IOE Volunteering Pop-Up: Network with local charities

Meet local Community Organisations as part of the IOE Careers Festival

🌱 Discover how volunteering can help you build skills for careers in Youth, Society & Education

Volunteering is a powerful way to gain real‑world experience, grow your confidence, and connect with organisations that support young people and communities. Here are just a few of the ways it can strengthen your skills and open doors to future career paths:

1. Strengthen your communication and storytelling skills

Volunteering helps you learn how to communicate clearly with people from diverse backgrounds, while building confidence in storytelling. 

2. Build learning‑focused engagement skills

Whether you’re explaining ideas, helping with activities, or guiding visitors, volunteering teaches you how to support others’ learning in an accessible and engaging way.

3. Gain practical experience supporting local communities 

Many volunteering roles involve interacting with young people, families and older adults, while assisting with activities and creating inclusive environments. 

Here's who you can chat to!

Come to the Level 3 foyer to talk to these Community Organisations:

English Heritage: develop your storytelling and communication skills to helping visitors to understand and enjoy their experience of historic sites. 

English Heritage is strongly connected to education and society: their mission goes far beyond preserving buildings — they exist to help people learn from, engage with, and feel connected to the stories of England.

They're looking for volunteers to convey the story of the sites through actively engaging with visitors by answering their questions, telling stories about the house or collection, and helping with family activities. You can develop your storytelling and communication skills by working with children, young people and adults of all ages. 

Volunteers play a key role in keeping Kenwood free and open to the public all-year round.

London Nightline: an anonymous listening and information service run by students, for students in London universities. 

Volunteers provide confidential listening, support and information to students in London throughout the night. 2,355 students were supported last year.

Started in 1971 by two students who felt that their peers' needs were not being met and wanted to do something to support each other. Their vision is that every student in London feels supported throughout their university experience, however this may look for them.

They are open from 6pm-8am (including weekends), when other welfare services or support systems tend to be unavailable. 

Rugby Portobello Trust: support local young people to build their community by providing facilities, skills, activities and guidance that promote a stable society in a deprived area.

The Rugby Portobello Trust are currently looking for UCL students to apply to support their weekly homework clubs for local Primary School children.

These weekly homework clubs are free and supports children with their academic studies in a calm and encouraging atmosphere. The ethos has been described as half-way between the discipline of school and the informality of home. 

Help to enrich lives and expand horizons for children and young people in North Kensington and beyond. 

Displaced - a migrant-led organisation dedicated to tackling health inequity among young migrant people and families by developing youth leadership and belonging.

They support young people and families in ways that are culturally respectful and sensitive to trauma through:

1.  Education - Workshops for young people and parents on early warning signs and practical ways to stay safe from risks like radicalisation.
2. Coaching - Regular support sessions where young people can talk things through, build confidence, and strengthen skills like communication and managing stress. We also support families to improve communication between young people and parents or carers.
3. Community Building - Creating events that bring communities together with local organisations and public services to build trust, challenge stereotypes, and improve how support is offered.
4. Sector Development - Training for youth workers and support professionals on putting racial and cultural equity into everyday practice. We also partner with institutions like UCL’s Institute of Global Health to research how racism and discrimination affect young people who’ve moved countries.

Interested in more ways to volunteer?

You can check out more Volunteering Opportunities here. 

See what one-off 'Big Help Out' events we have coming up here.

And sign up to our monthly Social Impact newsletter here.