Wales

As part of Volunteering Matters we bring people together to overcome some of society’s most complex issues through the power of volunteering.

We partner with communities to overcome adversity, tackling social isolation and loneliness, improving health, developing skills and opportunity and making sure young people can lead change.

our Response TO COVID-19

From reducing loneliness and isolation to improving health and wellbeing, our volunteers are working to help those affected by COVID-19.

Find the latest roles so you can help local communities in Wales during the crisis on  our COVID-19 project page.

COVID-19 VOLUNTEER ROLES

 

youth social action response

And we’ve our Youth Social Action volunteering online so that our SAFE, Activ8 and Mind Matters are continuing to run and make sure young people can continue to shape change in Gwent.

TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THE LATEST VOLUNTEERING ROLES CONTACT US ON

T: 029 20 464004

rsvpwales@volunteeringmatters.org.uk

cars4carers driving scheme

Cars4Carers

Cars4Carers is a Pembrokeshire based social car scheme that provides transport for unpaid carers via volunteer drivers, whether it is a food shopping trip, or just going out to socialise.

COVID-19 Community Response, Wales

In six areas across South and West Wales our volunteers are helping thsoe at risk of loneliness and poor mental and physical health during COVID-19.

Employee Volunteering with Volunteering Matters

Our Employee Volunteering team has over 24 years’ experience of providing tailor-made service support to employers developing their own corporate volunteering and business volunteering programmes.

Equip+

Being out of work for a long time can leave people feeling isolated. Equip+ connects people with volunteer mentors from their community, who support them with goal planning and guidance.

Full-time Volunteering

Full-time volunteering is a unique opportunity for people aged between 18 and 35 to undertake the challenge of living away from home for 6-12 months.

Get Out Get Active

Get Out Get Active (GOGA) is a UK wide programme, funded by Spirit of 2012 that aims to encourage disabled and non-disabled people to take part in and enjoy activity together.

Learn Together Cymru

Learn Together Cymru is a project that supported children and young people one-to-one with their reading, maths, languages in schools and community learning settings across Wales. Over 200 volunteers continue to support children in their local primary schools and we are still actively looking for ways to continue to grow this work. 
Newport 360 logo

Newport 360

Through tailored support and advice, Newport 360 is a new partnership that supports people in Newport to overcome the challenges they may face.  
RCT 360 logo

RCT 360

Through tailored support and advice, RCT 360 supports people in Rhondda Cynon Taff to overcome the challenges they may face.   RCT 360 is a collaboration between Artis Community Cymuned, Mental Health Wales, Sgiliau and Volunteering Matters, designed to remove barriers to opportunities and employment by offering tailored support, advice and mentoring.  By offering the support … Continued
People aged over 50 volunteering

RSVP

For over 30 years RSVP – Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme – has been enabling people aged 50 and over to contribute their energy, enthusiasm and experience as volunteers for the benefit of their communities.
Patient Driving Schemes volunteer RSVP

RSVP Driving Schemes

Driving schemes are a lifeline to some older and more vulnerable people living in the UK who may not be able to get around easily.

RSVP Knitting

Our knitting groups, are growing increasingly popular with over 5,000 social action knitters across the UK producing in excess of 50 big bin-bags worth of knitted goods per month

Rural Wisdom

A partnership project focussed on tackling rural isolation among older people, developed by Outside the Box, Volunteering Matters Cymru and the National Development Team for Inclusion.

SAFE (Sexual Awareness for Everyone)

The S.A.F.E project (Sexual Awareness For Everyone) is for women living in Gwent aged 16 – 35 who have a learning need or disability. The project aims to give vulnerable young people the tools to identify appropriate and safe relationships.

SAFE Male

Volunteering Matters’ SAFE (Sexual Awareness For Everyone) male project is aimed at males aged 16-35 in Gwent who have a learning need or disability.

Sporting Chance

Sporting Chance invites older men to join in activities and exercise groups from walking football to arm chair exercise, Aquasize to reminiscence sessions.
Image of Welcome Friends group

Welcome Friends

Welcome Friends provides friendship through home visits and telephone calls by volunteers, reducing social isolation and improving well-being. We also encourage attendance at local group activities.

Volunteer Lifeline Responder

Volunteers are needed to act as Responders to help members of the community to continue to live safely and independently in their own home, knowing that help will be at hand should they need it.

Volunteer Organiser

We’re seeking Volunteer Organisers to support a community response in Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Newport, Pembrokeshire and Flintshire. Right now volunteers are needed help people who are self-isolating and unable to leave their home as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic through telephone befriending. Many of these people are already recognised as those … Continued

Telephone Befrienders, Blaenau Gwent

We’re looking for new volunteers to become telephone befrienders in Blaenau Gwent. There are many people who are unable to leave their homes around Blaenau Gwent, a situation only made worse by Covid-19. People can be in this position due to many factors, including age, pre-existing medical conditions, mental health issues, or more. We need … Continued

Dog Walking Volunteer, Pembrokeshire

We’re seeking Dog Walking volunteers to support a COVID-19 community response in Pembrokeshire. Right now these volunteers are needed to help people who are self-isolating and unable to leave their home as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these people are already recognised as those at high risk in society. This could … Continued

Community Support Volunteers, Flintshire

We’re seeking Community Support Volunteers to help a community response in Flintshire. Right now volunteers are needed to help people who are self-isolating and unable to leave their home as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic through telephone befriending. Many of these people are already recognised as those at high risk in society. This … Continued

Community Support Volunteers, Pembrokeshire

We’re seeking Community Support Volunteers to help a community response in Pembrokeshire. Right now volunteers are needed to help people who are self-isolating and unable to leave their home as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic through telephone befriending. Many of these people are already recognised as those at high risk in society. This … Continued

Community Support Volunteers, Newport

We’re seeking Community Support Volunteers to help a community response in Newport. Right now volunteers are needed to help people who are self-isolating and unable to leave their home as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic through telephone befriending. Many of these people are already recognised as those at high risk in society. This … Continued

Remote Safety Champion – COVID-19 Response Programme

The SAFE programme aims to raise awareness of personal safety for people with additional learning needs across Gwent. SAFE works with people to deliver workshops around sexual and contraceptive health, the impact of pregnancy, personal safety issues including Mate Crime, internet safety issues including using social media and the effects of pornography and so much … Continued

Sporting Chance – Rhondda Cynon Taf

Sporting Chance supports men aged 50+ to keep active both physically and mentally and creates a strong community to reduce loneliness in volunteers.

SAFE: Rhianydd’s Story

Rhianydd has autism and feels she’s a good candidate to volunteer on a project for people with learning disabilities. She says “I am their peer and they engage with me as I understand.”

Learn Together Cymru: David’s Story

David is 79 and has been volunteering as a schools reading volunteer with Volunteering Matters since 2000. He told us about his favourite parts of the role, and shared some stories from his time in primary schools in Wales.

Learn Together Cymru: Tim’s Story

"If you’re not sure whether you’re the right person to be a reading volunteer, then think again.   Some aspect of your life will contribute something to the school and I believe personality and an interest in education matters as much as personal circumstances. Once you give it a go, stay with it – you’ll get more confident and the rewards will come!”

Sex Matters Too: Rhys’s Story

"I think that volunteering with Volunteering Matters and having it on my CV made me stand out from the crowd and more able to get a full-time job."

Learn Together Cymru: Nesta’s Story

"Two hours of my time each week doesn’t seem much, but for me it means that on two days there is a purpose to my day – a reason to get up, shower, change and get ‘out there’."

Covid Impact Report, 19 Oct 2020

This report highlights the impact we had in the first six months of the pandemic, and the amazing response of our volunteers.

Making Time – Join In

Join In’s latest ground-breaking research looks at how behavioural science can persuade more people to give their time and volunteer, with a focus on sport.

#WeAre60

This year marks our 60th birthday! Find out more about our plans and how to get involved!
A smiling man

New consortium to support #iwill announced

We’re delighted to share that today Step Up To Serve have announced that Volunteering Matters and UK Youth have formed a new consortium to deliver key functions of the #iwill movement. We can’t wait to work together to keep growing the #iwill movement and ensure young people can lead change through social action. Read the … Continued

Volunteering Matters welcomes new Civil Society Minister

Volunteering Matters featured in an article about the appointment of the new Minister for Civil Society, Baroness Barran, in which we stated we looked forward to working with her to ensure that more people can change lives and transform communities trough volunteering.

Volunteering Matters chosen as Charity of the Week by players of People’s Postcode Lottery

  Volunteering Matters is this week’s players of People’s Postcode Lottery Charity of the Week. We feature on their website here. Every year thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, tens of thousands of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in communities across England, Scotland and Wales benefit from the support of Volunteering Matters. Our partnership … Continued
RSVP

International Day of Older Persons

The 1st of October marks the International Day of Older Persons and we’d like to take the opportunity to celebrate the 8,700 older and retired people who share their time and talents each year by volunteering with us.

Mind Matters team wins at Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards

Our Mind Matters team were awarded at the Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards 2018! The peer-led approach allows for a safe space for young people to discuss worries, concerns and work towards supporting the 1 in 10 children in the UK who are affected by mental health problems.

Volunteering for all – all year round!

As thousands of volunteers are being celebrated up and down the country as part of Volunteers’ Week, we of course couldn’t let the moment pass without three cheers for our incredible volunteers!

We’re challenging young people to start their revolution!

This month sees the launch of our brand new campaign to change young people’s perceptions of volunteering. Titled ' Revolution You ', our campaign aims to challenge preconceived notions of volunteering and encourage more young people to consider a gap year in the UK. 

RSVP takes centre stage in South Korea

KBNe UK, a partner of Korean Broadcasting Network in Europe, are producing a TV documentary about life and opportunities for senior citizens and the importance of the third sector, and sought to highlight our work in the UK. Our RSVP conference provided the perfect backdrop for the production team to meet some of our amazing volunteers.
Help to Health

Happy Grandparents Day!

To celebrate Grandparents Day we caught up with some of our amazing volunteers and staff, grandparents and grandchildren alike, to find out how they’ll be marking the occasion.
AGM Awards

Volunteers take centre stage at our AGM

We have launched many amazing new projects in the past year, all made possible by talented and dedicated volunteers across the UK. We were delighted to shine a spotlight on some of them at the Volunteering Matters 2017 Annual General Meeting which took place on the 28th of September.
historic full time volunteer photo support disabled people

Were you a Full Time Volunteer with us?

We want to tell the stories of our Full Time Volunteers from the last five decades - if you were once a Full Time Volunteer with us, find out how you can get in touch...

Sex Matters Too volunteer Ryan wins Diana Award

Ryan Crewe-Rees, a young volunteer on our Sex Matters Too project from Pontypool (south Wales), was given a Diana Award at the Inspire Wales award ceremony at Cardiff City Hall today.
#givingtuesday

Volunteering Matters mobilises people power on #GivingTuesday

In 2015, #GivingTuesday broke the world record for the highest amount of money donated online in a 24 hour period. We think this is brilliant – but #GivingTuesday shouldn’t just be about giving money so we are asking our supporters to donate the gift of time by volunteering in their communities.
uk volunteering wales learn together cymru

CARMARTHENSHIRE CANINES ENCOURAGE PUPILS TO READ

On 9th June in Llandeilo Primary School, Carmarthenshire, dogs Riley and Layla enjoyed a star-spangled celebrity reception for the launch of new project, Reading with Dogs associated with Learn Together Cymru and Carmarthenshire Therapy Dogs.

Sex Matters Too Awards Success

Our Sex Matters Too project had a fantastic end to Volunteers Week 2016, deservedly recognised with not one, but two awards.
Read On. Get On. Report for Save the CHildren - two young girls reading

Reading Wales’ Future

Over the course of the next Assembly, an estimated 26,000 children in Wales, including 10,000 of the poorest children, are at risk of leaving primary school unable to read well, if action isn’t taken.
Spirit of 2012 logo #GetOutGetActive

#GetOutGetActive Launch of £4.5 million grant

Spirit of 2012 today announced a UK wide consortium for its latest campaign #GetOutGetActive which focuses on increasing participation in fun and inclusive physical activity.

Volunteering Matters named charity of the year

The national volunteering charity Volunteering Matters was last night (Sep 2015) named charity of the year at the European Diversity Awards (EDAs), held at the Natural History Museum.

Volunteer Expo Live 2022

The UK’s national Volunteering Show has landed! Volunteering Matters is delighted to be involved in Volunteer Expo Live, a national event that seeks to connect volunteers, organisations and the charity sector together under one roof in order to help introduce more people to the world of volunteering. Volunteer Expo Live, which is being hosted by … Continued

RSVP, Emma Thomas-Hancock, Director of Delivery

At Volunteering Matters our strategy is all about being ‘place based’ and how that impacts communities. The volunteer leaders and organisers of RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Programme) have been leading the way and championing this approach for over 30 years! They do this by leading and organising local place-based social action in communities across the … Continued

Abigail’s story: Volunteering with Mind Matters #iwillweek

My name is Abigail and I am a student volunteer with the Mind Matters project. I identified that some of the participants struggled to understand the information and material used. As a student-volunteer, I made it my mission to ensure that accessible resources were created so that everyone, regardless of learning ability, is empowered to … Continued

Ben’s Story: Why Volunteering Matters #iwillweek

My name is Ben Robinson and I am a 17 year old  volunteer at Volunteering Matters. Before I started volunteering, I was a pupil in Abersychan Comprehensive School but I did not do very much in my spare time and I procrastinated the things that I needed to do.  I found out about Volunteering Matters … Continued

Want to make a positive impact in your local community?

Calling all 18-24 year olds! We’ve teamed up with NCS – National Citizen Service – to support the UK Year of Service. If you are aged 18-24 and have a passion for doing good, the UK Year of Service offers work placement opportunities for you. We have 28 paid-for roles available within Volunteering Matters with … Continued

Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery transformed lives in 2020

Throughout 2020, our volunteers and staff have done an incredible job, repurposing and redesigning our projects and programmes, and in many areas taking part in the front-line response to Covid-19. This wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful support we receive from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. The report below gives examples of some of the … Continued

Paul Reddish reflects on Danny Kruger’s report, ‘Levelling Up Our Communities.’

Shifting power to communities and volunteers: Let’s get started   This summer we’ve witnessed first-hand the incredible efforts of people in communities, volunteering their time to support others in need during this pandemic – this included emergence of mutual aid groups, neighbours supporting one another, more formalised roles like NHS Responders and volunteers through charities … Continued

Advice for charities

If you work for a charity and need help and advice on topics from financial stability through to fundraising or volunteering, download this list.
volunteer recruitment active volunteering hackney

Top Tips for Recruiting Volunteers

We share our top tips for volunteer recruitment in a new area, making sure you can stay safe while providing essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic.