in & around client’s homes, utilising relevant skills to help with gardening, DIY, decorating, etc. This role does not provide electrical or plumbing work, unless the volunteer is qualified. Volunteers are required to show proof of competency and will not be able to work alone without a DBS

ESOL Teacher - preparing and delivering ESOL lessons to groups of clients weekly during the term time. Volunteers don’t need formal teaching qualification, but do need experience of teaching, and are required to show proof of competency. A basic DBS is also required

Requirements:

Information for volunteering can be found on the Karis website and all volunteers, regardless of the role, will be required to provide two references who can comment on suitability for the role.

Get Involved: Complete the volunteer form

SEND After School Club — Wednesday 3-5:30PM

This club has a strong play ethos for children with Autism, ADHD, Global learning delay, Downs Syndrome etc and their siblings. The volunteer role is to join in with the children, supporting their interests.  Newbigin would offer guidance and support. They pick the children up from school, feed them, support their play and drop them home. This is a small group of 8-10 children.

Advocacy support — Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday 10AM-12PM

Supporting vulnerable adults with form filling, phone calls, accessing Universal Credit, support to fill out applications. Newbigin don’t require prior knowledge of how to do these applications, just a willingness to learn, be supportive and friendly and take people at face value. They offer support for volunteers to settle in and understand the different tasks. There will be experienced staff alongside you if you get stuck - there is no such thing as a stupid question!

IT Training

Supporting some of our staff/team who have not had access to laptops and need some support and confidence building to do basic tasks.

After school club — Thursday 3-5PM

Supporting the warm and friendly atmosphere of our afterschool club

Requirements:

All children’s work requires an enhanced DBS, and all volunteers do a 6-week induction.

Get Involved: If you think you might be interested, please get in touch with the team from Newbigin to meet, have a tour, visit our activities so you can get a feel for the activities and values.

Elayos supports women who are pregnant or have just had a baby and are going through really tough times - whether that’s trauma, poverty, or having no family around. Their volunteers offer regular, hands-on support that makes a huge difference: holding the baby so mum can shower, helping with light housework, or just getting out for a walk and a chat.

What’s involved:

• Weekly home visits (usually 1–2 hours) for at least three months

• Helping practically and emotionally—being a kind, consistent presence

• No need to be a certain gender or faith—just reliable, compassionate, and ready to help

Requirements:

• A DBS check

• Two reference checks

• A friendly interview and simple training

Get Involved: Elayos Volunteer Application Form

Restore is an organisation helping refugees and asylum seekers integrate into Birmingham.

Our volunteer befrienders play a vital role in helping refugees and asylum seekers feel welcomed into Birmingham once they arrive. 

Our befrienders meet up with a refugee/asylum seeker they have been ‘matched’ with, every 2 weeks to spend time together. This might involve going out for coffee, going on a walk, or visiting a site together in Birmingham.

Our volunteers are also welcome to join us for our social activities we run for groups of men and women (trips to Botanical gardens, museums, wildlife parks etc.)

Requirements:

We welcome male or female befrienders and we ask volunteers agree with our Christian ethos.

Volunteer befrienders are required to attend one of our training days before they apply to be a befriender. They must also undertake an enhanced DBS.

Get Involved: complete the Volunteer Form or email jasmine@restore-uk.org