Volunteering from home is a great opportunity for you to connect with people, have fun and make a positive difference which is completely flexible, all you need is a data connection! It’s a great way of contributing to causes that matter to you, regardless of your location.

Some local charities offer remote volunteering roles, such as Telephone Befriender roles with organisations such as York Carers' Centre or social media/digital marketing roles. Local roles are approved by the Community Engaged Learning Team and can be found on Handshake.

You can also search for other remote volunteering roles on Handshake by searching for job type ‘Volunteer’ and location "remote." Please note that these roles have not been approved by the Community Engaged Learning Team. 

If you can’t find what you are looking for in Handshake, there are lots of opportunities available online. Here’s a few places you might want look at:

Zooniverse - microvolunteering, give anything from just a few minutes to help with research projects for science to environmental causes.

Reach Volunteering for skills based volunteers on short projects and ongoing commitments.

Or, to find a remote or volunteer role outside of York:

CharityJob - the UK’s largest and most specialised job board for the voluntary sector

Do it - the national database of volunteering opportunities

When selecting a remote opportunity, research the organisation to make sure they are reputable and offer rewarding and enriching experiences. Here are some tips to help you find a good fit:

  • Think about what interests you have
  • Consider the skills you want to develop or contribute.
  • Think about what causes matter to you, this will help narrow down your search
  • Research the organisation and verify the legitimacy of the organisation.
  • Read reviews from past volunteers to give you an insight into the organisation's operation.
  • Look at the organisation's mission statement and check this matches with your goal and values. 
  • Ensure there is formal training and ongoing support during your volunteering. 
  • Ensure the commitment aligns with your availability

Before you begin volunteering, please look at our guidance for ‘Making the most out of your volunteering experience’ including tips on making a good application.

If you find a remote opportunity you’d like us to review, email us at volunteering@york.ac.uk or come to our drop in, Thursday 2pm to 3pm in the Careers building.