Business support volunteering

If you have skills that could benefit Shannon Trust's wider business support team, such as communications, fundraising, HR, IT and resources, we would love to hear from you.

I have been with Shannon Trust since August 2024, and I am thoroughly enjoying my role. The position offers a great deal of variety, and I have already gained valuable knowledge and experience. Everyone I have encountered within the organisation has been incredibly welcoming, and I feel fortunate to have made new connections. Shannon Trust has been very supportive, and I truly appreciate the recognition I’ve received. I am excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing my journey with them.

- Leah, Business Support Volunteer

Shannon Trust is always looking for volunteers to use their own skills and knowledge to support behind the scenes at the charity. Each role can be specific around the skills and experience you would bring to the charity. Therefore, please contact the Volunteer Hub Team in order to discuss any vacancies.

Find a volunteer role near you

Business support volunteering FAQs

What commitment is required to volunteer at Shannon Trust?

We ask our volunteers for a commitment of 2 years to volunteer at Shannon Trust. This is because our recruitment checks, training, induction and vetting checks can take some time.

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Is there a minimum age to volunteer at Shannon Trust?

Applicants must be aged 18 or over to volunteer at ShannonTrust.

We are an inclusive, welcoming organisation, with a diverse workforce of people who share our core values. We welcome an interest in volunteering from people from all sectors of our diverse communities and all backgrounds, including older and younger people.

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I have access requirements, am I able to volunteer with you?

Shannon Trust training events and area meetings are held in venues that are accessible for people with mobility needs. We also make sure a hearing loop is available in all meeting rooms.

If you have access requirements, please make a note of these on your application form so that we can make sure these can be met when agreeing on placement. This is especially important for prison volunteer and area coordinator roles where most of the activities take place in non-public areas inside prisons.

If you require any access adjustments as part of your volunteering application and interview process, please let us know by adding these to your application form or by emailing the Volunteer Hub Team at volunteering@shannontrust.org.uk.

If I live outside the UK, can I volunteer?

You need to be based in the UK to volunteer for Shannon Trust. It’s your responsibility to make sure you can volunteer while in the UK.In general, if you’re from the European Union or European Economic Area you’re able to volunteer if you are currently residing in the UK. However, you should always check the conditions of your visa. If you have any doubts or questions, contact UK Visas and Immigration.

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I’m interested in a community or business support based volunteering role, will I need to use my own computer devices to volunteer?

Yes, you will need to have access to your own technological devices to volunteer in most community or business support roles. For example, our Community Reading Coaches use their own laptop/tablet to access our digital learning materials. All our business support volunteer roles are remote opportunities. You will need access to a computer and the internet to take up the role.

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You will also need to access the Shannon Trust volunteering portal Assemble, where we hold all the documents you need while you're volunteering. The link will be shared with you once you've completed your training. We provide volunteer roles with a dedicated email address for your volunteering, you will need to be able to receive and respond to these emails in a timely fashion.

A lot of our meetings take place online on Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

Can I volunteer as part of my employer's corporate volunteering days?

We require our volunteers to meet our minimum commitment of approximately 2 years availability to volunteer at Shannon Trust for our prison volunteering roles.

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I have convictions, can I volunteer with you?

We welcome applications from all people, including people who have previous convictions and lived experience of prison. Your convictions don't automatically exclude you from volunteering with us but the nature of them and when they took place may mean that some roles are more suitable than others.

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We ask you to disclose any unspent convictions on your application. These will be treated confidentially and will be discussed during your initial contact with our regional manager.

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Appointment to prison volunteer and area coordinator roles is dependent on applicants successfully completing the prison service security vetting which includes full disclosure of all previous convictions.

What happens after I sign up to volunteer and fill in an application form?

Once you have completed our online application form, we will be in touch to discuss next steps. Please note, all Shannon Trust opportunities include a closing date, so you may not hear back regarding your application until the closing date of the vacancy.

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Do you require a reference to volunteer?

Shannon Trust requires 2 references as part of your volunteering application. These are a character references, so a friend or neighbour is also ideal. We ask that you are not related to the referee and that they aren’t your partner. They must have known you for a minimum of 2 years. They will be asked to comment on your skills and attributes in relation to the volunteer role description, which we will send out to them.

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What support will be available to me?

You will have a named staff manager who provides day to day support and regular check-in meetings. You will also receive support from other volunteers in your team.

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Our Volunteer Hub Team is also available to provide support and information about your volunteering at Shannon Trust.

Will volunteering cost me anything?

Reasonable, out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed. This includes a mileage allowance if you use your own car or motorbike, public transport or taxi fares, food and refreshments. We’ll also cover any administrative costs such as printing or telephone calls.

Will volunteering affect my state benefits?

You can volunteer and claim benefits if:

the only money you get from volunteering is to cover expenses, like travel costs
you continue to meet the conditions of the benefit you get

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More information is available on the Government website.

If you have any further questions, get in touch at volunteering@shannontrust.org.uk

Prison Volunteering

Community Volunteering