How to Volunteer in the Adult Learning Sector

Why adult learning volunteers are needed

Millions of adults in the UK struggle with reading, writing or basic maths. Estimates suggest around 9 million working age adults in England have low literacy or numeracy skills. For some, gaps appeared during their school years and were never addressed. For others, including refugees and recent arrivals, English is a second language they are still learning.

These skills affect daily life in ways that are easy to overlook: reading a letter from the council, understanding a prescription label, working out a household budget, or helping a child with homework. Without them, even routine tasks become difficult.

Volunteers play a genuine part in helping adults build these skills. You do not need teaching qualifications, though patience, adaptability and a willingness to learn are just as important as your own literacy.

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What volunteers actually do

Most volunteer roles involve supporting a qualified tutor rather than leading sessions yourself. You might sit with individual learners during a class, helping them work through exercises at their own pace. Some volunteers listen to adults practise reading aloud, while others help with form filling, basic computer skills or digital literacy such as using smartphones and navigating websites.

Volunteering can take place in various settings: adult education centres, community colleges, libraries, or local charity projects. Some programmes focus specifically on English for Speakers of Other Languages, commonly known as ESOL. These roles often benefit from cultural awareness and sensitivity to the different backgrounds learners bring with them.

There are also opportunities to support adults who can read but face barriers such as visual impairment or learning difficulties. Reading groups and one to one reading partnerships give people a chance to enjoy books with some extra help.

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Who can volunteer and what is expected

You do not need qualifications to volunteer in most adult learning settings, though you will usually need reasonable literacy and numeracy yourself. Some organisations ask for a short interview before placing you with learners. Many providers also offer training sessions that cover approaches to adult learning and what to expect in sessions. A DBS check is standard for most volunteer roles, though requirements vary depending on the organisation and the nature of the work.

Consistency matters. Learners benefit from seeing the same person each week, so most programmes ask for a regular time commitment. This might be a couple of hours once a week over a term or longer. Experience helps, but so does a genuine willingness to support someone working through material that may feel challenging or frustrating.

Many classes run in the evenings, which suits people who work during the day. Some daytime sessions are also available, depending on what is offered locally.

How to find opportunities near you

A good starting point is your local council's adult education service. Most councils in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland run or fund adult learning programmes and welcome volunteer enquiries.

National organisations can also help you find roles. The National Literacy Trust works across the UK on reading and writing initiatives, though direct volunteer opportunities may be concentrated in particular regions or projects. In England, the Education and Training Foundation supports adult learning providers and may direct you to local opportunities. Some Citizens Advice bureaux involve volunteers in helping clients with paperwork, though this varies by location.

Libraries often host adult reading groups or literacy sessions and may need volunteer helpers. Community centres and local charities serving refugees or migrants frequently look for ESOL support volunteers.

You can search for volunteering opportunities through Do It, a UK wide database that lists roles by area and interest. Simply enter your postcode and filter by education or literacy. For government funded programmes and official guidance on adult skills provision, search GOV.UK for adult education or skills funding.

Beyond the contribution you make, volunteering often brings its own rewards: new skills, unexpected connections, and the satisfaction of helping someone gain confidence in abilities that open doors.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Volunteer Role Matcher lets you identifies suitable volunteer opportunities based on your skills, availability, and interests. Try it now →