If you’re already one of our fantastic volunteers, then this Hub is for you! You can find useful information and resources, and we regularly share news and updates to do with volunteering at Cancer Research UK. Find everything you need to know about your time with us in the Welcome to Volunteering booklet.
View the Welcome to volunteering booklet(PDF, 3.42 MB)
Watch the Welcome to volunteering video
Race for Life is back for 2026! Each year, our amazing team of volunteers support hundreds of Race for Life events right across the UK, and we always need more people to help. We’re looking for volunteers to cheer on participants, help them make their way around the course and hand out medals at the finish line. As well as having fun and soaking up the atmosphere, you’ll be helping us beat cancer. Interested? Sign up today
Karen and her husband Phil first signed up to volunteer 20 years ago at their local Race for Life event. Karen had sadly lost her mum to cancer, and they wanted to do something to help. The dynamic duo has continued to give their time year after year, from setting up the course and issuing replacement running numbers, to back marking and cheering on participants as they cross the finish line.
With your support, we're funding the breakthroughs that matter.
Breakthroughs are new discoveries that could help us beat cancer. Because of breakthroughs that matter, cancer survival in the UK has doubled over the past 50 years.
But our work isn’t done yet. Right now, our researchers are making discoveries that could change how we prevent, diagnose and treat cancer, bringing hope to millions of people now and in the future.
Every hour you give as a volunteer helps to make progress possible. Visit our Breakthroughs Hub to find out more about how our science is making a difference for people affected by cancer.
We’ve announced an important change to our retail operations that will impact some of our shop volunteers.
We love hearing our volunteers' stories! If you'd like to share your volunteering experiences with us, please complete our 'Share Your Story' form below. You can tell us what inspired you to start volunteering, what you enjoy, and what you might say to anyone thinking about getting involved.
A variety of online badges have been created to help you share your love of volunteering with friends and family.
Help us spread the word by downloading and sharing on your social media or adding one to an email signature - you never know who you might inspire to help out too!
Volunteering has many benefits, from boosting your wellbeing to giving you the opportunity to learn and develop new skills. At Cancer Research UK, we are really grateful for the support you give us, and we want to make sure that you have an enjoyable, rewarding and satisfying volunteering experience. Our wellbeing and development page is full of useful resources to help you make the most of your time with us.
We exist to beat cancer. And beating cancer means beating it for everyone. We want everyone at Cancer Research UK to feel part of an inclusive team, where our differences are valued, we have fair and equal opportunities to succeed and everyone can thrive. As a volunteer with us, it’s important you understand and embody our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) values.
Read more about EDI at Cancer Research UK(PDF, 2.02 MB)
Join our Talk Cancer online workshop to feel more confident in having supportive conversations about how people can reduce their risk of cancer, the importance of early diagnosis, and cancer screening. The Talk Cancer training is created by nurses, with workshop content always backed up by the latest cancer evidence.
We were delighted to have been awarded the Investing in Volunteers accreditation for good practice in volunteer management. We appreciate the amazing impact that our volunteers have on our mission to beat cancer. This accreditation is our commitment that we’ll do all we can to give back to our volunteers as much as you give to us.
To talk to others affected by cancer. Or if you have questions about cancer, you can speak to one of our nurses on freephone, Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm, 0808 800 4040.
If you have any questions about volunteering, please speak to your staff contact or email us.
