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.

Groups meet on weekday evenings across Exeter

Exeter (groups across the city) · Children & young people · Free to volunteer

Scouting for young people aged 4 to 18 across Exeter's groups. Adults help as occasional helpers or leaders; no experience is needed and there's an award-winning training scheme.

How to start: Always seeking adults; no prior experience necessary. Start as an occasional helper, from a few hours a month to a few a week, with training provided. Fill in the form to be put in touch.

• Mon
• Thu

Exeter (Haven Banks) · Children & young people · Free to volunteer

The Sea Cadets unit on Exeter's canal basin, for young people aged 10 to 17. Adult volunteers help run unit evenings and can gain sailing and paddling instructor qualifications.

How to start: Apply through the volunteer form; volunteers can gain qualifications to teach the unit's courses.

Exeter · Children & young people, Food & homelessness

Support young people in YMCA Exeter's housing, café project, exam mentoring, youth club and friendship groups, or help with maintenance and fundraising.

Exeter city centre · Heritage & museums, Arts & festivals

Steward, guide tours (including the roof), tell stories, help at events, in the shop and with education, or join the flower arrangers.

Shifts at partner venues, booked through the volunteer portal

Exeter city centre · Heritage & museums · Free to volunteer

Flexible volunteering across Exeter's heritage sites, from St Nicholas Priory and the Custom House to RAMM and Tuckers Hall: artefact care, gardening, events, front of house and guided tours.

How to start: Apply online; training offered (public engagement, conservation, safeguarding, first aid)

Exeter city centre · Heritage & museums

Guide exhibitions, welcome visitors, run object handling in the galleries or help with research at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.

Not recruiting right now: register interest

The museum building is closed for major structural repairs

Topsham · Heritage & museums · Free to volunteer

Volunteer-run independent museum on the Strand in Topsham. Volunteers help with collections, research and oral history, displays, the garden, publicity and, when open, the shop and tea room.

How to start: New volunteers are given a very friendly welcome, whatever their experience; tell them your interests via the form.

Streatham campus, Exeter · Arts & festivals

Front-of-house audience care and special projects at the Exeter Northcott Theatre.

Not recruiting right now: register interest

Exeter city centre · Arts & festivals

Steward cinema screenings and events, invigilate the galleries or help with festivals and projects at Exeter Phoenix.

Not recruiting right now: register interest

Pride 2026 was on 9 May

Exeter (city centre) · Arts & festivals · Free to volunteer

Exeter's annual Pride march and festival, run by a charity with over 100 volunteers on the day: welcoming visitors, carrying flags, collecting donations and stewarding.

Not recruiting right now: register interest

How to start: No experience necessary; volunteers are trained before the event and can volunteer with friends or be paired with a steward. Health and safety training (online or in person) is required.

Exeter · Sport & events

Marshal courses, staff aid stations or ride as lead cyclist at Exeter running events such as the Quayside 5 series and the Exeter Half.

• 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.

Exeter (RD&E Wonford site; Heavitree) · Health & care, Charity shops

Welcome people to FORCE's cancer support centre at the hospital, help in its snack bar or Heavitree charity shop, or support fundraising events.

Email to ask about current volunteer roles (advice, campaigns and promotions)

Exeter (city centre) · Community centres & groups · Free to volunteer

Independent local charity giving free, confidential advice to Exeter residents by phone and face to face, largely through trained volunteer advisers.

How to start: Email the recruitment address for information about volunteering; volunteers are trained, supported and supervised.

King William Street, Exeter EX4 6PD · Community centres & groups, Health & care

Volunteer at CoLab, a community and wellbeing hub at Wat Tyler House in the city centre.

Not recruiting right now: register interest

• Thu

Jelly shop shifts are usually 10am–1pm or 1–4pm

Exeter (city centre) · Community centres & groups · Free to volunteer

One of Exeter's oldest charities. Volunteers work in its Jelly charity shop, as Transitions wellbeing coaches and mentors, at a weekly Open Studios art group, or as ambassadors and trustees.

How to start: Training and support given for every role; it doesn't have to be a big commitment, some give a couple of hours a week or month. No experience needed for shop roles.