i.
Give your time
Volunteer an hour, a day or a one-off: many charities welcome help in ways that fit around a job.
Get involved
Be part of something good.
Alongside your learning, there are small ways to give time to causes that matter: close to home and further afield. Here's where to start.
National charities
Regional partners
Local to you
Why this is here
Your apprenticeship is one part. Looking out for each other is another.
Giving a little back is part of how the TLC community works. It doesn't need to be big or take much time: small things, done attentively, add up.
On this page you'll find charities you might want to support, volunteer with, or simply know are there if you ever need them.
They're grouped into three levels, national, regional and local, so you can start with whatever feels closest to you.
However much time you have, there's a way in. Here are a few.
A few ways in
However much time you have
There's no minimum and no pressure. Pick whatever fits around your work and your learning.
ii.
Raise a little
Join a fundraiser, round up a collection, or take part in something your workplace is already doing.
iii.
Spread the word
Sometimes the most useful thing is knowing a charity exists, and pointing someone towards it.
The causes
Charities to get behind
Start with a level, national, regional or local, then browse by what interests you. Every charity links straight to its own volunteering page.
Major charities
Well-known, UK-wide: good places to start.British Red Cross
Crisis and refugee support, first aid and high-street shops, with online micro-volunteering you can do from home.
Visit websiteCancer Research UK
Fundraising, events, retail and campaigning, including bite-sized tasks you can pick up around work.
Visit websiteSamaritans
Listening, empathy and emotional support, plus admin and fundraising roles behind the scenes.
Visit websiteBrowse by interest
All 30 national charities, grouped by what they do.
01
Health & medical research
Cancer Research UK
Retail, fundraising, events, campaigning and bite-sized micro-volunteering.
British Heart Foundation
Shops, fundraising, events and workplace volunteering: good for building confidence.
Diabetes UK
Health awareness, events, campaigning and local community support.
St John Ambulance
First aid, event cover and health: builds confidence and responsibility.
02
Care, ageing & illness
Royal Voluntary Service
Support for older people and the NHS: companionship and practical help.
Age UK
Befriending older people, charity shops and community help.
Marie Curie
End-of-life care support, companionship, fundraising and shops.
Alzheimer's Society
Dementia support, awareness and events: strong on care values.
03
Crisis & emotional support
British Red Cross
Crisis and refugee support, first aid, shops and online micro-volunteering.
Samaritans
Listening, empathy and emotional support, plus admin and fundraising.
04
Children, young people & families
NSPCC / Childline
Child protection and safeguarding awareness, schools work and Childline.
Barnardo's
Children, young people and families: retail, admin, fundraising and services.
Scouts
Youth work, leadership, teamwork and outdoor activities.
Girlguiding
Youth work, mentoring, activities and leadership.
05
Homelessness, poverty & advice
Crisis
Homelessness support, shops, Christmas volunteering and community action.
Shelter
Housing and homelessness: campaigns, fundraising and shop volunteering.
Trussell
Food banks and poverty support: practical, hands-on community help.
FoodCycle
Cooking, hosting and community meals: good for project leadership.
Citizens Advice
Advice services, admin, communication and problem-solving.
06
Disability & inclusion
Mencap
Learning disability support, inclusion, befriending and shops.
Scope
Disability inclusion, shops, campaigning and community support.
07
Animals & pets
RSPCA
Animal welfare, shops, fundraising and practical animal support.
Cats Protection
Cat welfare, fundraising, shops and admin.
Blue Cross
Pet welfare, rehoming support, shops and fundraising.
08
Nature & the outdoors
RSPB
Nature and conservation on reserves: outdoor, environmental volunteering.
Canal & River Trust
Waterways, conservation and heritage: practical outdoor work.
Woodland Trust
Trees, woods and nature, including citizen science.
Walk Wheel Cycle Trust
Active travel and community projects: sustainability and local engagement.
09
Armed forces community
Royal British Legion
Armed forces community, fundraising, welfare and the Poppy Appeal.
SSAFA
Support for serving personnel, veterans and families: local branch volunteering.
Browse by region
Choose the area closest to you: 56 charities across 9 regions.
01
North East
The People's Kitchen Newcastle
Homelessness, food support and community care.
St Oswald's Hospice North East
Hospice care, family support, charity shops and fundraising.
North East Autism Society
Autism, disability support and inclusion.
Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care Newcastle
Patient transport, cancer support and community care.
Oasis Community Housing Gateshead/North East
Homelessness, supported housing and practical community support.
Groundwork North East & Cumbria
Environment, community projects and employability.
02
North West
Mustard Tree Greater Manchester
Poverty, homelessness, food, support services and employability.
The Brick Wigan
Homelessness, poverty, food support and community work.
Lancashire Wildlife Trust
Conservation, outdoor work, environment and sustainability.
Streetlife Blackpool
Young people, homelessness and night-shelter support.
North West Air Ambulance Charity
Fundraising, events and emergency-services awareness.
Nugent Liverpool/North West
Care, children, families, disability and community support.
03
Yorkshire
Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Emergency services, fundraising and public engagement.
St Gemma's Hospice Leeds
Hospice care, retail, patient and family support, fundraising.
Simon on the Streets West Yorkshire
Homelessness, outreach, fundraising and awareness.
Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice South Yorkshire
Children's hospice care, retail, events and fundraising.
Roundabout Sheffield
Youth homelessness, mentoring and practical support.
Hull & East Yorkshire Mind
Mental health, wellbeing and community support.
04
East Midlands
Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People
Children's hospice care, shops, events and fundraising.
Framework Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire/Lincolnshire
Homelessness, housing, mental health and employment support.
Nottinghamshire Hospice
Adult hospice care, shops, patient support and fundraising.
Treetops Hospice Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire
Hospice care, befriending, retail, admin and events.
Hope Centre Northampton
Homelessness, food, clothing, wellbeing and practical support.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
Conservation, nature and outdoor volunteering.
05
West Midlands
Birmingham Hospice
Hospice care, bereavement, retail and fundraising.
St Basils Birmingham/West Midlands
Youth homelessness, housing and support work.
Acorns Children's Hospice West Midlands
Children's hospice care, shops, events and family support.
The Myton Hospices Coventry/Warwickshire
Hospice care, retail, events and support services.
Black Country Foodbank
Food poverty, warehouse support and community help.
Birmingham Dogs Home
Animal welfare, charity shops, events and practical support.
06
East of England
East Anglia's Children's Hospices: EACH
Children's hospice care, shops, events and family support.
St Elizabeth Hospice Suffolk/Waveney
Hospice care, retail, admin, events and community support.
NOAH Enterprise Luton
Homelessness, welfare, training and social enterprise.
Keech Hospice Care Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire/Milton Keynes
Adult and children's hospice care, fundraising and shops.
Norfolk and Waveney Mind
Mental health, wellbeing, fundraising and community support.
Essex Wildlife Trust
Conservation, outdoor volunteering and environment.
07
London
Providence Row East London
Homelessness, food, advice, recovery and wellbeing.
Glass Door Homeless Charity
Homelessness, night shelters, advice and community support.
City Harvest London
Food redistribution, warehouse support and community food work.
The Felix Project
Food poverty, warehouse, kitchen, driving and community food support.
Thames Reach
Homelessness, outreach, mentoring and practical support.
London Wildlife Trust
Conservation, outdoor work and community nature projects.
08
South East
Shooting Star Children's Hospices Surrey/London
Children's hospice care, shops, events and young volunteers.
Pilgrims Hospices Kent
Hospice care, retail, bereavement and fundraising.
Porchlight Kent
Homelessness, mental health, young people and community support.
Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Surrey/Hampshire
Hospice care, shops, admin, fundraising and patient support.
Sussex Wildlife Trust
Conservation, nature reserves and outdoor volunteering.
Naomi House & Jacksplace Hampshire/Wiltshire/Dorset/IOW
Children and young adults' hospice care.
09
South West
St Peter's Hospice Bristol
Adult hospice care, charity shops, hospice neighbours and fundraising.
Children's Hospice South West
Children's hospice care, shops, events and fundraising.
Dorothy House Hospice Bath/Wiltshire/Somerset
Hospice care, shops, events, patient and family support.
Alongside, formerly Julian House Bath/South West
Homelessness, domestic abuse, supported housing and outreach.
Caring in Bristol
Homelessness, youth shelter, food and practical support.
Devon Air Ambulance
Emergency services, events, fundraising and community awareness.
Cornwall Hospice Care
Hospice care, shops, fundraising and patient support.
FareShare South West
Food redistribution, warehouse, driving and community food support.
Local · On your doorstep
Coming soon
Smaller, local organisations where a single afternoon can make a visible difference: being added next.
Know a good cause?
Tell us who we should add.
This list grows with the people who use it. If there's a charity close to your heart, national, regional or local, let us know and we'll look at adding it.