Become a Volunteer

Be part of a team

Catching Lives relies on the support of our volunteers to help provide a unique and vital service to our clients, working alongside our small staff team every day. As a small local charity, volunteers are essential to Catching Lives staying open 7 days a week.

We are very fortunate to have the help of a large and extremely dedicated team of volunteers. This team includes students, job seekers, working and retired people; from backgrounds as diverse as teachers, administrators, professional chefs, church groups, gardeners and full-time carers.

Without the continuing support of our wonderful existing volunteer base, and that of the new volunteers that join us every month, it would not be possible to continue our work.

Read on to hear about our volunteering opportunities, why you should volunteer and how to get involved!

Current Volunteering Needs...

Kitchen Volunteers

We're currently looking for day time volunteers in the kitchen specifically on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

If you have time to spare on any of these days, please consider applying to be a part of our kitchen team.

Shifts are 8:30am - 1:30pm but if time is a barrier, please do still consider getting in touch to see how we can accommodate.

Click here to download an application form!

Why Volunteer?

Our community atmosphere at Catching Lives offers a great sense of wellbeing to everyone involved.

Meet new people, make friends and feel valued within the team

Be a part of community powered engagement and support

Get to know your local community

Spend quality time helping others

Build confidence and self esteem

Develop new skills, knowledge and experience

Enhance your CV and improve your employment prospects

Make a difference to the lives of people who are homeless

Support a small, local charity and our clients through collective action

Break down barriers and gain a deeper understanding of the homelessness crisis

Volunteering Opportunities

We have a variety of volunteer roles across the charity depending on your interests and availability.

Click the arrow on the right to explore more (swipe left on mobiles and tablets)... and remember, if time is an obstacle, do consider getting in touch as in some cases we can be a little bit more flexible!

All volunteer roles require at least one reference and an induction, with any role in the centre also requiring a DBS check prior to volunteering.

Kitchen

Our kitchen volunteers prepare and serve breakfast and lunch to our clients at our Day Centre in Canterbury.

Volunteers provide a friendly service and hot food from the kitchen which is at the heart of creating a safe, welcoming place where people can then get the help they need.

Whether you’re great at front of house, an experienced cook or a wizz at the washing up, there are a variety of roles and tasks within the kitchen to suit everyone.

Shifts are 8:30am to 1:30pm but shorter shifts are okay too!

Activities

Help with afternoon activities is always welcome, and we can plan activities based on the interests and enthusiasm of the volunteers involved, along with the interests and enthusiasm of our clients! If you have a particular interest or skill to share, get in touch and let’s see what’s possible.

Activities usually take place between 2-4pm Monday-Friday (except for Wednesdays).

Popular activities include: cookery, gardening, yoga, creative writing, quizzes, and art activities.

We can agree a limited series of weekly or monthly sessions rather than an open-ended commitment.

Bookshop

The amazing volunteer-run Catching Lives Bookshop is at 28 Palace Street, Canterbury, CT1 2DZ.

Volunteers are responsible for sorting through donations, pricing items and making sales. We also have an eBay team who research and price more valuable books and oversee the eBay shop.

Shifts are 10am - 1:30pm & 1:30-5pm

To apply to volunteer at the bookshop please contact 07899 458961

You can find more information about the bookshop here.

Fundraising

As a small, independent charity that relies largely on generous public donations, fundraising is an essential part of keeping the services and support we provide for our clients alive, and the doors of our day centre open every day of the week.

We are always looking for passionate volunteers to help us with fundraising and events and there are lots of ways to get involved. You can volunteer at one of our fundraising events, helping spread the word of Catching Lives and encouraging donations... or even organise your own fundraiser with a challenge, a bake sale or a quiz! Find out more here.

Get in touch with Georgia on georgia@catchinglives.org if you want to get involved!

Volunteering in 2025

2909

Volunteer Attendances

163

Unique Volunteers

11,948

Volunteer Hours

01

Application received via email or hard copy dropped off at the centre.

Email receipt to acknowledge application.

02

References will be contacted before inviting you in for an induction.

A DBS link will be sent out ahead of induction for you to complete.

03

Induction at the centre with Rosie our Volunteer Coordinator. Inductions usually take 45 minutes - 1 hour.

At the end of the induction, DBS ID documents are verified to complete your application.

04

After your induction, you'll agree on a date for your first shift. You'll also be sent the Volunteer Handbook and information/ training relevant to your role to review before your first shift.

After your shift, Rosie will check in and you'll decide together on next shifts. You'll be added to the coordination emails.

Volunteer Application
Process

Centre Volunteer Application Form

Ready to get started? Apply today!

If applying for centre roles please email to volunteer@catchinglives.org or drop it off at the centre

For Bookshop, please contact 07899458961 & for Fundraising, please contact Georgia on georgia@catchinglives.org

FAQs

How old do I have to be?

All volunteer roles in the centre and the bookshop are 18+. If you are under 18 and would like to support Catching Lives, consider a fundraising event or challenge.

Get in touch with Georgia (georgia@catchinglives.org) for more information.

Do you cover expenses?

We want to make sure volunteering is accessible for everyone but currently do not have a separate volunteer expense budget.

Should you require help with travel expenses to be able to volunteer, get in touch with our Volunteer Coordinator (volunteer@catchinglives.org) to learn more about how we can support.

I'd like to volunteer using my paid volunteer days from work. Can I?

Since each volunteer role requires a reference and DBS check, as well as an induction, we are unfortunately unable to offer one off volunteering opportunities.

What training will I receive?

All volunteers will be required to go through an induction whether that is in person or online before you volunteer. You will also have the opportunity to do a first shift with a full team to learn the ropes with additional support before becoming a part of the regular team.

There is also a Volunteer Handbook and Volunteering Policy which provides additional information and support for volunteers.

I have a criminal record, can I still volunteer?

For any role in the centre, you will need to complete a DBS check (at the expense of Catching Lives).

A criminal record won't make you ineligible to volunteer with us, but a decision to proceed with your application will be on a case by case basis which will depend on the type of conviction and relevance to the role.