Volunteer

Can you offer your services as a volunteer?

Your contribution will never be forgotten! If you would like to volunteer in any way with Kids Company, we would love to hear from you. There are many different options available and we provide full training and support. Please click on the links below to find out more about specific opportunities:

Opportunities for Individuals

Volunteering in a School or Centre

Mentoring

Volunteer Pool

Complementary Health Volunteers

Clinical Placements

Volunteering in a School or Centre

Whatever you’re into, whether it’s street dance or science, gardening or geography, your enthusiasm can help enrich the lives of vulnerable children. Kids Company supports teams located in schools across London; volunteers typically run, or help to run, lunchtime or afterschool clubs for small groups of children. Subjects include sport, dance, drama, music, circus skills, gardening, cookery, art, fashion, craft and design, photography, creative writing and yoga. We are also looking for volunteers to read with children, to play games with them in the playground, and to support their learning in the classroom.

We occasionally offer volunteering positions at Kids Company’s own centres, and if this is something you would like to do please mention this on your application form and we will discuss it with you in your interview.

Kids Company provides full training and support. We ask for a minimum commitment of 1 hour per week, for at least one academic term (12 weeks), but we welcome volunteers who can stay for longer. Volunteers in a school or centre must be over 18 years old and be able to volunteer in the London area.

To apply to volunteer in a school or centre:

Please complete the Volunteer Application Form (click to download) and the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (click to download). Email both forms to volunteer@kidsco.org.uk.

We will then be in touch to invite you to an interview and let you know the next steps in the application process.

We will complete a CRB application with you at the interview (please note that you will need a Kids Company CRB).

If you would prefer to post the forms, please send to:

Volunteer Application, Kids Company, 1 Kenbury Street, London, SE5 9BS

Please note that if you are under 25 you could be eligible for a V Inspired award, recognised by universities, colleges and employers. For more information about this, please visit vinspired.com or contact gabriella.brent@kidsco.org.uk.

Mentoring

One-to-one mentor support is extremely valuable for our young people, many of whom don’t have a reliable adult in their lives. Mentors will be able to help children and young people to achieve goals, build confidence and increase self-esteem and have some fun! Kids Company mentoring aims to provide the young person with a meaningful adult relationship by encouraging and supporting them through the development of a strong personal bond. The mentor will also provide guidance based on their own personal experiences.

Kids Company provides full training and support. A mentor would meet with the young person once a week, and must commit for a minimum of a year. Mentors must be over 18 years old and able to volunteer in the London area.

To apply to become a mentor:

Please complete the Volunteer Application Form (click to download) and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (click to download). Email both forms to mentoring@kidsco.org.uk.

We will then be in touch with more information and the next steps in the application process (this includes an interview, Kids Company CRB check and two days training).

If you would prefer to post the forms, please send them to:

Mentor Application

Kids Company
1 Kenbury Street
London
SE5 9BS

Volunteer Pool

The Kids Company Volunteer Pool is a fantastic way to stay in touch with various events and projects taking place at Kids Company that you may wish to get involved with on an ad-hoc basis. It does not involve any long-term or regular commitment. Just whenever and however you can.

You will receive e-mail notifications from us when we require help with a workshop, event or project. You will also receive invitations to events taking place throughout the year.

To join the Volunteer Pool please email volunteer@kidsco.org.uk.

You can join the Volunteer Pool straight away without an interview, but if you would like to get involved with the opportunities directly involving children you will needto complete an application form and attend an interview.

Please complete the Volunteer Application Form (click to download ) and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (click to download). Email both forms to volunteer.pool@kidsco.org.uk.

We will then be in touch to invite you to an interview where we will complete a CRB application (please note that you will need a Kids Company CRB).

If you would prefer to post the forms, please send them to:

Volunteer Application

Kids Company
1 Kenbury Street
London
SE5 9BS

Complementary Health Volunteers

Kids Company offers a wide range of complementary therapies, and we are always looking for qualified practitioners to contribute to this program on a voluntary basis.

We need specialists in occupational therapy, massage, reflexology, reiki, cranial osteopathy, acupuncture, EFT, yoga and other treatments. Whatever you can offer, from a few hours a month to a few days a week, we would love to hear from you. Various volunteering options are available, including working with children, staff, parents and teachers. We offer full training and support.

To apply to become a Complementary Health Volunteer:

Please complete the Volunteer Application Form (click to download) and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (click to download). Email both forms to complementarytherapy@kidsco.org.uk.

We will then be in touch to invite you to an interview and let you know the next steps in the application process. We will complete a CRB application with you at the interview (please note that you will need a Kids Company CRB).

If you would prefer to post the forms, please send them to:

Complementary Health Volunteer Application

Kids Company
1 Kenbury Street
London
SE5 9BS

Clinical Placements at Kids Company

Kids Company offers placements for those training in all therapeutic approaches, in primary and secondary schools across London. We work with children who have experienced trauma, abuse and neglect. We also work with children who may be going through short term traumas (bereavement/family break-down) and self-doubt, who are in need of support in expressing and understanding themselves. Alongside this we offer therapeutic interventions for parents, carers and teachers.

We offer the child a secure, safe and committed experience to support emotional and psychological well being in order for them to increase self awareness, to develop confidenceand to develop resiliance.

All placements are supported by clinical supervision in line with university, UKCP, BACP, HPC and BPS requirements.

To apply and for more information please complete the Clinical Placement Application Form (download here) and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (click to download). Email both forms to clinical.placement@kidsco.org.uk.

We will then be in touch to invite you to an interview and let you know the next steps in the application process.

If you would prefer to post the forms, please send them to:

Clinical Placement Application

Kids Company
1 Kenbury Street
London
SE5 9BS

A full description of all our volunteer opportunities are detailed in our Volunteers brochure. If you are studying at University and would like a placement at one of our centre’s or schools please download our Placements brochure.

Ambassadors – Volunteer Fundraising Committee

Kids Company aims to form volunteer Fundraising Committees around London who will create innovative and exciting ways of raising awareness and funds for Kids Company. Fundraising Committee Members will be ‘Ambassadors’ for Kids Company. You will use your enthusiasm and passion to come up with imaginative ways of raising awareness and funds for Kids Company, as well as supporting existing and planned Kids Company fundraising initiatives.