On this page
Who we are
We’re an East London charity dedicated to empowering local people to become agents for change in their community. By focusing on issues like social isolation, criminal exploitation and mental health, LifeLine works with young people, families and local residents to create lasting, positive change that strengthens neighbourhoods from within.
At the heart of our mission is preventing isolation and disengagement and ensuring people have access to essential services like social care and mental health support. LifeLine believes that by working together, communities can build safe, inclusive spaces where people thrive.
Every year, hundreds of people access our programmes, whether they are trying to get back to work, improve their skills or access support for their family. Whichever department you are working for, volunteering with us means you will be part of a team making a real difference to the lives of local people. We will support you to ensure that your time at LifeLine is a valuable learning experience.
Our values
Our values define the kind of organisation we want to be. They help remind us what is important to all of us, and why. They make sure that what makes us ‘us’ doesn’t get lost, either in the middle of our busy days or in the pursuit of our bold vision.
But it’s not just about writing values and sharing them around. Values only matter if they are put into action every day, by everyone in our organisation.
These are LifeLine’s ExOTIC values— the behaviours we expect from our staff and volunteers:
Excellence
- We encourage each other to continually succeed and improve.
- We’re on a journey—we won’t settle along the way but are focussed on the destination.
- We are a professional Voluntary Sector organisation—not on a shoestring but seeking investment to do things well.
Ownership
- We look after things.
- We take responsibility, seeking that the whole job gets done—ensuring we compete tasks, not just tick boxes.
- We are solution focused—we look for solutions rather than problems.
Team
- We ask for help from others who are more able. We offer help to those who need it
- We value each member and recognise each member's strengths. We know we can have the best results when we work together.
- We hold each other accountable, and we ask for help.
Integrity
- We are confident in who we are and act with honesty. We are open and don’t hide things.
- We do what we say, and we say what we do. We are transparent in our actions and motives. We are led by conviction, rather than law or trend.
- This impacts all we do, from operations, being involved in bid sign-off to how we collect data.
Compassion
- We want the best for one another and go out of our way to be kind and support one another.
- We are pleased when others succeed and show empathy in disappointments.
- We go above and beyond.
What we do
We provide a range of services for children and young people and their families across London, as well as faith and community groups across the country.
Early Years
Nurseries we’d want to send our own children to, built on our 15+ years of experience of working in Early Years.
Young People
Our collection of programmes aimed at supporting young people at risk of serious youth violence or poor mental health.
Families
Our collection of programmes aimed at families that just need a little extra help.
FaithAction
Why volunteer with us
Your involvement is important to us. We are committed to making a difference in the lives of people in our community and you can play a really important part in making this happen.
When you volunteer with us, we believe that you will gain a lot too.
Volunteering with Lifeline is my way of giving back. We're all born with a purpose in life and I knew my purpose is to uplift and inspire people of all ages.
By volunteering at LifeLine, you can...
Increase your confidence
Become a valued member of a team
Develop your skills and knowledge
Gain experience to help you gain paid employment
Make a real difference to your community
Make new friends
Your volunteer journey
1
Our Volunteer Coordinator will send you our Welcome Pack so you can begin to familiarise with volunteering for LifeLine.
2
Complete your paperwork and DBS check.
3
Complete your induction, including health and safety and safeguarding.
4
Access resources to support your health and wellbeing available through the Wisdom app.
You’re ready to begin volunteering!
How you'll be looked after
Your wellbeing and development is so important to us, and we want to make sure you’re always feeling comfortable and confident while volunteering. So, we promise to:
Share knowledge
- Receive all the free training you’ll need—both general training that’s relevant to our cause, and specific training based on your role.
Support you
- Get regular support from our Volunteer Coordinator.
- Depending on your role, you may get further support, such as one-to-one support.
Be social
- Have the chance to attend a range of great volunteer events.
- Meet some fantastic new people.
Look after your wellbeing
All of our volunteers have access to the Wisdom app through our Employee Assistance Programme. It’s full of useful information, from meditation techniques, to help with sleeping and waking up, to exercises for dealing with stress and anxiety. You can download it straight to your phone, and have it on hand whenever you need it.
We’ll provide you with details on how to access the programme during your induction.
Our volunteer promise
When you volunteer with us, you’ll become part of an important team of volunteers.
But before you start, there are a few things to be agreed between us.
This is to make sure that you’re happy, and that all of our work is above board.
We will...
- Provide free DBS checks.
- Provide an induction that includes our values, health and safety, and safeguarding.
- Provide training for your role.
- Cover agreed expenses, such as travel and lunch.
- Give you a voice and value your feedback.
- Provide you with opportunities to extend your volunteering if you want to.
You will...
- Commit to our charitable objectives and abide by our values.
- Perform your role to the best of your abilities.
- Participate in training offered to you.
- Follow all our policies and procedures.
- Act in the best interests of our service users.
- Maintain client confidentiality.
Frequently-asked questions
What should I do if I'm sick and can't attend my shift?
Please inform our Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible so that we can arrange cover for you. If you’re unable to volunteer for an extended period due to illness, we’ll meet with you to ensure you’re ready to return.
What should I wear?
As a volunteer, you’re welcome to wear casual clothes, but please keep it modest and choose clothes that fit the activities you’ll be doing. Also, please make sure to maintain good personal hygiene.
Will LifeLine provide me with a reference?
Yes, we’re happy to offer a reference both during your time volunteering with us and after you’ve moved on.
Can I apply for a paid role with you?
Yes, absolutely! Many of our current paid staff first joined LifeLine as volunteers.
Volunteering roles available
Community Befriending in Waltham Forest
The goal of our Community Befriending service is to support individuals in Waltham Forest aged 18+ who are isolated, often due to mobility issues or living in areas with limited access to public transportation.
Volunteers offer valuable companionship and engage individuals in meaningful activities that help keep their minds active, providing intellectual and emotional support to help improve mental function, reduce feelings of isolation, and boost overall wellbeing.
Through thoughtful conversation, purposeful activities, and positive interaction, they contribute to improving the quality of life for those in need.
Please note that volunteers are not intended to replace professional carers or handle domestic tasks.
Your role as a befriender
LifeLine’s Community Befriending connects volunteers with people who need support. As a befriender, you’ll offer a friendly, regular, and supportive relationship to help someone overcome loneliness and build confidence.
What you'll do
- Build a relationship—you’ll be paired with someone to meet regularly and create a trusting connection.
- Provide support—offer a listening ear, encourage them, and help them explore their interests.
- Help build confidence—support them in overcoming challenges and building resilience.
- Confidentiality—you’ll keep all personal details private.
- Be flexible—you can volunteer from home, making it easy to fit into your schedule.
- Commitment—it’s important to commit for at least six months to build a meaningful relationship.
What makes a good befriender?
- Good listener—you’ll listen carefully to what the person shares.
- Empathy—you’ll understand and share their feelings.
- Patience—building trust takes time.
- Reliable—you’ll be someone they can count on.
- Friendly—a positive, welcoming attitude is key.
By becoming a befriender, you’ll make a real difference in someone’s life by giving them support and connection when they need it most.
Visiting befriendees
Your visits will typically last around an hour and aim to offer friendly conversation to reduce loneliness and isolation.
During each visit, you’ll make a note of your interaction. You’ll share any concerns you may have with our Volunteer Coordinator.
You’ll have to send in a short report each month to help us keep track and ensure everything is running smoothly. Don’t worry—you’ll get training on how to fill these out and further support will be provided if needed.
Along with offering companionship, you’ll also see if the befriendee would benefit from extra support from our other services.
Being matched with a befriendee
When you begin, we’ll ask about your hobbies and interests, as well as those of the befriendee you’ll be supporting. We aim to match you with someone who shares similar interests, while also considering where you and the befriendee live.
On your first visit, you will be accompanied by our Volunteer Coordinator to meet the befriendee. After that, you’ll visit them independently. To help you get started, our Volunteer Coordinator will provide conversation prompts to assist with building rapport. They will check in with you during the first few weeks and continue regular follow-ups.
If you feel the match isn’t working for any reason, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Volunteer Coordinator.
Reviews
Each befriendee’s situation is reviewed quarterly to ensure that the service remains beneficial for both the befriendee and the volunteer. If the service needs to end, our Volunteer Coordinator will meet with you to discuss the next steps.
How to apply
If you’re interested in becoming a community befriender, fill in our online application form below!
Wellbeing Peer Support in Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge
Lifeline Projects is working in partnership with NELFT, recognising the important role that community-based peer support plays in improving mental health and wellbeing outcomes. As a Volunteer Peer Supporter, you will support the delivery of welcoming, inclusive and recovery-focused activities for people experiencing mental health difficulties.
Your role as a wellbeing peer supporter
Using your lived experience of mental health recovery where appropriate, you will offer encouragement, understanding and hope to others. You will help people identify strengths, achieve personal goals, develop social connections and access opportunities within their local community.
You will support group activities, community engagement and wellbeing programmes while acting as a positive ambassador for LifeLine Projects and its values.
What you'll do
- Support peer support groups and wellbeing activities
- Build respectful and supportive relationships
- Encourage recovery, confidence and independence
- Promote inclusion and reduce social isolation
- Signpost people to local support and community resources
- Attend training, supervision, and volunteer meetings
- Maintain confidentiality, safeguarding and professional boundaries
How to apply
If you’re interested in becoming a peer supporter, please contact our Senior Volunteer Coordinator Sunita for more information.