Volunteer HubVolunteer Hub
Welcome to the Volunteer Hub
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.
Latest Updates
National Inclusion Week
At Cancer Research UK, we’re committed to building an inclusive culture where all our staff and volunteers feel like they belong and can contribute to our success, so that we can make the fastest progress for everyone affected by cancer.
EDI touches every part of our work – and we all have a part to play in making sure everyone feels like they can belong, benefit from and participate in the work we do. This week is National Inclusion Week (15 – 21 September 2025), a chance to celebrate inclusion and reflect on how we can all help to create a welcoming and respectful culture.
If you’ve got ten minutes to spare, take a look through our refreshed equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) guide for volunteers, which highlights why EDI matters and how to speak up if you have questions or concerns.
Ahmad’s story
At Cancer Research UK, we want to make sure that everyone who gives us their time has an enjoyable and rewarding volunteering experience. Ahmad started volunteering in the Canterbury Shop 3 years ago and has been supported every step of the way by Beata, his shop manager, to help him get the most out of his volunteer role.
“Volunteering is good for your social life, and everyone’s very friendly. I started volunteering to help the community and because I enjoy the experience. Doing customer service also helps me a lot with my autism. There’s more interacting with people and learning more skills. I’d never done cashier experience before, but I did some training, and now I’ve became an expert.”
Ahmad has also worked with Beata to make adjustments where needed so that his volunteering role works alongside his faith, making sure he feels comfortable and confident during his time with us. Ahmad says:
“During Ramadan, I usually change my times and do shorter hours during that period. Because of my faith, I also cannot ask customers for lottery tickets. Instead, I do round-ups as the alternative.”
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
This September we’re recognising Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) across our network of shops and superstores. CCAM is an internationally recognised campaign that raises awareness and support for children’s and young people’s cancers.
Gold is the international symbol for Childhood Cancer Awareness, and to show our support for the campaign, our shops across the country will be ‘going gold’ by creating yellow and gold window displays this September.
Thank you to all our shop volunteers who are getting stuck into creating eye-catching displays, all in the hopes of increasing awareness of cancers that affect children and young people. If you’re a Cancer Research UK shop volunteer, here’s some other ways you can get involved and support the campaign:
- Encourage customers to pick up a gold pin badge to show their support. And why not grab one yourself and wear it throughout the month?
- Wear one of our brand new gold coloured Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People tabards throughout September.
- Help your team keep the window displays filled with yellow and gold stock during the campaign.
- Take a moment to read the CCAM posters in your shop or superstore. They feature real stories from children and young people.
Thank you for everything you’re doing to support CCAM – your support of this campaign will allow us to drive even more progress for children and young people with cancer.
Join one of our Shine Night Walk events
We’re on the lookout for volunteers to help light up the night at our Shine Night Walk events, which are running across the UK in September and October.
Our Shine events are full of energy, incredible stories and are a favourite for many of our event volunteers – including Mark, who has been volunteering at Shine London since the event first began in 2011. He shares why he loves volunteering and what keeps him coming back each year.
“It’s always a great experience. The team of staff and volunteers are really supportive in the run up to the event and on the night. I always feel very proud to have played a part in helping to raise vital funds for Cancer Research UK. My favourite part of volunteering at Shine London is providing moral support to walkers when some are struggling. Having walkers come up to you at the finish, proudly wearing their medal and huge smile, thanking you for your support out on route, is a fantastic experience.
“People should sign up to volunteer as it’s a great experience, no matter what role you do. You develop new skills and meet so many amazing people. Everyone becomes a big team, and there will be Cancer Research UK staff and experienced volunteers on hand, plus lots of new ones, all supporting each other. Shine Night Walk has become one of the highlights of my year and I'm really looking forward to Shine London 2025!”
Welcome to volunteering with Cancer Research UK
We want you to get the most out of volunteering with us and feel supported. Your volunteer manager will be able to tell you more about how we can support you in your role.
The Welcome to Volunteering booklet has been designed for volunteers as an overview of everything you need to know about your time with us. It includes volunteer stories, our commitment to you, and outlines why volunteers like you are vital to Cancer Research UK.
Our Welcome to Volunteering video outlines how the time you give supports vital work so that Cancer Research UK can continue to make progress.
Watch the video:
Shop Volunteer, Margaret, and Events Volunteer, Mike, have also shared their experiences of volunteering.
When you join us we want you to feel supported, updated and a valued member of our volunteering community. We welcome and appreciate your feedback at any time.
Sharing your experiences
Share your story with us
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.
Share your love of volunteering with our online badges
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!
Your volunteering resources and information
Your wellbeing and development
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.
Talking about cancer and health
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.
Cancer support
To talk to others affected by cancer, visit our Cancer Chat forum. 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.
Equality, diversity and inclusion at Cancer Research UK
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.
Investing in our volunteers
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.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about volunteering, please speak to your staff contact or email volunteering@cancer.org.uk.