RWEST25: Volunteering opportunities by location

Chicago

Environment: Chicago Park District

The Chicago Park District offers volunteer opportunities across various parks, supporting their maintenance and programming.

Homelessness & Poverty: Chicago Food Bank for Families

Focused on combating hunger, this charity nourishes families through food distribution and packing events.

  • Roles include: Packing food boxes, delivering fresh produce, and family-friendly “Kids Days”.
  • Contact: Registration through their volunteer sign-up sheet

Essen

Children & Youth: Lern-Fair (education equality)

Lern-Fair is a national initiative offering free, digital learning support to educationally disadvantaged pupils across Germany. Volunteers can make a meaningful impact by providing just one hour of online tutoring per week. This project is funded by the RWE Foundation.

  • Roles include: One-on-one virtual tutoring, subject-specific help, mentoring and study support
  • Volunteering: Fully virtual and flexible
  • Necessary requirements: To join the 30-minute introductory training, you need to complete an online e-ID verification process and provide your extended certificate of good conduct (‘erweitertes Führungszeugnis’).
  • Sign up: Register here
Children & Youth: Verein zur Förderung der Kinder- und Jugendliteratur e.V.

Promoting children’s and youth literature through engaging reading events at schools and festivals.

  • Roles include: Half-day storytelling and reading sessions
  • Challenges: Many events occur on weekends
  • Good to know: Individuals are welcome to volunteer on a one-off basis
  • Contact: Website
Environment: Bonnekamp-Foundation

Once barren, this foundation has cultivated a thriving space for natural farming and animal care.

  • Volunteer season: Spring through fall
  • Roles include: Gardening, farming tasks, and learning about sustainable food production
  • Contact: Website
Homelessness & Poverty: Fairsorger Essen

Fairsorger Essen provides food, clothing, hygiene products, and support services to people in need in Essen.

  • Roles include: Point of contact, someone to talk to, consultation, referral to other assistance services
  • Contact: info@fairsorger-essen.de.

London

Environment: London Wildlife Trust

The London Wildlife Trust preserves green spaces and wild areas around London. Volunteers can engage in conservation, wildlife surveying, or interacting with visitors across various locations.

Homelessness & Poverty: The Felix Project

This charity rescues surplus food and other essentials from being wasted, redistributing them to families, the homeless, and those in need.

Singapore

Children & Youth: Club Rainbow (Singapore)

Supporting children with chronic illnesses and their families, Club Rainbow offers a range of compassionate services to enhance their lives.

  • Roles include: Volunteer Tutor, Camp Befriender, Event Support, and Skill-Based Volunteering
  • Contact: contact@clubrainbow.org
Environment: City Sprouts

This organisation runs a variety of environmental programs and initiatives across Singapore.

Homelessness & Poverty: Foodbank Singapore

Foodbank Singapore rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributes it to those in need.

Swindon

Children & Youth: Wiltshire Tree House

The Wiltshire Tree House supports bereaved children and young people in Swindon and Wiltshire by helping them cope with grief and manage daily life.

Environment: Caenhill Countryside Centre

A welcoming charity offering volunteer opportunities for people from all backgrounds to engage in hands-on environmental work – the Caenhill Countryside Centre

  • Roles include: Gardening, weeding, planting, pruning, watering, tidying, digging, and working with garden machinery
  • Contact: heliecyc@gmail.com
Homelessness & Poverty: Big Breakfast Plus

Big Breakfast Plus provides free cooked breakfasts, cereal, toast, and hot drinks to those in need.