Family Advice Line Volunteer

This is a volunteer opportunity supporting families through our advice line. As a volunteer, you’ll contribute your time to help us offer reliable information and a listening ear. Volunteers are a valued part of our mission, and we aim to make the experience supportive, enjoyable, and meaningful.

Are you looking for an opportunity to use your speech and language therapy expertise in a voluntary capacity to support children and families? As an Advice Line Volunteer, you will contribute to our mission by sharing information about typical development and guidance on how families can support their child’s speech and language needs. You will help families by offering clear information, resources and a listening ear as they navigate concerns around speech and language challenges.

How do our Volunteers help?

• Providing evidence-based information and resources to address families’ concerns.
• Listening empathetically to families and offering supportive guidance.
• Taking part in volunteer training and learning sessions to stay updated on best practice.

Responsibilities and Qualities

What we are looking for: We welcome volunteers who are:

• Passionate: Committed to supporting children and families facing speech and language challenges.
• Empathetic Communicators: Able to actively listen and respond sensitively to callers' needs.
• Reliable: Volunteers take part in a shared rota to ensure the line is covered.
• Team Players: Comfortable volunteering alongside others in a supportive environment.
• Learners: Open to volunteer training and opportunities to develop confidence as a Speech and Language UK volunteer.

We are Speech and Language UK – we want every child to face the future with confidence. For 2 million children in the UK, learning to talk and understand words feel like an impossible hurdle. Without the right help, this can destroy their world. They feel disconnected from their family. Unable to make friends. Unfairly punished for not following instructions they don’t understand.

Why Us

Speech and Language UK is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for children and young people with speech and language challenges. If you’re ready to make a difference in a supportive, mission-driven environment, we’d love to hear from you.

What can you gain from volunteering with us?

• The chance to apply your existing skills in a new way.
• You’ll receive regular support and contact from our Advice Line team.

Skills and Experience

• Qualified speech and language therapists with 3 years experience and direct clinical practice in the last 12 months.
• Qualified speech and language therapist aware of current practice in their area of experience.
• Experience across two or more of the following age ranges – Early Years, Primary, Secondary.
• FERCSLT registration.
• HCPC registration is welcome for practising clinicians.
• Experience offering supportive advice to families or practitioners.
• Comfortable volunteering independently from home.
• Technology: Comfortable using email and Word. Able to follow simple digital instructions. Familiarity with other Microsoft tools is helpful.

Other

• Available to take part in a shared rota to ensure the line is covered. We ask for a commitment of 4 hours per week or fortnight.
• Interest in ongoing learning is welcome.
• Ability to volunteer from a quiet, confidential space.

Practical considerations and time commitment

You’ll receive a full induction, role specific training and ongoing support from your named contact. All regular volunteers are asked to provide references and complete internal training. We ask for most volunteers to offer around 4 hours a week or fortnight. We rely on volunteers giving regular time so families know when we’ll be there for them. All volunteers take part in a shared schedule of volunteer time.

How to Apply

Please submit your up-to-date CV and a supporting statement of no more than two pages, addressing how you meet the criteria outlined in this advert to: jobs@speechandlanguage.org.uk. Due to the nature of this post, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Closing date

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday, 2nd March 2026 with interviews being held via Teams w/c 2nd March and 9th March.

Information session

Come to our online information session on Thursday, 12th February at 2.30 pm. This will be a chance to meet with Speech and Language UK staff and ask questions about the charity and this volunteering opportunity. For further details and to register for the session, please email hr@speechandlanguage.org.uk. This session is optional – please still apply if you can’t make it.

Accessibility Support

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment process is accessible to everyone. If you require any adjustments or need to apply in a different format, please contact our People Team at hr@speechandlanguage.org.uk and we will be happy to assist you. We are Disability Confident Committed under the Disability Confident Scheme.

This is an unpaid voluntary role intended for individuals who want to contribute their professional expertise to support families. It is not an employed position.