What is a volunteer?
Volunteers may be described as individuals who put their experience, knowledge and skills at the disposal of an organisation, free of charge, with the primary aim of helping the organisation to achieve its service objectives and, or with the primary aim of bringing some benefit to the local community. In this sense, volunteers are to be distinguished from students, other work placements and secondees, where the primary aim is usually for the student or secondee to obtain certain work experience or to carry out work or research in certain areas. Volunteering is increasingly recognised as valid experience by employers, so it can help you get back into paid work or make you stand out from other applicants at your next job interview.
There is a wide range of volunteering opportunities, with varying levels of commitment that the Council can offer, such as:
- Befriending or mentoring citizens in need, such as in sheltered housing schemes
- Helping providing services, such as litter picks or graffiti removal
- Stewarding at community events
- Assisting with delivery of community projects
- Staffing holiday scheme activities
- Administration support, such as distribution and design of marketing materials and mail outs
- Community website / newsletter content management
- Leading consultation initiatives and focus groups.
Why not take a look at our Volunteer's Handbook pdf for more details about Volunteering for Brentwood Borough Council?
Fancy giving it a go?
Apply to be a volunteer
or email to volunteer@brentwood.gov.uk and we'll be in touch when we have an opportunity we think you may be interested in.
Community events
- Lighting Up Brentwood - flexible hours available.
- Shenfield Christmas Fayre - flexible hours available.
Duties include directing members of the public, escorting street performers, helping back stage, helping with set up and pack down. Ages 16+ only. Shifts over 4 hours includes a free lunch!
Countryside volunteers
Litter picking
The Council is committed to ensuring that the local community is fully involved in influencing decision-making regarding its services, and prioritises engaging local volunteers.
Volunteers have an integral role to play in promoting and contributing to community cohesion. Brentwood Borough Council recognises that there can be occasions whereby a volunteer's help can make a significant contribution to the service delivery of the Council.
If you take up a volunteering role at the Council, you will be working alongside the skills of paid staff and you will not be used to replace staff paid staff. The Council's Volunteer Recruitment Policy and Procedures (downloadable from this page) ensures that any volunteer is treated fairly and that your rights and responsibilities as a volunteer, and those of the Council, are made clear to you.