Volunteering

Global Support Link has provided volunteering opportunities within our NGO partners since 2008.

In 2024, we have updated our volunteering programme to strengthen our positive commitment and impact!

GSL Volunteering Summary:

GSL seeks to transform volunteering by moving beyond traditional "helping" models that often perpetuate complex issues, focusing instead on locally-led, systemic change. Our approach focuses on educating and facilitating others through strategic thinking, local leadership, and genuine collaboration. By fostering collective action, GSL aims to create measurable outcomes and lasting impact.

We prioritise "strategic doing," developing solutions that disrupt systems of inequality and injustice. Partnering with local organisations, NGOs, academic institutions, governments, and businesses, GSL co-creates community-led volunteering programs that build resilience and address social and environmental challenges at their core. Rejecting aid dependency and white saviourism, we champion ethical, respectful, and equitable volunteering practices.

Initially, senior volunteers will meet with local communities—such as in Cameroon, Nepal, Malawi, and India—where GSL has contacts, to co-develop plans with local NGOs, providing them with essential training in strategic and project planning, equipping them to manage direct funding. Once plans are in place, volunteers will be recruited to support implementation in areas like IT, education, and healthcare. IT, education, healthcare, agriculture, business building and engineering.

Our GSL volunteers will act as ambassadors with the main emphasis of the transformative process being shifted to the local community. In other words, the local community takes centre stage.

Types of Volunteering:

  • Individual

    This programme is for adults looking to share individual skills and experience often in a teaching or youth development setting at one of our partner NGO’s. This could include teaching English in Thailand or supporting an education programme in Nepal or developing sustainable businesses for single mothers.

    We also offer volunteers with higher levels of skills and experience the opportunity to help develop strategic, operational and technical policies with overseas partners. These could include developing strategic volunteering policies, training in project management, putting in place operating procedures, developing renewable energy and water management processes.

    Highlights

    So far, our individual volunteer programmes have…

    - helped build and found corporate finance for a biogas unit in Cameroon

    - helped build and found finance for a school for abandoned children in Nagaland

    - run a children sponsorship program and transferred responsibility to local staff

    - developed and found funding for sustainable single-mother business development

    - developed a health education programme

    - helped NGOs develop fund raising

    As we build upon our commitment to helping small NGO’s and communities around the globe, our aim is to continue creating a positive impact through educating and advising local groups and individuals, by passing on vital leadership skills and experience to be implemented by them more autonomously and longer term.

    Teaching in Thailand

    Have you ever considered passing on your knowledge and experience as a teacher?

    The Thai government want children to learn English and are always looking for native speakers to help. Currently, there is a real struggle for Thai children to “dare to speak”.

    We work with a Thai partner organisation who offer short, medium and long-term volunteer teaching opportunities in city and countryside schools and for novice monks.

    This could be your chance to make a real difference while also immersing yourself in Thai culture and living!

    Find out more and apply

  • Corporate

    This programme focuses on mobilising the skills, energy and commitment of businesses and their employees to work together on specific challenges facing our partner NGO’s. This could include developing innovative solutions to water harvesting, supporting medical outreach to rural communities or creating sustainable business plans so that local communities may support themselves.

    Highlights

    So far, our corporate volunteer programmes have…

    - provided staff to help design biogas units

    - developed health education programs

    - run a program for a multinational company to support the entrepreneurial aspirations of non-profits and social enterprises

    - carried out a feasibility study for a renewable energy program in Nagaland

    Group mentoring for local NGO’s

    Global Support Link are on the lookout looking for companies or company-sponsored individuals to help develop a mental health program in Cameroon.

    As part of CSR/ESG, you may wish to send a team overseas to mentor and help local NGO’s develop strategies, programs and volunteering programs in accordance with their needs.

    Global Support Link can help your company develop these programs by drawing upon our collective expertise in volunteer management, community engagement, and strategic planning, offering consultancies tailored to your requirements.

    Some examples include:

    - developing comprehensive volunteering frameworks

    - designing impactful volunteer-led community projects

    - evaluating volunteer programme effectiveness

    By partnering with nonprofits, social enterprise, government agencies, businesses,and academic institutions, we aim to strengthen volunteering ecosystems and create sustainable solutions to social challenges worldwide.

    GSL aims to scale its operations to a social enterprise while realising its vision of building a better, fairer, and more equitable world through transformative and impactful volunteering initiatives.

    Find out more and apply
Two women walking on a narrow dirt trail through a green, hilly terrain, carrying wood on their backs, wearing traditional clothing and head coverings.
Group of diverse people standing and kneeling outdoors on a patch of earth during daytime, with trees and a wooden fence in the background, some holding tools, possibly for a construction or community project.
A classroom filled with students in uniforms along with a teacher, all smiling, with educational posters on the walls.
Group of people standing outdoors near large black water tanks and a vehicle, with trees and nature in the background.

Would you like to join our Board as a Trustee?

Following an internal review, and during this period of consolidation and growth, the Board has agreed to strengthen its governance and capacity by appointing two additional Trustees.

New Trustee Roles

1. Treasurer

We are seeking a Trustee to serve as Treasurer, with responsibility for oversight of all financial matters of the charity.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Ensuring effective financial management, record keeping, and reporting to the Board.

  • Overseeing statutory financial returns, including to OSCR.

  • Managing and developing systems for Gift Aid.

  • Drafting and maintaining financial policies and procedures.

  • Providing clear financial information to support good governance and strategic growth.

This role does not require a qualified accountant. We are looking for someone with sound financial skills, attention to detail, and an interest in supporting the charity to grow sustainably.

2. International Development Representative (Overseas Partner Trustee)

We are also seeking to appoint a Trustee based outside the UK, to represent the perspective of our international partners.

Key qualities include:

Direct experience of working in or with community-based organisations.

Understanding of the challenges and opportunities in international development.

Commitment to strengthening GSL’s partnerships through insight, representation, and constructive challenge.

Enthusiasm for the mission of GSL and a willingness to actively contribute to Board discussions and decision-making.

What We’re Looking For:

We welcome applications from individuals who are committed, enthusiastic, and willing to share their experience to help GSL grow stronger. Trustees should be collaborative, values-driven, and able to contribute actively to our vision and governance.

If you are interested in one of these roles, please contact us at hello@globalsupportlink.org with a CV and a covering letter.

Our Latest Volunteer Roles

1. Fundraising Volunteer

We are seeking a volunteer with an interest in fundraising and resource development. This role will involve identifying potential funding sources, such as companies, charitable foundations, and grant opportunities. The volunteer will also support us in exploring online tools for income generation, including crowdfunding platforms and the effective use of Google Ads. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys research, has creative ideas for income generation, and can help us grow our financial sustainability.

2. Monitoring and Evaluation Volunteer

We are looking for a volunteer to help us reflect on and document the work we have carried out through our Global Support Link projects. This will involve reviewing our history of completed projects, preparing short written summaries of each, and evaluating their outcomes and impact. The role will require close communication with our overseas partners to gather information and insights. It is well-suited to someone who is thorough, organised, and interested in learning more about international development project monitoring.

3. Communications and Social Media Volunteer

We would like a volunteer to strengthen our communications and online presence. This role will involve refreshing and developing content for our website, increasing activity on social media channels, and building engagement with our wider community. The volunteer will also explore new ways to share our story and connect with supporters. This role is ideal for someone with skills or enthusiasm in communications, digital media, or marketing, who wants to make a tangible difference in helping us raise our profile.

If you are interested in one of these roles, please contact us at hello@globalsupportlink.org with a CV and a covering letter.