The Good Guide: February 2026 - CALLING ALL STUDENTS!

Calling all students - this one’s for you!

It’s Student Volunteering Week (10-16 February): a whole week dedicated to giving back, getting involved, and doing something that actually feels good.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are six fun, feel-good ways to volunteer, plus national charities and organisations you can get involved with anywhere in the UK.

First - a big shout out to The Social Society, who have created an easy, all-in-one volunteer hub. You can create an account, explore local volunteering opportunities, apply quickly, and let charities reach out to you directly. Perfect if you want to keep things simple and try a few different things.

1. Volunteer at a Food Bank 

Help pack parcels, redistribute surplus food, and support people facing food insecurity.

• Trussell Trust – https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/volunteer/
• FareShare – https://fareshare.org.uk/volunteer/
• The Felix Project – https://thefelixproject.org/help-us/volunteer-london/
• FoodCycle – https://foodcycle.org.uk/volunteer/
• Salvation Army – https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/volunteer
• City Harvest – https://cityharvest.org.uk/volunteer
• UKHarvest / Nourish Hub – https://www.ukharvest.org.uk/volunteer
• Edinburgh Food Project – https://edinburghfoodproject.org/volunteer
• Birmingham Central Foodbank – https://birminghamcentral.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/volunteer/

2. Support an Animal Shelter 🐾

Walk dogs, help with feeding, cleaning, or adoption days.

• RSPCA – https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/volunteer
• Battersea – https://www.battersea.org.uk/support-us/volunteer
• Dogs Trust – https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/support-us/volunteer
• Cats Protection – https://www.cats.org.uk/support-us/volunteer
• Blue Cross – https://www.bluecross.org.uk/volunteer
• Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home – https://edch.org.uk/support-us/volunteer
• Wood Green – https://woodgreen.org.uk/volunteer
• PDSA – https://www.pdsa.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer
• Hope Rescue (Wales) – https://hoperescue.org.uk/volunteer
• The Mayhew – https://themayhew.org/support-us/volunteer/

3. Support and Volunteer with the Elderly

• Age UK – https://www.ageuk.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/
• Friends of the Elderly – https://fote.org.uk/volunteer/
• Royal Voluntary Service – https://www.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk/volunteering/
• Re-engage – https://www.reengage.org.uk/volunteer/
• Independent Age – https://www.independentage.org/get-involved/volunteer
• Alzheimer’s Society – https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer
• British Red Cross – https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer
• Contact the Elderly (Re-engage) – https://www.reengage.org.uk/volunteer/
• GoodSAM – https://www.goodsamapp.org/volunteer
• Volunteering Matters – https://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/volunteer/

4. Litter Picks & Environmental Clean-Ups

• Surfers Against Sewage – https://www.sas.org.uk/volunteer/
• Marine Conservation Society – https://www.mcsuk.org/beachcleans/
• Keep Britain Tidy – https://www.keepbritaintidy.org/get-involved
• Keep Wales Tidy – https://keepwalestidy.cymru/get-involved/volunteering/
• Canal & River Trust – https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer
• Thames21 – https://www.thames21.org.uk/volunteer/
• The Rivers Trust – https://theriverstrust.org/take-action/volunteer-opportunities
• Planet Patrol – https://planetpatrol.co/clean-ups
• TCV (The Conservation Volunteers) – https://www.tcv.org.uk/volunteer/
• CleanupUK – https://www.cleanupuk.org.uk/get-involved/

5. Tutoring & Mentoring Young People

• The Prince’s Trust – https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/help-for-young-people/volunteer
• IntoUniversity – https://intouniversity.org/volunteer/
• Tutor Trust – https://tutotrust.org/volunteer/
• ReachOut – https://reachoutuk.org/volunteer/
• Action Tutoring – https://actiontutoring.org.uk/volunteer/
• Barnardo’s – https://www.barnardos.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer
• The Brilliant Club – https://thebrilliantclub.org/volunteer/
• Career Ready – https://careerready.org.uk/volunteer/
• Young Enterprise – https://www.young-enterprise.org.uk/support-us/volunteer/
• National Literacy Trust – https://literacytrust.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/

6. Events, Runs & Community Activities

• parkrun – https://www.parkrun.org.uk/volunteer/
• Macmillan Cancer Support – https://www.macmillan.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering
• Cancer Research UK – https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/get-involved/volunteer
• EveryYouth (Sleep Out) – https://www.everyyouth.org/get-involved/
• Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/
• Shelter – https://england.shelter.org.uk/support_us/volunteer
• Sport England (Local Sport Volunteering) – https://www.sportengland.org/get-involved/volunteer
• London Marathon Events – https://www.londonmarathonevents.co.uk/charities/volunteer
• GoodGym – https://www.goodgym.org/

Not sure where to start?
Pick one, give it a go, and see where it takes you.
These roles are flexible, welcoming, and perfect for students who want to do something meaningful and meet great people along the way.
No pressure. No experience needed. Just show up.