Volunteering as a Disabled Person

Why volunteer as a disabled person

Volunteering can be a good way to build skills, meet people and gain experience that might help with future work. Many disabled people find it a useful step towards employment, while others volunteer simply because they want to contribute to something they care about.

Most volunteering roles are open to disabled people. Some positions may not be suitable depending on your impairment, but this applies to a relatively small number of roles. Many organisations will have options that could work for you, and will often make reasonable adjustments to help you take part. It is still important to communicate your needs and preferences early on.

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Answer a few questions about your interests, skills, and availability and get matched with the types of volunteering that suit you best. Whether you want to work with people, animals, or the environment, we will find your ideal role.

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Finding the right opportunity

Start by thinking about what you want to get out of volunteering. You might want to develop specific skills, gain experience in a particular sector, or simply do something meaningful with your time. Knowing this will help you focus your search.

Look for organisations that match your interests. This could be a local charity, a community group, a hospital, a museum, or a national organisation with local branches. Many list their volunteering vacancies on their websites, or you can contact them directly to ask what is available.

Volunteer centres can also help. These are local services that connect volunteers with opportunities in their area, though not all areas have one. You can check availability through your local council or the National Council for Voluntary Organisations website.

It can be useful to prepare a short summary of your skills and experience before approaching organisations. This does not need to be a formal CV. A simple list covering what you can offer, what you hope to gain, and any adjustments you might need will help them understand whether there is a good match.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Discussing your needs

You are not legally required to disclose a disability when volunteering. However, telling an organisation about your access needs can make it easier for them to support you.

Under the Equality Act 2010, organisations have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. This might include providing information in accessible formats, adjusting tasks, allowing flexible hours, or making physical changes to a workspace.

If you are unsure how to raise this, you could say something like "I work best when..." or "It would help me to have..." when speaking to a volunteer coordinator. Many charities and community groups are experienced in working with disabled volunteers and will welcome the conversation.

Access to Work is a government programme that can provide grants to cover extra costs related to disability, including for some volunteering situations. It may be worth checking whether you are eligible.

Types of volunteering roles

There are many different ways to volunteer, and most can be adapted to suit different abilities and circumstances.

• Administrative work such as helping with emails, data entry or phone calls
• Befriending, which involves providing company to isolated people in person or by phone
• Fundraising, including organising events, applying for grants or helping with campaigns
• Practical roles such as sorting donations, helping at events or assisting in charity shops
• Online volunteering, covering writing, research, social media or design work from home
• Mentoring or peer support, where you share your own experience to help others

Remote volunteering has become more widely available in recent years, which can suit people who find travel or fixed hours difficult.

If you receive disability benefits, you should report any volunteering to the Department for Work and Pensions to make sure it does not affect your payments. Check the current guidance on GOV.UK or speak to your local Citizens Advice if you are unsure about the rules on expenses and hours.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Volunteer Role Finder lets you answer a few questions about your interests, skills, and availability and get matched with the types of volunteering that suit you best. Whether you want to work with people, animals, or the environment, we will find your ideal role. Try it now →