The volunteer process
Choose how you want to help
Look through the volunteer roles and decide which areas interest you.
You can choose more than one role and you do not need to have everything decided before applying.
Complete the application
Use the online volunteer form to tell us about yourself, the roles that interest you, your availability and any relevant experience or skills.
You can also tell us about any accessibility support or adjustments that may help you.
Receive your application reference
When the application is successfully submitted, the system gives you a unique volunteer application reference.
Keep this reference if you need to contact us about your application.
We review your application
Right First Time UK reviews the information you provide and considers which opportunities may be suitable.
We aim to contact applicants within 14 working days.
Initial conversation
Where appropriate, we may arrange an informal conversation with you before confirming a role.
This gives both you and Right First Time UK an opportunity to discuss the role, availability, expectations and any support needed.
Checks where required
Some volunteer roles may require additional identity, suitability or safeguarding checks.
This will depend on the work involved and the level of responsibility.
Agree your role
If a suitable opportunity is available, we will agree what you will be helping with and any important role boundaries or responsibilities.
Get started
You will be given the relevant information, contacts and guidance needed for the activity you are supporting.
Some volunteers may help regularly, while others may support individual campaigns, research projects or community activities.
Volunteering should work for both sides
Applying does not automatically guarantee a volunteer role, and submitting an application does not create an employment relationship.
We may need to consider available opportunities, skills, capacity, safeguarding, suitability and the needs of individual projects.
You are also free to decide that an opportunity is not right for you.
Flexible volunteering
Not every volunteer needs to commit to the same amount of time.
Depending on the opportunity, you may be able to help:
- Occasionally.
- A few hours each month.
- On a specific campaign.
- With a particular research project.
- At community events.
- Remotely from home.
Support and adjustments
We want people to be able to explain what may help them take part.
The application form includes a section where you can tell us about accessibility needs or reasonable adjustments you would like us to consider.
You only need to share information that is relevant and that you are comfortable providing.