Volunteer

Anyone can volunteer and we'd really appreciate your help. We have a range of opportunities so keep checking back if there isn't anything for you right now.

The Big Orange Heart volunteers team can be contacted through our contact page, which includes phone numbers, live chat and email. 

You can volunteer within one of our core teams, at an event or across our support services.

Volunteers are welcome to get involved with as many or as few different types of volunteering that they are interested in.

As much as you want and are able to give. The amount of time needed is different for each opportunity. It could be a one-off or a longer-term commitment.

In general the skills, we most need are enthusiasm, commitment and friendliness. Some roles may require certain skills and this will be clearly stated in the role description.

Most volunteer roles do not require any specific training although all volunteers are given a full briefing before they start the role.

That depends on the reason you have chosen to volunteer. Many volunteers get huge satisfaction out of making a difference in the lives of anyone with a mental health problem. Your volunteering may also help you use existing skills or further your skills and knowledge, as well as meet new people and gain confidence. And you may also gain work experience for your CV.

Yes. You would be reimbursed for reasonable expenses that arise from volunteering, such as travel and lunch. The types of expenses you can claim for will be confirmed once you start our volunteering role.

No. Volunteers are not paid for their time but are entitled to be reimbursed for their travel and other legitimate expenses. Volunteering does not affect the benefits payments you receive although you should inform your benefits advisor when you start volunteering.

Most roles will involve an informal chat so you can find out more about Big Orange Heart and what the opportunity involves. We will ask you to provide basic personal information so that we can help match you to the most appropriate role as well as keep in touch on an agreed basis.

We will make sure you have all the information you need to perform your role, a main contact so you know who to go to with any questions or concerns, information about health and safety and your expenses reimbursed where agreed. 

Yes, of course, you can. We want all our volunteers to have a worthwhile and positive experience so we welcome feedback on how we could make improvements, so we encourage volunteers to talk to us before making the decision to leave.  

As a charity, we depend on volunteers to help us continue our work. Big Orange Heart has a volunteering policy that states that volunteer roles should never be used in place of paid roles. Volunteers are usually recruited on a time-limited basis to work on specific projects.

Big Orange Heart, the international charity, does not have, has never had and will never have any coerced volunteer placements. Big Orange Heart firmly believes that being a volunteer should be exactly that: something you choose willingly to give up your time to do.

Big Orange Heart expects the highest standards from our networks and would expect any placements to be voluntary, well organised, meaningful and supportive, particularly for people with mental health problems.

Many people volunteer for Big Orange Heart every day and we value their commitment and hard work. We simply could not operate without the dedication of our volunteers who do a tremendous job helping people with mental health problems.

Volunteers tell us how much they enjoy being involved with the charity and the potential to make a real difference to peoples lives. 

As part of our safeguarding policies, we ask you to disclose if you have any convictions that are unspent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 when you sign up to a volunteering opportunity.  

As part of our equal opportunities policy, we wish to ensure that we don’t discriminate against ex-offenders.  However, some posts within Big Orange Heart are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 as they involve working with vulnerable adults and/or children and young people and will require a DBS check.  

By using the DBS to assess volunteers, as well as all other roles at, or which work with Big Orange Heart, we fully comply with the DBS Code of Practice.  We are committed to treating all applicants equally and undertake not to discriminate unfairly against the subject of a positive disclosure.