Youth Rangers meet regularly in Exeter's Valley Parks (mostly Mincinglake and Ludwell)

Exeter (Valley Parks) · Conservation & green spaces · Free to volunteer

Help look after Exeter's wild places with Devon Wildlife Trust: a Youth Rangers group for 13 to 18-year-olds in the Valley Parks, plus local group events and practical conservation tasks.

How to start: Youth Rangers are being recruited now: no specialist skills or experience needed, just interest in nature and willingness to work outside. Over-18s who were Youth Rangers can become volunteer youth leaders. Adults can ask the volunteering team or the Exeter Local Group about practical tasks.

Broadclyst · 7 miles from the centre · Conservation & green spaces, Heritage & museums

Conservation work on the Killerton estate and in the house, welcoming visitors, driving the visitor buggy and behind-the-scenes help, plus one-off tree-planting days.

• Wed

Every other Wednesday, 9:30am–3:30pm

Woodbury Common / East Budleigh · 9 miles from the centre · Conservation & green spaces · Free to volunteer

Fortnightly practical work parties on the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths: scrub clearance, path repair and wildlife surveys. Tools are provided and no experience is needed, just a packed lunch.

How to start: No experience necessary; all tools provided; stay for as long as you like.

Haldon, near Kennford · Clean-ups & recycling, Conservation & green spaces

Independent litter picking along Haldon Forest Park's waymarked trails on days that suit you, with equipment and safety kit provided.

Monthly litter pick, 11am–12pm from Devonshire Place Orchard

Exeter (St James) · Clean-ups & recycling · Free to volunteer

Residents and students in St James meet once a month for an hour's litter pick and recycling, in pairs, starting from Devonshire Place Orchard. Everyone welcome; equipment provided.

How to start: Everyone is welcome and all equipment is provided; a mix of ages, and newcomers come along regularly.

Help at the branch's fundraising events

Exeter (branch run from volunteers' homes) · Animals · Free to volunteer

Volunteer-run Cats Protection branch helping Exeter cat owners with neutering advice and costs. Volunteers help at its fundraising events; it no longer rehomes or fosters cats.

How to start: Often looking to welcome new volunteers; as the branch no longer rehomes or fosters, volunteers help at fundraising events. Ring the branch's fundraising officer (number on the page)

Shop volunteering at the Exeter shops (31 Cowick Street

Exeter (Alphington / Bakers Hill) · Animals · Free to volunteer

The RSPCA's Devon branch runs Little Valley Animal Shelter in Exeter, rehoming around 1,000 animals a year. For now it is only taking volunteers for its charity shops, including two in Exeter.

How to start: Roles support the charity shops, offices and shelter, but it is currently only offering retail (shop) roles while other roles are reviewed.

Exeter · Befriending & older people

Visit an older person at home for about an hour a week, make friendly phone calls, help in the community café or give information and advice.

• 3rd Sat10am

Exeter (St Thomas) · Repair & reuse · Free; donations welcome

A monthly repair café in St Thomas where volunteers mend clothes, small electricals, toys, crockery and small furniture. Repairers, refreshment helpers and welcomers are wanted.

How to start: Bring one item per visit; repairs by donation. Volunteers without repair skills are welcome for customer service or refreshments.

About every two months on a Tuesday, 11am–3pm (2026: 27 Jan, 24 Mar, 2 Jun, 20 Oct)

Streatham campus, Exeter · Repair & reuse · Free to volunteer

Free repair café in the Forum Library's Digital Maker Space, open to students, staff and local residents. Volunteers with repair, sewing or electronics skills help people fix broken items.

How to start: Volunteers include university staff, students and members of local repair cafés; email to volunteer.