Youth volunteer placements with the British Red Cross
Volunteer for up to 12 weeks with us and gain new skills and experience working in the humanitarian sector.
A placement with the British Red Cross offers you the chance to develop practical skills, explore career options and contribute to vital humanitarian work.
It’s a unique opportunity that benefits both you and the communities we support.
Many of our short-term volunteering placements are open to people from the age of 15 but are also a great way for university students and recent graduates to gain work-relevant experience.
Volunteering placements can also be a great stepping stone if you’re looking to change careers or return to work after a break.
Why start a volunteer placement with us?
- Develop new skills and boost your CV: Gain experience and skills that employers value.
- Insight into a major humanitarian organisation: Learn how the British Red Cross operates and contribute to meaningful projects.
- Expand your professional network: Meet new people and build connections within the humanitarian sector.
- Make a positive impact: Help improve lives and support those in need.
- Access financial support: Our bursary scheme supports young volunteers (aged 15–25) from low-income households.
What’s involved?
Every placement is unique, but here are some examples of tasks previous volunteers have taken on:
- Research projects on topics such as anti-trafficking, refugee support or community resilience.
- Organising and leading events like youth engagement challenges and fundraising activities.
- Supporting asylum seekers, helping them access essential services and liaising with external agencies.
- Assisting with administrative tasks and project management across different departments.
- Participating in team meetings and contributing ideas to strategic discussions.
How to get started
Ready to start volunteering with the British Red Cross?
All of our youth and teen volunteering roles are advertised online on our volunteering opportunities website.
Take a look through our open roles, including other youth volunteer roles, retail openings and many more.
Who can apply?
You don’t need any previous experience to volunteer with us, just an interest in helping others. We will provide all of the resources and guidance you need to get started.
The requirements for our volunteering placements are:
- Age: Many roles are open to people aged 15 and older. Some positions may have different age requirements to ensure your safety, and people under 18 will require parental consent.
- Time commitment: Most positions are available for 3-12 weeks with volunteers often joining us for 2-3 days per week. Hours are negotiable around your circumstances and the specific role.
- Skills: We’re looking for volunteers with good interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills. Our placements provide the opportunity for you to grow your skills and training will be provided for any technical requirements.
- Location: Opportunities are available across the UK. Many of our volunteer placements are remote and some are office-based or hybrid. You must be a UK resident.
- Criminal record checks: Some roles will require a DBS, PVG or Access NI check.
Meeting a range of unique individuals, from service users to the people I walk with, was a standout part of my experience.
Each interaction brought new perspectives and learning opportunities.
Izzy, youth engagement placement volunteer
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