Get involved
Discover More. Experience More.
Whether you're over 18 and thinking about volunteering, or under 18 and looking for your next adventure, there's a place for you across the 12 YOU London organisations.
For over 18s
Volunteer with YOU London
If you like the idea of inspiring and leading young people to achieve things they never thought possible, you may enjoy volunteering as an adult volunteer (18+) with one of the YOU London organisations.
Volunteering offers the chance to:
- Gain new skills and qualifications
- Develop your talents and knowledge
- Support young people in meaningful ways
- Build experience that is valuable in today's workplace
It’s not just about "giving something back". It’s about:
- Being a valued member of a team
- Challenging yourself
- Getting to know your local community
- Making a real difference to the lives of young people
Ways to Volunteer
Weekly Support
Most groups meet weekly — usually evenings or weekends. Volunteers are needed to run face-to-face activities, support uniformed instructors and provide an extra pair of hands. All organisations offer the choice to wear uniform or support as a civilian / non-uniformed helper.
Administrative & Behind-the-Scenes Roles
Every group needs administrative support, often flexible and home-based. Roles include trustees, treasurers, chairpersons, secretaries, administrators and planners.
Specialist Support
Do you have a specialist skill you could share? Could you instruct occasionally or visit a local group as a guest speaker? Whatever time, talent or skill you have to offer, there will be a local group that will appreciate it.
Training and Flexibility
No prior experience or specialist knowledge is required. Full training is provided by each organisation. Volunteering opportunities are flexible and can often be shaped around the time and skills you can offer.
Find out more
Click through to the organisation that interests you, explore what’s available in your local area, and start a conversation about how you could support a uniformed youth group. An information sheet outlining the process for offering your services, and more on the benefits of volunteering, are available to download here:
For under 18s
Discover More. Experience More.
All 12 partner organisations share a common purpose: to give young people amazing opportunities to develop — gaining new skills, working as part of a team and building confidence — all within an environment full of fun, action and adventure, supported by trusted adult volunteers.
As a young person, you can:
- Take part in the specialist activities of your chosen organisation
- Learn new hard and soft skills
- Gain qualifications
- Play sport
- Make friends
- Travel in the UK and abroad
- Help out in your community
These are the kinds of experiences that really help you get the most out of life.
For everyone
Together we can do more
Each of the 12 organisations is successful in its own right, with its own structure and aims. But by working together, we can achieve even greater impact — through inter-group competitions, sharing premises, exhibiting together at events, or simply being aware of who else is in your local area. Working together can often produce much more than the sum of the individual parts. By sharing ideas, best practice and resources we can:
- Increase the number of adult volunteers supporting member organisations
- Increase the number of young people joining member organisations
- Improve and build on the activities and opportunities these groups offer young people and their adult instructors
- Attract funding and make better use of resources
- Offer ever-growing numbers of young people the chance to get more out of life through fun, adventure and citizenship
In pictures
See what our organisations get up to
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