Volunteering with LGBTQ+ charities in London: roles, training and time, as each states

How this page was put together

Everything below comes from each charity's own volunteering or support pages, read on 14 October 2026. Where a page did not state a requirement, a training format or a time commitment, this page says so rather than guessing. Treat it as a map of where to look, not a list of guaranteed vacancies.

Volunteering is not dating, and none of these charities presents it as a way to meet a partner. It is mentioned here because a lot of people who join a dating app are also looking for a wider LGBTQ+ circle, and giving regular time to a group is one of the more dependable ways to build one.

Some sites could not be read for this page. Switchboard's and Galop's volunteering pages either refused the request or did not exist at the addresses tried, so both appear below with only what could be confirmed. Contact them directly for anything current.

akt: mentoring, events and talks

akt works with LGBTQ+ young people facing or experiencing homelessness. Its volunteer page lists roles such as Volunteer Mentor and Fundraising Event Volunteer, and describes other ways to help: representing akt at Pride events, raising funds, giving presentations in schools about its services, and spreading awareness of the charity. The page says it has over 140 volunteers across the UK.

On time, akt is unusually specific about the range. Its examples run from joining a Pride parade once a year to meeting a young person as a mentor for about an hour a week. It says roles suit different interests, experience and time commitment levels, and a mentor quoted on the page says you will not necessarily have direct experience before you start.

akt lists an induction to the organisation, role-specific training where needed, ongoing training sessions through the year, regular social events and opportunities to give feedback, plus a Volunteer Handbook. When the page was read, new opportunities were described as coming soon. Applications go through its online listings, and the Volunteering Team can be reached at volunteering@akt.org.uk.

• aktCharity for LGBTQ+ young people facing homelessness

  Mentoring, fundraising events, Pride representation and school talks; induction and ongoing training stated.

London Friend: groups, admin and the Antidote service

London Friend, based at 86 Caledonian Road, lists a wide set of volunteer roles. They include its Antidote drug and alcohol service, fundraising and publicity, administration, and helping with its social and support groups. The groups named on the volunteer page include the Friday Drop-in, Pink Ink for creative writing, Changes for women coming out, Turning Point for men coming out, Mattrix, T on Tuesday, an Over 50s Social, Atypicals for neurodivergent people and Open Stage. Volunteer counselling has its own separate application form.

The page is direct about eligibility for client-facing roles: you will need to identify as part of the LGBTQI+ community and be based in and around London. It says it particularly encourages applications from people of colour and from trans and non-binary people. Antidote volunteers are asked to commit for one to two years, to be available on Monday mornings, and to have experience of drug or alcohol support, mental health support, or both.

London Friend's page does not describe its training or give time commitments for the other roles, and suggests contacting its volunteer coordinator with questions. The online form asks for your details, the roles you are interested in, two referees, a personal statement, a CV and a declaration. A PDF form can be returned by post or email instead.

• London FriendLGBTQ+ health and wellbeing charity

  King's Cross

  Group, admin, fundraising and Antidote roles; client-facing volunteers must identify as LGBTQI+ and live in or around London.

Terrence Higgins Trust: three-stage application

Terrence Higgins Trust recruits volunteers across the UK rather than for London alone. Its volunteer page describes roles from outreach to advice and counselling, office administration, public speaking and fundraising, and says it will match roles to your skills and availability. It does not name London-specific roles on that page, so check the current vacancies list for locations.

Its About volunteering page sets out the most detailed rules of any charity here. Anyone aged 18 or over can volunteer if they meet the role description and requirements. You will usually need one or two references, depending on the role, requested only after a role is offered; referees must have known you for at least two years and cannot be family members. Some roles may need a DBS or PVG check. Roles are described as flexible, letting you give as much or as little time as you can.

Applying has three stages: an application, an interview and volunteer training. Training includes a mandatory online induction, GDPR training, role-specific training and, depending on the role, safeguarding training. Each volunteer is linked to a staff member for support, with supervision either one to one or in group meetings. Some travel and meal costs can be claimed for authorised activities, and the page advises agreeing expenses with your volunteer manager first.

• Terrence Higgins TrustHIV and sexual health charity

  UK-wide roles; 18 and over; one or two referees of at least two years, not family; application, interview and training.

Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons' Trust

Mosaic supports LGBT+ young people aged 12 to 18 and young adults aged 18 to 25, and its home page mentions its centre in Camden. Services listed there include a free weekly Young Persons' Club, a monthly Young Adults' Group, a quarterly clothes swap, residentials and support for parents, professionals, refugees and asylum seekers.

Its support page says services are largely run by LGBT+ volunteers and that it is regularly looking to expand that group. When read, it listed openings including an online tutor, a young persons' counsellor and several mentor roles, one of them titled for mentors aged 30 and over. The page did not say whether each opening is paid or voluntary, and did not describe training, checks or time commitments. Because the work involves young people, expect safeguarding questions, and ask Mosaic directly about the checks it uses before you apply.

• Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons' TrustYouth charity

  Camden

  Volunteer form on the support page; training and time commitment not stated there.

Pride in London: on the day or year-round

Pride in London splits volunteering into two kinds. On-the-day volunteers support the parade, from guiding parade groups and helping backstage talent to managing crowd flows and supporting marketing, vendors and community partners, covering the route from the form-up gates to dispersal. The page does not give shift lengths.

Year-round volunteers work in operations, marketing, logistics, community engagement or event management, usually taking ownership of larger projects. The page describes these as suited to more experienced volunteers but lists no formal qualifications. There is no rigid minimum, though it advises approximately 10 to 15 hours a month from April, when peak planning begins. It says it welcomes people of all backgrounds, abilities and experience levels and provides full training and support. No age limit was stated on the page.

• Pride in LondonAnnual Pride event

  Separate applications for on-the-day and year-round roles; around 10 to 15 hours a month suggested for year-round.

Switchboard, Galop, Bishopsgate and Opening Doors

Switchboard began in March 1974 as the London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, according to Wikipedia, which lists around 200 volunteers and 12 staff. Its own website refused the request made for this page, so its current volunteer requirements and training could not be confirmed. Go to its site directly.

Galop's site has no volunteer page that could be found. Its Work at Galop page lists jobs and trustee vacancies but does not mention volunteering. Its Fundraise for Us page describes supporters running races, holding events at school or work and setting up their own fundraising pages, with fundraise@galop.org.uk for other ideas.

Bishopsgate Institute's archives page says its Lesbian and Gay Newsmedia Archive holds 350,000 press cuttings. Neither that page nor its support or Work with us pages described volunteering when read, so ask the institute directly. Opening Doors, which worked with older LGBTQ+ people, says on its own site that it closed permanently on 29 February 2024.

Before you go

• Read the role description in full before applying; London Friend and Terrence Higgins Trust both point applicants to it first.
• Line up two referees early: London Friend asks for two, and Terrence Higgins Trust asks for one or two referees who have known you for at least two years and are not family.
• Ask whether the role needs a DBS check, especially for work with young people at akt or Mosaic.
• Be realistic about time: an hour a week for a year is a bigger commitment than a single parade day.
• Agree any expenses with your volunteer manager before spending, as Terrence Higgins Trust advises.

Questions people ask

Do I have to be LGBTQ+ to volunteer?

It depends on the charity and the role. London Friend says client-facing volunteers need to identify as part of the LGBTQI+ community. Terrence Higgins Trust says anyone aged 18 or over who meets the role requirements can volunteer. Pride in London says it welcomes people of all backgrounds. Check each role description.

How much time do I need to give?

akt's examples range from one Pride parade a year to mentoring for about an hour a week. Pride in London suggests roughly 10 to 15 hours a month for year-round roles from April. London Friend's Antidote service asks for one to two years and Monday mornings. Terrence Higgins Trust describes its roles as flexible.

Will I get training?

akt lists an induction, role-specific training and sessions through the year. Terrence Higgins Trust lists online induction, GDPR, role-specific and, where relevant, safeguarding training. Pride in London says it provides full training and support. London Friend's and Mosaic's pages did not describe training when read.

Can I still volunteer with Opening Doors?

No. Opening Doors announced on its own site that it closed permanently on 29 February 2024, so any list sending volunteers there is out of date.