Opportunities for young people
From work experience to study placements, explore our wide range of volunteering roles for young people.
Join the British Red Cross as a young volunteer and get hands-on with our vital humanitarian work.
From running events and lending a hand in our shops to undertaking research, helping in the community and supporting our teams deliver projects, there are lots of ways that you can get involved.
Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills, meet new people, grow your confidence and add new experiences to your CV. Many of our roles are open to anyone aged 15-25.
Explore the options below to get started.
Find the right role for you
We have a wide range of volunteering roles open to young people and students, including:
- Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteering
- Work experience
- Educational placements
- Youth placements up to 12-weeks long
- Volunteering at college or university
- Volunteering abroad
For information on our other volunteering roles, including emergency response, retail and fundraising, visit our volunteering page.
Duke of Edinburgh Volunteering
With nine activities across disasters, emergencies, health care, refugee support and migration, Duke of Edinburgh volunteers can learn real skills while supporting our life‑saving work. Open to volunteers aged 15 and over.
You can choose how you get involved, with flexible options to suit your schedule and interests. Some activities can be completed online from home, while others invite you to get hands‑on, from learning first aid to volunteering in shops and connecting with your local community.
Learn more about our Duke of Edinburgh volunteering options.
Work experience
At the British Red Cross, our one‑week work experience placement for 15–18‑year‑olds offers a chance to learn new things, grow your confidence and make a real difference to others.
You’ll build practical experience, strengthen your workplace skills and get involved in projects that support people who need it most.
Find out more and get in touch today to start your work experience.
Educational placements
Join the British Red Cross to complete your study requirements and apply your skills while making a real difference to people in need.
Our educational placement roles are unique to you and your college or university course and give you the chance to get hands-on with our vital work, research and services.
Learn more about doing your educational placement with us.
Youth volunteering placements
Volunteer for up to 12 weeks with the British Red Cross and gain new CV-boosting skills, meet new people and learn all about working in the humanitarian sector.
Many placements are open to anyone aged 15 and over, including students and recent graduates, and are a great way to learn, start a new career and gain experience.
Volunteer at college or university
Join an existing Red Cross group or start your own and begin volunteering in your local community.
We provide a wide range of support to on-campus groups, including t-shirts and promotional materials, an invitation to our annual conference and guidance from our dedicated volunteering team.
HumanKind in Northern Ireland
If you live in the Derry/Londonderry and Strabane area, and are interested in learning more about humanitarian action, making new friends, developing new skills and making an impact in your community then HumanKind is for you.
HumanKind includes a 5-week humanitarian actor course, volunteering action days and a range of community events and is completely free to join and open to people aged 15-25.
Visit our HumanKind page to see upcoming events and to sign up.
Volunteering abroad
Join our International Youth Volunteering Programme and gain new skills, experience a different culture and help people in crisis.
If you’re aged between 18 and 25 and live in Wales, you could volunteer across Europe for up to 12 months. All of our placements are fully-funded, full-time volunteering roles which support British Red Cross services in the UK and overseas.
See our international youth volunteering page for full details.
Please note that we do not send volunteers overseas after a major disaster. Read more about our approach to international volunteering.
Keeping our young volunteers safe
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who has contact with the British Red Cross. Find out what you can do if abuse is happening to you or someone you know.
Would your organisation like to support young volunteers?
Download our Inspired Action toolkit for top tips and resources for supporting young volunteers, with a focus on including disabled young people.
More ways to get involved
Work for the British Red Cross
Join us and put your skills to good use with a rewarding career in the third sector.
Fundraising and events
Find a fundraising event that suits you, from tea parties and marathons to open gardens, foodie fests and more.
Donate monthly to the British Red Cross
Monthly charity donations keep us going. They allow us to plan our work, meaning we can respond at a moment’s notice. They also allow us to stay for longer. We are there for people in a crisis – but we are also there in the months and years that follow. Monthly donations to the British Red Cross help us carry on this work long after the cameras have gone.
Help us go further: donate monthly