Volunteer with Options and you could change someone’s life. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation; without them, we can’t do the incredible work we do every day. You can offer your time in a way that makes sense to you, whether that be supporting our events, buddying one of the people we support or taking part in Adventure Days. We’ve got something to suit everyone.
If you are interested in volunteering for Options, please fill in our volunteer form.
How can you volunteer your time?
Our volunteers give their time in kind in many ways. Some of the ways other people have volunteered their time include:
Event volunteer
Help to support our inspiring events by becoming part of our events team. You can get involved in coordination, marketing or live event support.
Become a buddy
We always welcome an extra pair of hands for the people we support. You can become a buddy to help people carry out day-to-day activities or to offer extra support on adventure days.
Club volunteer
People we support run a number of clubs that help to give the people we support rich and meaningful lives. Whether you want to volunteer your time and expertise with our beer club, craft club or snooker club (and much more) we’d welcome your support.
Become a corporate partner
If you’re considering volunteering but want your workplace to get involved with your efforts, you can become a corporate partner. Our corporate partners can offer time in kind, donate funds, participate in educational courses and much more. Find out how you can become a corporate partner.
Campaign on our behalf
Many injustices affect the people we support so if you’d like to volunteer your time by campaigning for us, this is hugely valuable.
Why become a volunteer at Options?
Volunteering with our charity has many benefits for both those who volunteer and the people we support. People have told us they have volunteered their time with us previously because:
It makes a difference to someone’s life
If you’re feeling like you want to make a genuine impact on someone’s day or you want to be the reason someone tries something different, volunteering is an amazing opportunity to do just that.
It helps with career development
When you want to do something special to stand out from hundreds of other applicants, volunteering can be the edge you need to secure a dream job. Not only is it a demonstration of your values, but it also enables you to develop vital skills such as communication, empathy, organisation and more.
It’s fun
ls and talent. Helping people and bringing your unique perspective means you’re sure to have fun and learn something new in the process.
It enables you to develop new skills
Perhaps you want to boost your confidence, learn something new or try something outside of your comfort zone. Volunteering at Options allows you to develop your skills with kind experts. Gain a deeper understanding of people with disabilities, what needs to be done to create a more equitable world and how you can influence better outcomes.
Meet some of our volunteers
Many people have volunteered with us over the years, but Gemma and Danielle’s stories are great examples of how you can get involved in our work.
Meet Gemma
Learn how Gemma helped the people we support to become active members of their communities.
Meet Danielle
Discover how Danielle volunteered her time at our events to help boost her confidence and learn new skills.
Become a volunteer
Volunteer FAQs
How much time do I need to commit?
As much or as little as you like. We prefer to speak to people one on one to understand what they want to get out of volunteering and then create an arrangement that works for them.
Will I get training?
Yes. We offer a range of training opportunities for everyone including specific training if needed. Some training may be essential for your choice of volunteering role.
What if I don’t like volunteering, can I change to another type of volunteering?
Absolutely. We value you and your time and would be happy to work with you to find the right role for you.
Can I remote volunteer?
Not right now. The nature of our support is very much in-person so remote-volunteering is not currently something we offer.
Is there an age restriction on volunteers?
For anyone under the age of 18, we might need to discuss the limitations we might encounter. But for anyone over the age of 18, we’re open to creating an arrangement that works for you.
Do I need qualifications to volunteer?
Not at all. We will work with you to be the best you can be in your role as a volunteer. If you have a particular skill or qualification that you think would be valuable, then it’s a bonus.
I need extra support to volunteer, can you offer that?
It would depend on the support that you need. Any reasonable adjustments or accessibility needs would be agreed with you when we get together. If you have your own support staff, we would be happy for you to volunteer with your support if that works better for you. We wouldn’t be able to provide you with a support person however.
