Arts and culture play an essential role in our everyday lives, especially in a city like London. Volunteer your time to make sure arts and culture are accessible to everyone.   

Here we list eight organisations you can volunteer with, take advantage of opportunities such as music classes, art debates, and museum visits to further develop your skills and passions!  

1. Bloomsbury Festival  

Established in 2006, Bloomsbury Festival is an annual celebration of the borough’s creativity, presenting an inspiring programme of culture, arts, science, literature, performance, discussion and debate. For ten days each October, the borough hosts up to 130 events.   

You can support their cause as an:  

• Event Steward Volunteer, represent the festival and welcome the audience at various events and venues. 
• Social Media Intern, monitor, create and post social media content across the festival's various channels. 

• Volunteer Coordinator, work with the Festival Director and Festival Manager to supervise the volunteer team during the festival. 

2.Royal Opera House 

The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and a five minutes' walk from Strand Campus, is home to world-class ballet, opera, and theatre arts. Their mission is to bring culture to everyone, by making ballet and opera an option for all. 

Click on their profile to keep updated with the opportunities you can get involved in.  

3. Art Explora UK Ltd  

Art Explora UK aims to build new forms of access, participation and engagement with arts and culture by working in partnership with artists, cultural organisations and communities to create unforgettable cultural experiences.  

You can support their cause as an:  

• Arts at Home Volunteer, by supporting older people to access arts and culture, and encourage conversation and connection through art. 

4. The Orwell Foundation   

Inspired by Orwell’s values of integrity, decency and fidelity to truth, the Orwell Foundation aims to offer a platform for debate and discussion designed to appeal to the widest possible public audience. Through prizes, events, workshops and resources, the Orwell Foundation connects everyone to whom George Orwell and his writings are a source of inspiration. 

You can support their cause as:  

• A reading volunteer for the Orwell Youth Prize, provide feedback on essays and poems and encourage young people to think and write about the world they live in. 

5. 575 Wandsworth Road - National Trust 

575 Wandsworth Road, a modest terraced house in south London from the outside, holds beautiful and unique interiors hand-crafted by Kenyan poet and civil servant Khadambi Asalache.  Read about King’s student, Fatima Kashtwari volunteer experience with the property.  

Opportunities will be live from October ‘23. Keep an eye on their profile for updates.  

6. In - Deep  

In-Deep Community is a grassroots charity working with isolated older people and disabled children and their families in Westminster, Lambeth and the surrounding areas. They aim to promote friendship and understanding in the community, by bringing people together to take part in meaningful activities.  

You can support their cause as a: 

• Music therapy volunteer, support the running of music therapy sessions for children and young adults with aged 3 to 25.  
• Volunteer at over 50’s lunches or over 50’s dinners. Meet older people with amazing stories and make a practical and emotional difference to their lives.  

7.Horniman Museums and Gardens 

Open since Victorian times, The Horniman Museum is home to extraordinary collections of Anthropology, Musical Instruments, Natural History as well as an Aquarium and a Butterfly House. They aim to engage visitors with global cultures and the environment and contribute to shaping a positive future for our planet.  

If you would like to support their cause, keep an eye on their profile for volunteering opportunities.  

8.St. Mary Le strand  

St Mary Le Strand is a Church of England Parish Church and a Sanctuary at the heart of the Strand-Aldwych District, but also a place where people come together, reflect and enjoy a sense of shared cultural heritage. 

They provide various volunteering opportunities year-round. Visit their profile for updates. 

Questions about volunteering? Contact the King's Volunteering team at volunteer@kcl.ac.uk to discuss your ideas and get advice.