Purple outline drawing of an elephant head next to bold purple text that reads The Purple Elephant Project on a light grey background.
Login
Donate

Volunteer

The Purple Elephant Project needs you

Whether you are planting in the garden, supporting a family visiting The Hub, helping behind the scenes with policy or fundraising, or sharing our story through social media, your time makes a real difference to the children and families we support.

Volunteering with The Purple Elephant Project means becoming part of a supportive, values-led community. Every volunteer begins with an induction to help you understand our ethos, safeguarding procedures and the way we work with children and families.

Because we invest time in training and supporting our volunteers, we ask for a minimum commitment of six months where possible.

We are currently looking for:

We are also welcoming volunteers interested in:

  • Supporting families visiting The Hub
  • Becoming a Charity Ambassador
  • Policy and administration support
  • Fundraising and event management

Join Our Herd

If you would like to get involved, we would love to hear from you. Please complete the application form using the link below and a member of our team will be in touch as soon as possible.

Fill out our volunteer application form

Hear from our current volunteers

I chose to volunteer as IT Support at The Purple Elephant Project, because I wanted to use my technical skills to support a meaningful cause. As part of my role I am focusing on maintaining existing systems, improving security, and helping to implement new tech solutions. I enjoy working with IT, so it’s great to be able to help streamline IT operations so therapists and staff can focus on their work. My biggest reward is knowing that my skills are making a real difference for all the staff. But, more importantly, it’s great to help the children and parents who rely on The Purple Elephant Project
A middle-aged man with a shaved head smiles broadly, wearing a grey zip-up jacket, with a blurred purple and yellow background behind him.
Rakesh
IT support volunteer
I volunteer at The Purple Elephant Project because, having experienced my own mental health challenges, I understand just how valuable early intervention can be. I truly believe support from somewhere like The Purple Elephant Project would have made a huge difference for younger me and therefore wanted to help the charity reach as many children who need them as possible.
A young woman with long blonde hair is facing the camera, standing outdoors near purple and pink flowers, with a building and glass door in the background.
Millie
Marketing and Communications volunteer

I always look forward to Fridays, my volunteer day at The Purple Elephant Project. I hop out of bed (okay, not hop exactly — more slowly uncurl!) with a smile on my face, looking forward to the day ahead.

My role includes greeting the families and making them comfortable, chatting to them about their week, always making sure I am open to listening to them. Some parents/carers just want to spend their time sitting quietly, some like to share the ups and downs of their week. It is wonderful to get to know the families and see their transition from when they are first referred to us, to how they are at the end of their sessions and the difference it makes by coming here. They enjoy the safe, warm, confidential setting and it really helps them.

My daughter and I were referred to The Purple Elephant Project by a wonderful Social Worker, and it totally changed our lives (I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but it is true). So, I can understand what the families are going through and what a difficult time they sometimes have. I enjoy this part of volunteering the most, and it is so good to be able to give something back.

I make teas and coffees and chat to plants whilst watering them — they are doing very well! Each Friday varies, but I sometimes do light gardening, tidying up, sometimes a shopping trip, or maybe some shredding (love this!). The best part of volunteering here is I find it so rewarding when you see the change in the children, some from very quiet and introverted to excited, happy, outgoing, and the more this happens, the happier parents/carers are. I am blessed to be part of such an amazing team, and it is a privilege to volunteer here with so many lovely, caring people. All week I can’t wait for ‘that Friday feeling.’

An older woman with short white hair smiles at the camera indoors. She wears a light printed top and a necklace.
Carol
Volunteer

Questions?

Please email our recruitment volunteer, Kate, at: [email protected]