City Transformation

We want to see the transformation of Birmingham

As a church our vision is to ‘light for the city & beyond’. We work with organisations across the city who provide practical support to those in need - and we’d love you to get involved with volunteering opportunities.

Local Opportunities

  • Foodbank — Wednesday, 9AM-12PM

    Lifting, shifting, organising, and cleaning! Our Foodbank team keep our foodbank and The Community shop running smoothly.

    The Community Shop — Thursday, 8AM-12PM

    Volunteers at The Community Shop help set up, stock shelves, serve customers, and pack down. They are key to our work here, a friendly face and welcoming attitude help people feel at home.

  • Thursday (term-time) — 1-3PM

    Our creche during our Kids Matter course means that parents can fully engage with the course, and children can have a fun time in our sensory room!

  • Debt befrienders support our clients pastorally, along with the debt coach, during meetings. This might mean being a listening ear, meeting up for a coffee, or a comforting presence, as clients go through an intimidating process.

  • Tuesday — 12:45-2:30PM

    Job Club volunteers help support the Job Club coach in delivering the course, supporting clients 1:1 with the materials, and generally help host and make people feel welcome

  • Tuesday 11AM-1PM

    Come help us make the Craft Club welcoming, as well as supporting with the light practicalities of a craft club.

  • Thursday 7-9PM

    Whether or not you can sing, being a welcoming presence to help team cohesion is always welcome at Community Choir!

  • Friday (term-time) — 10-11:30AM

    Volunteers help practically with set up, pack down, and keeping on top of refreshments, but also with welcoming people into the space, chatting to parents, and helping read a story or two!

  • Saturday (monthly) — 9:15-12:30PM

    Whether it’s Kitchen Team, Kids Team, or Hosting Team, we’re always looking for new volunteers at The Big Breakfast. These monthly events at St John’s and St Peter’s Academy in Ladywood give the local community a free breakfast, crafts and community. If you like to be in the back washing up, or organising a game of football, we’ve got a role for you!

City Opportunities

  • 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

Love Your Neighbour

Our hub at Gas Street St Luke’s is one way we live out our vision of being light for the city & beyond

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Donate

Every penny will go directly to our Love Your Neighbour hub which support our local community through streams such as a Food Bank, The Community Shop, Debt Centre, Job Club, Kids Matter parenting course, and much more.

Missional Partners

We are committed to donating 10% of our giving to support charities and organisations who align with our missional principles and values.