Volunteer Engagement & Communications Intern

This is a small but growing London-based children’s emotional wellbeing charity. Through joy, adventure and the power of the outdoors, the organisation works to transform the mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable young people referred by social workers, schools and mental health services.

The young people supported may be experiencing complex challenges such as abuse, poverty or neglect. The charity helps them feel valued, successful and resilient through therapeutic adventures, mentoring programmes and countryside-based residential experiences.

Largely volunteer-led, the organisation is supported by hundreds of passionate individuals each year. It has a warm, close-knit culture and is looking for an intern who shares its commitment to changing young people’s stories.

Role Overview

The Volunteer Engagement & Communications Intern will work across the Volunteering and Communications teams, supporting the people and programmes that make the charity’s work possible.

This is a varied and meaningful opportunity combining volunteer coordination, relationship management, digital communications and direct exposure to youth-focused charitable work. The intern will make a tangible contribution to programmes supporting vulnerable young people while developing valuable experience within a small, mission-driven organisation.

Key Responsibilities

The intern may support the team with:

• Assisting with the recruitment and onboarding of new volunteers.

• Supporting the coordination of volunteer training and programme allocation.

• Communicating with volunteers before, during and after their involvement.

• Maintaining accurate volunteer records and supporting general administration.

• Helping to build positive and lasting relationships with volunteers and other stakeholders.

• Writing, producing and editing content for the organisation’s website.

• Creating engaging content for social media channels.

• Supporting the development of email campaigns and volunteer communications.

• Helping to share programme stories, organisational updates and impact.

• Assisting with the planning and delivery of volunteer-related projects.

• Supporting the team in responding to changing priorities and solving day-to-day challenges.

• Participating in one of the charity’s countryside-based residential projects, gaining supervised, face-to-face experience supporting young people.

• Following the organisation’s safeguarding, confidentiality and professional conduct procedures at all times.

As a small and collaborative charity, responsibilities may evolve according to current programmes, campaigns and organisational priorities.

What Are the Required Skills for This Position?

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Excellent organisational and time-management abilities.

• A proactive, adaptable and dependable approach.

• Confidence building and maintaining professional relationships.

• The ability to problem-solve and use initiative appropriately.

• Empathy, patience and emotional awareness.

• The ability to handle sensitive information professionally and confidentially.

• A genuine interest in young people’s welfare, emotional wellbeing or mental health.

• Willingness to work collaboratively as part of a close-knit team.

• An understanding of the importance of safeguarding and professional boundaries.

Previous experience working with young people or within a charity is helpful but not essential.

This Position Enhances the Following Skills

• Volunteer coordination and engagement.

• Project management.

• Stakeholder and relationship management.

• Written, verbal and digital communication.

• Social media content creation.

• Website and email content production.

• Safeguarding awareness and practice.

• Youth engagement and programme support.

• Problem-solving and adaptability.

• Teamwork within a small nonprofit organisation.

• Charity operations and administration.

• Understanding of children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health support.

What Will the Intern Gain?

By the end of the internship, the intern will have:

• Contributed to programmes making a meaningful difference in vulnerable young people’s lives.

• Gained practical experience across both volunteer management and communications.

• Developed an understanding of how a small children’s charity operates.

• Built experience creating content for multiple digital platforms.

• Strengthened their ability to communicate with volunteers and other stakeholders.

• Developed practical project coordination and organisational skills.

• Gained greater awareness of safeguarding and responsible youth engagement.

• Experienced the delivery of a countryside-based residential programme.

• Built transferable skills relevant to careers across the charity, communications, youth and mental health sectors.

What Career Areas Would Be a Good Fit for a Candidate Interested in This Position?

• Charity and nonprofit management.

• Volunteer management and engagement.

• Youth and community work.

• Mental health and wellbeing.

• Social work and social services.

• Communications and public relations.

• Digital marketing and social media.

• Project and programme coordination.

• Corporate social responsibility.

• Fundraising and community engagement.

What Majors Would Be a Good Fit for This Internship?

• Psychology.

• Social Work.

• Sociology.

• Youth or Community Studies.

• Education.

• Communications.

• Marketing.

• Public Relations.

• Media Studies.

• English or Creative Writing.

• Public Health.

• Nonprofit Management.

• Human Services.

• Child Development.

• International Development.

Applicants from other academic backgrounds with a strong interest in youth welfare, mental health, communications or charitable work are also encouraged to apply.

What Industries Does This Organisation Most Closely Align To?

• Charity and nonprofit.

• Children and young people.

• Mental health and emotional wellbeing.

• Youth development.

• Community services.

• Education and mentoring.

• Outdoor learning and therapeutic recreation.

• Volunteer management.

• Communications and digital media.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be warm, empathetic and enthusiastic about supporting young people. They will be comfortable working across different projects, communicating with a wide range of people and contributing wherever needed within a small team.

This role would particularly suit someone who wants to combine purpose-driven communications with practical experience in volunteer engagement and youth-focused charitable work.

Free to Be Kids

We are a growing London based charity supporting children & young people who are struggling with social or emotional difficulties, and helping to create lasting change for vulnerable children's emotional health.

Our volunteers work with disadvantaged children across London to rebuild self-esteem, boost resilience and to help explore challenging emotions and ways of managing. We do this via a range of therapeutic adventures & countryside based respite residentials, in all seasons, as well as through creative term time after school groups.

We work using the inherent power of the outdoors, animals, nature and the arts. We believe in childhood, muddy trainers, new challenges, self expression, and real human relationships. Our aim is to open up a sense of adventure, freedom and possibility for children who are struggling, whatever life's circumstances.

Above all we believe that every child deserves to feel wanted, special and valued and to experience joy and adventure within their childhood. We are largely volunteer run and rely on the support of hundreds of like minded individuals each year.

This internship is unpaid and requires an API program fee starting at $10,599. The fee covers the broader international program, including pre-departure services, housing, local logistics, on-site support, team-building activities, and post-program career support—including career coaching and access to the API Career Hub. Program fees vary by destination, duration, and included services.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

On-site Supervision and Support
Our internships include 24/7 on-site staff to support students working and living abroad. All students will also report to a supervisor at their internship site. Supervisors provide and oversee daily tasks, introduce the intern to team members, and mentor the intern in organizational agility, skill acquisition, and career readiness. Interns complete a midpoint and final evaluation, and supervisors complete a final evaluation of their interns. All work responsibilities and projects are approved in advance.

Academic Credit
Students on an internship have the opportunity to enroll in their home university for credit, or enroll in a course through API to transfer back to their university for credit. Email support-internships@apiexperience.com for more information and a syllabus.

Housing and Excursions
Housing and excursions are included in your internship and will be selectable during the application process.

Visa Sponsorship
This position does not offer visa sponsorship for non-US citizens

Visa Sponsorship (London, Edinburgh, Sydney only)
Selected candidates will be responsible for obtaining a temporary work visa with support from API, please note that this has an additional expense on the candidate. For more information visit our visa page