Volunteer at inHope
Volunteers really are the lifeblood of inHope! They enable us to open the doors to help people who are hungry, homeless, and suffering the effects of addiction and poor mental health.
In 2023-2024, 281 people gave a combined total of 21,201 hours in voluntary service. At the rate of the National Living Wage this voluntary time is worth £254,412, but to every individual who needed help, this time is priceless.
Our volunteers are predominantly from churches across Bristol, and increasingly from Corporate/Business groups who give some of their work time to volunteering with us. Find out more here the different ways Corporates can support us.
Every volunteer helps by rolling up their sleeves to serve food, wash dishes, sweep floors, deliver food parcels, make beds, painting and maintenance, serve as a trustee, or simply show some love to somebody experiencing a crisis.
All volunteers receive a range of support including an induction, training and supervision from inHope staff.
Keep scrolling to see what volunteer opportunities we currently have on offer. You can make a difference in society and your local community by being an inHope volunteer.
If you need help completing the volunteer application form, please email us at volunteering@inhope.uk
Jeśli potrzebujesz pomocy w wypełnieniu formularza zgłoszenia wolontariusza, napisz do nas na adres volunteering@inhope.uk
Haddii aad u baahan tahay in lagaa caawiyo buuxinta foomka codsiga iskaa wax u qabso, fadlan noogu soo dir emailka volunteering@inhope.uk
Existing inHope volunteers
Existing Foodbank volunteers
Read the experience of some current volunteers, Tim & Nikki.
“We aimed to work hard and try to get as much done as we could, but at the same time, it just felt so relaxed and unpressured, really enjoyable and actually very therapeutic! It was also lovely to be able to have some time spent with Sarah (colleague) away from our usual office hubbub.”
Corporate/business volunteer
“It’s such a pleasure to be able to support a service that supported me in the past.”
Wild Goose volunteer
Current Volunteer Opportunities
At this time we can only accept volunteering enquiries for the volunteer opportunities advertised below.
Foodbank Van Driver
We are looking for a confident van driver with a passion for supporting the community and those in need of using the Foodbank. This role involves driving our van to collect food from our BS5 Foodbank and move it to our warehouse in Easton and will include both loading and unloading the van at each end.
You will need to be able to volunteer fortnightly on Fridays 1pm – 2.30pm.
We ask for a regular commitment for at least three months.
What you will be doing
- Collecting food from our BS5 Foodbank and delivering it to our warehouse in Easton
- Loading and unloading the van
The skills you need
- Be able to lift heavy crates of food
- Confident driver
- Adaptable and flexible approach
- Committed and reliable
Fishponds Foodbank Outlet Assistant
We are in need of volunteers on Fridays 11am – 2.30pm at our Fishponds Foodbank based at Fishponds Baptist Church. We are looking for volunteers to join our packing team. This role will solely involve packing food parcels ready for clients to collect. Please note that the packing room is up 5 steps and the role will involve heavy lifting.
We ask for a minimum volunteering commitment of 3 months.
What you will be doing
- Welcoming guests.
- Sorting and providing food parcels.
- Assisting with the smooth running of the foodbank.
- Setting up before the session and tidying and cleaning at the end of the session.
- Preparing food and drinks for guests.
BS4 Foodbank outlet collecting donations driver
This role involves driving your own car to collect food from local businesses and deliver to BS4 foodbank, unload the food and also help with unloading food parcels. You will need to be able to lift heavy crates and packages.
This role is on Wednesdays 10.30am to 12pm.
We ask for a minimum volunteering commitment of 3 months.
What you will be doing
- Collecting supermarket/retail donations and delivering them to the foodbank outlet.
- Interacting with supermarket/retail staff and foodbank volunteers.
- Collecting food from the warehouse and delivering it to the foodbanks.
Women’s Breakfast Morning Support Volunteer
As a Morning Support Volunteer, you will play a vital role in creating a warm, welcoming environment for women staying at Spring of Hope. Your presence and support in the morning can make a real difference in how our guests start their day. You’ll assist with supporting the women before they walk over to breakfast, ensuring that they have all their belongings needed for the day ahead, chaperoning the women from Spring of Hope over to the Wild Goose, serving breakfast, engaging in friendly conversation, and helping to foster a sense of safety, dignity, and respect.
The volunteering hours are Thursdays 8am – 11am, weekly.
We ask volunteers to be prepared to commit to a minimum of six months volunteering.
The breakfast will be for female guests only. It is therefore a requirement that volunteers are female to ensure a safe and supportive environment.
What you will be doing
- Help serve breakfast to shelter guests.
- Sit with and chat to guests in a relaxed, friendly manner.
- Offer a listening ear and emotional support where appropriate.
- Maintain a calm and welcoming atmosphere.
Van Driver’s Buddy
Thursdays weekly 9.45am to 12.15pm.
What you will be doing
- Assist the van driver going to Costco at Avonmouth, and collecting food donations, checking dates.
- Organising food into groups on the van.
- Potentially dropping some provisions off at other local locations.
- Returning to Carpenter House, Easton and unloading van.
- Putting food in storeroom in organised way.
The skills you need
- Enjoy being part of a small team, and have a friendly approach.
- Reasonable level of fitness to undertake the role, be able to lift heavy crates of food.
- Flexible and happy to undertake a variety of tasks.
- Be able to maintain confidentiality.
- Reliable and punctual.
- Well organised.
How to Volunteer
If you want to change people’s lives through being an inHope volunteer, there are a few small steps to take:
- Contact Karen by emailing volunteering@inhope.uk, calling 0117 405 7112.
- Complete our volunteer application form, so you can tell us a bit about yourself and what you want to get out of your volunteering experience.
- You will be invited to a shadow shift/meet up with staff – so that we can get to know you personally and find the role that suits you most. If the role requires a DBS check, we can also start this process.
- You’ll then be invited to an induction that is appropriate to the role, making sure you’re ready to start!
- Throughout your volunteering experience, you’ll have regular opportunities to review how things are going.
Faith
We ask that all volunteers are comfortable volunteering within our Christian ethos. Please ask Karen for more information.
We are committed to developing a diverse staff and volunteer workforce that reflects the community we are all part of. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) volunteers as these groups are underrepresented at inHope.
If you would like to know more about volunteering at inHope, please get in touch with our Volunteering Admin Officer, Karen.
CAN’T VOLUNTEER BUT STILL WANT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS & MARGINALISED?
