Seven current UK roles compared—plus the safeguarding checks to make before applying

Volunteer With Children UK: 7 Excellent Roles Compared (2026)

The best way to volunteer with children is the role you can keep showing up for. For most adults wanting a clear, manageable first commitment, Bookmark Reading Charity is the strongest starting point: one hour a week, online or in a partner primary school, with training, an Enhanced DBS process and structured resources.

These are not interchangeable “good causes”. They involve different promises to a child, different emotional loads and very different onboarding. The comparison below uses current role pages and safeguarding guidance checked on 11 August 2026. Availability changes by location, so confirm the live vacancy and exact commitment before applying.

Seven excellent ways to volunteer with children compared

Our overall recommendation: start with Bookmark if you can attend during school hours and want a well-bounded direct role. Choose a mentor programme only if its full duration survives your likely holidays, work changes and house moves. If you cannot promise regularity, an occasional group or skills-based role is more useful than becoming another adult who disappears from a child’s week.

What each role is really like

1. Bookmark Reading Charity — best structured first role

Bookmark pairs an adult with the same child aged 5–11 for one-to-one reading. The standard commitment is two 30-minute sessions a week, delivered online through a secure platform or face to face at a participating primary school. You read stories, play literacy games and use supplied resources; teaching experience is not required.

The onboarding is more substantial than the “one hour a week” headline. Applicants must be 18 or over, provide a five-year work/education/volunteering history where applicable and two referees, complete an online interview, safeguarding learning and an Enhanced DBS check arranged and paid for by Bookmark. Its current registration page says the full process can take a few weeks; DBS itself can take up to six weeks, although it is often faster.

Why it stands out: the task is precise, resources are provided and online delivery removes travel for volunteers who live far from a participating school or have limited mobility. Supporting the same reader creates continuity without asking for a full year of independent outings.

Know before applying: “flexible” means choosing from times schools make available, not reading at any hour. Sessions normally sit inside the school day. A six-week child programme is short, but onboarding costs the charity more than £300 according to its application page, so apply only if you can finish the match and preferably take further programmes.

Best match: patient adults who enjoy learning and literacy, can use a laptop or tablet and want a clear session plan. Check Bookmark’s current adult role.

2. The Kids Network — best one-to-one mentoring in London

The Kids Network matches a volunteer mentor with one London child aged 8–11. They meet every week for 1–3 hours over one year, usually doing activities chosen around the child’s interests: exploring the local area, making something, visiting a museum, playing a game or simply talking while out together.

The organisation describes the model as child-led and trauma-informed. It provides up to 30 hours of training and development, a programme manager, safeguarding support and a £35 monthly activity budget for the child and mentor. That budget matters because a relationship should not depend on the volunteer privately financing impressive outings.

Why it stands out: this is genuine one-to-one time outside a large session, with formal support behind it. Children are approaching the transition from primary to secondary school, so a stable adult who is neither parent nor teacher can offer continuity through a period of change.

Know before applying: this is not casual befriending. Weekly meetings for a year can total up to 60 hours, before travel, planning, training and supervision. The right question is not whether you feel enthusiastic today; it is whether your work, caring duties and housing plans make the same slot realistic next winter and next summer.

Best match: London adults who are reliable, curious and comfortable following a child’s interests without trying to become a therapist or substitute parent. Read The Kids Network’s live mentor requirements.

3. ReachOut — best supported group mentoring

ReachOut works with young people aged 9–14 through collective mentoring and a structured curriculum. Volunteers attend a two-hour after-school project and work with the same group, while a trained Youth Development Lead plans and facilitates the whole session. Activities and reflection focus on socio-emotional skills, confidence and relationships.

This model occupies a useful middle ground. You have meaningful direct contact, but you are not planning a one-to-one outing alone. A professional lead is in the room each week, and mentors receive core and safeguarding training. ReachOut says reasonable travel expenses are reimbursed under its policy.

Why it stands out: support is visible during delivery, not available only if something goes wrong later. It suits first-time mentors who want to learn by working alongside other adults and within a session plan.

Know before applying: current pages use two overlapping commitment descriptions. The recruitment page calls for two hours weekly for at least an academic year while describing individual programmes as 12-week blocks; the FAQ describes roughly 20 term-time sessions for one pathway. Locations also change. Treat the actual project offer—school, dates, number of blocks and expected end date—as the commitment, and get it in writing before accepting a match.

Best match: people available after school who want structure, teamwork and regular contact rather than independent one-to-one mentoring. See ReachOut’s current mentor page.

4. Action for Children Independent Visitor — best long-term relationship

An Independent Visitor is an adult outside social services who regularly spends free time with a child or young person in care. Action for Children’s London service asks for a visit around once a month for a minimum of two years. A visit might be a walk, lunch, an activity or time to talk; the young person is involved in the relationship rather than treated as a passive recipient.

Why it stands out: the lower monthly frequency may fit someone who cannot volunteer every week, but the duration creates the chance for a durable relationship. For a child who has experienced changes of placement or professional, staying present can be the intervention.

Know before applying: monthly does not mean light. The role involves travel, planning, safeguarding boundaries and a commitment that must survive two birthdays, school changes and ordinary dips in motivation. Matching and safer recruitment may also take time. A person likely to move away should choose another role unless the service confirms continuity is possible.

Best match: a settled adult who can offer calm, non-judgmental attention over years and accept that trust may build slowly. Check the London Independent Visitors service; your local authority may commission a different provider.

5. NSPCC Childline — best for trained, supervised listening

Childline volunteers respond when a child or young person needs confidential support. The current recruitment page asks for 26 shifts each year—roughly six in every 90 days—plus initial training over 12 weeks. Physical bases operate in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Belfast, Foyle, Cardiff, Prestatyn, Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Nottingham and Salford. A virtual base supports volunteers answering emails from home across all four nations.

Every shift includes briefing and debriefing, a practitioner is present, and volunteers receive one-to-one and group supervision. That support is central, not an optional perk: contacts can involve abuse, exploitation, self-harm, bereavement, suicidal thoughts or fear at home.

Why it stands out: few volunteering roles provide such formal preparation and immediate professional support while allowing one volunteer to help young people anywhere in the UK. The virtual email route may work for someone unable to travel to a base, although vacancies and selection are separate.

Know before applying: this is not a general chat service or a stepping stone to practise unqualified counselling. You must follow Childline’s confidentiality, risk and escalation model, tolerate difficult uncertainty and use supervision honestly. If crisis content follows you home, a different role may be kinder to both you and callers.

Best match: emotionally resilient adults who listen without rushing to fix, can think under pressure and want close boundaries. Review current Childline volunteer opportunities.

6. Scouts — best local activity-led option

Scouts offers a different relationship: adults work in teams to help young people aged 4–18 learn through activities and adventures. Volunteers might welcome families, plan sessions, share a skill, support a camp, administer a group or help with finance and premises. Local teams can use weekly, occasional and behind-the-scenes help.

Why it stands out: this is the broadest local route here. You do not need to present as a counsellor or expert youth worker; cooking, coding, craft, sport, navigation, music, organisation and patient practical help can all become useful. Team delivery also spreads responsibility.

Know before applying: the exact experience depends on the local group, its leadership and vacancies. Regulated roles require the appropriate criminal-record process and Scouts’ internal checks. Adventurous activities such as climbing or water sports can require a competence permit; enthusiasm alone does not authorise someone to lead them. Ask who supervises you, what training is mandatory, how concerns are reported and whether “occasional” really matches the role on offer.

Best match: people who prefer energetic group activity to emotionally intensive one-to-one work and want to contribute in their own community. Explore Scouts volunteer roles.

7. Skills-based volunteering — best when weekly child contact is unrealistic

A children’s charity also needs a functioning organisation. A designer can improve accessible information, an accountant can strengthen reporting, a lawyer can help with governance, an HR specialist can improve safer recruitment and an IT professional can secure systems. Reach Volunteering connects professionals with project, trustee and longer-term opportunities, including remote and hybrid roles. NCVO also lists Reach among established routes for skills-based volunteering.

Why it stands out: a bounded project can fit shift workers, carers, disabled volunteers, people outside major cities and anyone whose diary cannot support a child-facing promise. It can remove a bottleneck that affects hundreds of children without manufacturing direct contact for the volunteer’s benefit.

Know before applying: “pro bono” work still needs a brief, decision-maker, deadline and safeguarding/data boundary. Do not accept access to identifiable children’s records merely because your task is technical. Trustee roles are different from ordinary projects: they carry collective legal duties and require enough time to understand the whole charity.

Best match: someone with a defined professional skill who wants measurable organisational impact. Search Reach Volunteering, or use a local volunteer centre.

How to choose the right role in ten minutes

Start with constraints, not an organisation’s most moving story. Write down honest answers to these five questions:

1. What slot can I protect? School-time reading, after-school mentoring, evening helpline shifts and weekend activities are different diaries.
2. How long can I promise? Six weeks, an academic year and two years should never be treated as equivalent.
3. What contact feels right? One child, a facilitated group, confidential remote listening or no direct contact at all.
4. How much emotional intensity can I hold? Literacy encouragement and crisis counselling both matter; they make different demands.
5. What support do I need? Consider mobility, sensory access, travel cost, technology, caring duties, confidence and supervision.

If none fits, browse today’s broader families, family-life and early-years coverage to identify the kind of practical problem you care about, then search by that cause rather than by the word “children”.

Where to find legitimate opportunities near you

National charity pages are useful when you already want their programme. For a local search, use the established infrastructure for your nation:

• England: NCVO’s opportunity guide links to local volunteer centres, Do IT, Reach Volunteering, NHS Volunteering and other databases.
• Scotland: search Volunteer Scotland opportunities, which can filter for youth and children, remote work, access needs, age and expenses.
• Wales: WCVA and Volunteering Wales provide a national database and local volunteer-centre route.
• Northern Ireland: Volunteer Now provides opportunity search, guidance and safeguarding support.

Search for the activity as well as the cause: “reading”, “youth club”, “family support”, “independent visitor”, “sports coach”, “children’s hospice”, “play”, “trustee” or “digital volunteer”. Then check the organisation itself on the relevant charity register and ask for the role description before submitting identity documents.

Can under-18s volunteer with children?

Yes, but opportunities are narrower and should be organised around the young volunteer’s own safeguarding. There is no general UK-wide rule that all volunteers must be 18. Organisations can set higher minimum ages because of role risk, supervision, insurance or their disclosure process.

A strong named route is Bookmark’s Reading Mentors programme for students aged 14 to 18. Young people read one-to-one with a primary pupil for 30 minutes once or twice weekly, online or in school, with training and resources. The secondary school, sixth form or college must register the partnership; students cannot independently use the school registration form. It can support Duke of Edinburgh, IB service and skills development, but the child’s consistency comes first.

Scouts’ Young Leader route is another possibility for eligible Explorer Scouts helping younger sections, with required training and supervision. Local libraries, sports clubs, holiday schemes and community organisations may offer other roles. Ask explicitly whether the organisation’s insurance covers your age, who supervises you and whether a parent/carer consent form is required. NCVO notes that opportunities often default to 18+, even though teenagers can make a valuable contribution.

For adults choosing activities with their own children rather than volunteering, KidsCo’s education and family sections are the relevant current parts of the site.

DBS, PVG and AccessNI: what volunteers actually need

A criminal-record check follows the role; it is not a personal “licence to work with children”. The recruiting organisation should decide eligibility, request the correct level and explain the result process. A Basic check you buy yourself is not a substitute for an Enhanced check or barred-list information where the role qualifies.

England and Wales: DBS

An individual normally cannot apply for their own Standard or Enhanced DBS check; the eligible recruiting organisation applies through a registered body. Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced-with-barred-list applications are free of the DBS application charge for qualifying volunteers, although an umbrella organisation may charge an administration fee. Basic checks are not free for volunteers.

From 1 September 2026, England removes the supervision exemption for volunteers who frequently teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children, or do so overnight. Where the activity meets the regulated-activity frequency condition—more than three days in a 30-day period—or is overnight, volunteers will require an Enhanced DBS check with children’s barred-list information. An occasional PTA event or non-overnight day trip does not become regulated activity merely because of the change. Wales has its own safeguarding framework; the cited September change applies to England.

Scotland: PVG

People carrying out a regulated role with children in Scotland must use the Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme. From 1 April 2026, PVG became a five-year membership rather than membership for life, with renewal required to remain in the scheme. Qualifying voluntary organisations can obtain free PVG checks for volunteers; the organisation must use the proper QVO or Volunteer Scotland Disclosure Services route.

Northern Ireland: AccessNI

AccessNI provides Basic, Standard and Enhanced checks. A registered organisation must countersign Standard and Enhanced applications, and Enhanced checks are normally used for close and regular work or volunteering with children. Standard or Enhanced checks can be free for volunteers who meet the statutory definition, although umbrella-body administration fees may still exist and some funded/statutory arrangements are excluded.

A DBS check is not the safeguarding system

A disclosure is a snapshot of information the law permits the service to reveal. It cannot show every risk, replace references or guarantee future behaviour. The safer question is whether the organisation builds a complete system around the volunteer.

Eight things a good programme can answer

1. Written role: What exactly may and may not the volunteer do?
2. Safer recruitment: Are identity, references, interview and the appropriate national disclosure handled before unsupervised access?
3. Training: Does induction cover safeguarding, confidentiality, online contact, equality, boundaries and the actual activity?
4. Named support: Who supervises the volunteer, how often and what happens after a difficult session?
5. Concern route: Who is the safeguarding lead, how is an urgent concern reported and what should never be investigated by the volunteer?
6. Contact boundaries: Are personal messaging, social media, gifts, photographs, lifts, home visits and meetings outside the programme explicitly controlled?
7. Practical inclusion: Are expenses, access adjustments, breaks, equipment and lone-working arrangements clear?
8. Ending well: If either person stops, does the organisation communicate with the child and manage the closure rather than letting the volunteer vanish?

Red flags worth walking away from

• You are asked to meet a child privately before interview, references, induction or the correct checks.
• No one can name the safeguarding lead or explain how to report a concern.
• You are encouraged to use personal disappearing-message apps or keep contact secret from parents, carers or the programme.
• The organisation tells you to buy your own generic “Enhanced DBS certificate”.
• There is pressure to promise outcomes, diagnose a child or act outside your training.
• Expenses, insurance, transport and photograph rules are left to informal custom.
• The role description changes after you apply, especially from supervised group work to unsupervised one-to-one contact.

Strong programmes may take longer to start because matching and safer recruitment are real work. A quick placement is not automatically a better placement.

How to apply—and questions that reveal a good fit

A thoughtful application explains reliability, not heroism. Say why the activity suits you, identify the exact time you can protect and give examples of listening, patience, teamwork or following boundaries. Do not claim that you can “save” vulnerable children or imply that lived experience makes training unnecessary.

Before accepting, ask:

• What is the minimum end date, including holidays and training?
• Is the advertised time only contact time, or does it exclude travel, preparation, notes and supervision?
• Will I work with one child, rotate between children or support a group?
• Who is physically or remotely available during each session?
• What expenses are reimbursed, how quickly and with what evidence?
• Can the programme make the access adjustment I need?
• What happens if my match, project or local venue ends early?

Expect an application, conversation or interview, references, identity checks, the correct DBS/PVG/AccessNI route where eligible, training and then a match or project allocation. Depending on the role, this can take weeks or months. Never resign from paid work or buy equipment because a volunteer match has merely been suggested.

Expenses, disability, benefits and access

Volunteers are normally unpaid but may receive reasonable out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, food, childcare or necessary equipment. Ask before starting: organisations differ, and an unclaimed train fare every week can quietly make a “free” role unaffordable. GOV.UK says volunteer agreements commonly explain supervision, training, insurance, health and safety and expenses, although they are not employment contracts.

You can volunteer while receiving benefits if you continue to meet the conditions of your claim. Tell the relevant benefits office before starting, including hours and expenses. Reasonable expenses do not usually reduce benefit; extra payments that are not genuine expenses may do so. For Universal Credit, volunteering can count towards up to half of agreed work-search and preparation time, but it does not remove the obligation to be available for required work activity.

Disabled people should not assume child-facing volunteering is inaccessible. Bookmark offers online reading; Childline operates a virtual email base; skills-based platforms include remote work; and local databases can filter for wheelchair access or home-based roles. Ask for adjustments during application—screen-reader-compatible forms, captions, a step-free venue, a seated role, written instructions, rest breaks or remote supervision are practical questions, not favours.

There is no general upper age limit on volunteering. Some organisations’ insurance or role demands can create limits, just as under-16 roles can be restricted. Let the actual role assessment decide rather than disqualifying yourself.

What happened to Kids Company’s old volunteer programme?

The former page at this URL recruited volunteers into Kids Company schools and centres for at least two hours weekly over a 12-week academic term, one-to-one mentors for at least a year, an ad-hoc pool, complementary-health work and student placements. It also promoted a “Just One Thing” campaign.

Those were real historical routes, but Kids Company ceased operating in August 2015. Its forms, postal address, email accounts and disclosure process are not live and have not been reproduced as application instructions. The broader Kids Company archive documents the former organisation; today’s KidsCo is an independent parenting publication. If you would rather support a current children’s charity financially, use the evidence-led children’s charity donation guide instead of any old Kids Company appeal.

Common questions

What is the best children’s volunteering role for a beginner?

Bookmark Reading Charity is the strongest all-round starting point for many adults: the task is defined, training and resources are provided, sessions total one hour weekly, and online or school-based delivery is available. It still requires reliable school-time attendance and full safer recruitment.

Can I volunteer with children online?

Yes. Bookmark offers secure online one-to-one reading, Childline has a virtual base for email support, and skills-based charities advertise remote projects. “Online” still requires safeguarding rules, privacy, suitable technology and a reliable schedule.

Can I volunteer if I am under 18?

Yes, in roles designed and insured for young volunteers. Bookmark’s Reading Mentors programme is open to ages 14–18 through a participating school, sixth form or college. Scouts also offers supervised Young Leader routes. Do not apply to adult one-to-one roles by changing your age.

Do volunteers working with children need a DBS check?

It depends on the role and nation. Eligible child-facing roles in England and Wales often use Enhanced DBS checks, sometimes with barred-list information. Scotland uses PVG for regulated roles and Northern Ireland uses AccessNI. The recruiting organisation should determine and start the correct process.

Do I have to pay for a volunteer DBS check?

Qualifying Standard and Enhanced DBS applications are free of the DBS application charge for volunteers, although an umbrella body may charge administration. Basic checks are not free. Do not buy an Enhanced check from an unrelated website before a legitimate organisation confirms role eligibility.

What changes on 1 September 2026?

In England, the supervision exemption ends for volunteers who frequently or overnight teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children. Volunteers who then meet the regulated-activity conditions need an Enhanced DBS check with children’s barred-list information. Occasional day-trip or PTA helpers are not automatically covered.

Can I volunteer while claiming Universal Credit?

Yes, if you continue to meet your Claimant Commitment and tell the benefits office. Volunteering can count towards up to half of agreed work-search and preparation time. Reasonable reimbursed expenses do not usually affect benefit.

What if I cannot commit every week?

Choose an occasional group, event, practical or skills-based role rather than a one-to-one match. Scouts has flexible local and behind-the-scenes tasks, while Reach Volunteering lists bounded professional projects. Be explicit about availability from the start.

How long does safer recruitment take?

Allow several weeks and sometimes longer. Applications can include interview, references, identity verification, criminal-record processing, training and matching. Bookmark says DBS can take up to six weeks, although it is often completed sooner.

How can I tell whether an organisation is safe?

Look for a written role, safer recruitment, appropriate checks, safeguarding and boundary training, a named supervisor and safeguarding lead, clear reporting, expenses and insurance information, and a managed ending process. A DBS, PVG or AccessNI certificate alone is not a safeguarding system.

Sources and role pages checked

Reviewed by the KidsCo Editorial Team on 11 August 2026. Programme details can change with vacancies and funding. The comparison uses the organisations’ current role pages and official national guidance rather than commercial rankings.

• Bookmark: adult one-to-one reading volunteer role
• Bookmark: registration, references, DBS and onboarding
• Bookmark: Reading Mentors for ages 14–18
• The Kids Network: mentor commitment and training
• The Kids Network: model, session hours and activity budget
• ReachOut: current mentor role and project model
• ReachOut: training, expenses, locations and commitment FAQ
• Action for Children: London Independent Visitors
• NSPCC: Childline volunteer teams, training and support
• Scouts: local direct and behind-the-scenes roles
• Scouts: criminal-record checking process
• Reach Volunteering: skills-based and trustee opportunities
• NCVO: finding volunteering opportunities
• Disclosure and Barring Service: check types and who can apply
• DBS: volunteer application process and fee rules
• Department for Education: England supervision-exemption change from 1 September 2026
• Disclosure Scotland: five-year PVG membership from April 2026
• mygov.scot: free PVG checks for qualifying volunteers
• nidirect: AccessNI check types
• nidirect: AccessNI volunteer costs and eligibility
• Department for Work and Pensions: volunteering and benefits
• GOV.UK: volunteer agreements, support, insurance and expenses
• NCVO: engaging and safeguarding young volunteers
• Internet Archive: former Kids Company volunteer page

KidsCo explains how this kind of guide is researched in its editorial standards. For the history behind the original URL, see Kids Company’s team and trustees or about today’s KidsCo.