The roles of a volunteer: responsibilities and examples
In short
Volunteers take on many roles: fundraisers, advocates, mentors and educators, direct support such as befriending or food banks, event helpers, environmental volunteers and skills-based roles. Whatever the role, volunteers share core responsibilities: be reliable, follow the organisation’s policies, respect confidentiality and say when they need support.
Volunteers give their time, skills and energy to help others and their communities, without being paid. People volunteer for many reasons, from personal fulfilment to learning something new or supporting a cause they care about. This guide covers the main roles volunteers take on, the responsibilities every volunteer shares and what volunteers get in return.
What does a volunteer do?
A volunteer’s role depends on the organisation and the cause. Some roles are hands-on, such as sorting donations or befriending someone who’s lonely. Others use professional skills, such as design, accounting or serving as a trustee. Most organisations write a short role description that explains what the role involves, how much time it takes and who the volunteer will work with.
Common volunteer roles
Fundraiser
Fundraising volunteers organise events, run collections and take part in challenges to raise money for charities. Read how Marie Curie works with fundraising volunteers.
Advocate and campaigner
Advocates raise awareness of social issues, speak up for the people a charity supports and encourage others to get involved, online and in their communities.
Mentor or educator
Mentors and tutors share their knowledge and experience to help others learn and grow, from reading with children to helping someone back into work.
Direct support
Many volunteers give practical, hands-on help: befriending older people, sorting food bank parcels, helping in shelters, driving people to appointments or supporting people in hospital. See how Food Friends quadrupled its capacity across 3 districts with its volunteers.
Event volunteer
Event volunteers welcome guests, marshal routes, staff information points and help things run smoothly, from local fun runs to international sporting events.
Environmental volunteer
Environmental volunteers protect nature through activities such as tree planting, beach cleans and wildlife surveys.
Skills-based volunteer
Skills-based volunteers use professional skills, such as marketing, IT, law or finance, to help an organisation. Trustees are volunteers too, responsible for running a charity.
Identifying community needs
Volunteers often know their local area well. Many help organisations spot unmet needs, test new ideas and shape services around the people who use them.
Responsibilities every volunteer shares
Whatever the role, most organisations ask volunteers to:
Be reliable: turn up when agreed, and let someone know early if you can’t.
Follow policies and training, including safeguarding and health and safety.
Respect confidentiality and look after any personal information you see.
Represent the organisation well when you’re volunteering.
Work as part of a team with staff and other volunteers.
Ask for support when something isn’t right or you’re unsure what to do.
What volunteers get in return
A sense of fulfilment from making a difference to other people’s lives.
New friendships with people who share your values.
New skills, from leadership to communication. See our guide to volunteer skills.
A wider view of the world from meeting people with different backgrounds and experiences.
Recognition and thanks from the organisation and the community.
For organisations: writing clear volunteer roles
Clear roles help the right people apply and help volunteers feel confident. Write a short role description covering the tasks, time commitment, training and support, and keep the advert separate: our guide to volunteer role adverts explains why. Your volunteer policy should set out what volunteers can expect from you in return, and it’s worth knowing where volunteering meets the law.
FAQs
What are the benefits of volunteering?
Volunteering benefits volunteers and the communities they serve. Volunteers gain:
Personal growth and development
New friendships and connections
Professional skills and experience
Confidence and self-esteem
The satisfaction of making a difference
How can I find volunteering opportunities near me?
Contact local charities or community centres
Search volunteering apps and websites
Ask at local faith groups, schools or libraries
Go to volunteer fairs or community events
Can anyone volunteer?
Yes. Volunteering is open to people of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels, although some roles have a minimum age or need a background check. From teenagers to retirees, anyone can make a difference.
How much time do I need to give as a volunteer?
It depends on the role. Some take a few hours a week, others are one-off or can be done online in minutes. Agree a time commitment with the organisation before you start.
Getting started
Looking to volunteer? Download our app for volunteering and find opportunities near you.
Recruiting volunteers? Volunteero is volunteer management software for charities, nonprofits and events. With its recruitment tools, you publish a role once and it appears on your website search board, the Volunteero Marketplace and GoVo. Book a demo to see how it works.
Written by
Co-founder and CEO
Ashley Staines is the co-founder and CEO of Volunteero. After seven years in investment banking, he started it to make volunteering easier to organise.
