Volunteer with us
Help a Young Person Discover What They're Capable Of
Volunteering with Basecamp isn't just about giving your time.
It's about sharing adventures, building confidence and helping young people discover what's possible.
Why volunteer?
We are a people-oriented organisation and our staff & volunteers are the backbone of what we do. We want staff and volunteers to feel seen, heard and valued for the work they do. As a result of volunteering with us, you could:
Make a real difference to the lives of young people
Experience new activities and adventures
Meet new likeminded people and make new friends, on Adventure Trips and at our Staff & Volunteer Adventure Socials
Develop confidence from pushing yourself out of your comfort zone (yes, what we do applies to adults to!)
Gain access to high-quality training in the industry, such as Restorative Practice and Coaching & Mentoring, which provides professional development & experience for other areas of your career
Develop skills in a wide-range of areas, such as facilitating group sessions, bushcraft and social emotional self-awareness
Improve your physical and mental wellbeing
MEET Gilly
“Volunteering with Basecamp is honestly one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I show up ready to give it my all, yet I come away with so much more than I ever anticipated. Walking alongside the young people as they take on the great outdoors - the highs, the challenges, the moments of doubt and the bursts of confidence - has been incredible. I’ve seen so much vulnerability, courage and resilience in all the young people taking part and learnt so much from them.”
- Gilly, Programme Volunteer
The roles
We’re currently accepting applications for the following two roles for the upcoming 2026/27 academic year.
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Programme Volunteer
You'll spend three unforgettable days supporting young people as they hike, kayak, reflect, laugh, challenge themselves and discover confidence they didn't know they had.
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Videography Volunteer
Capture life-changing moments while immersing yourself in a host of adventure activities. Use your footage to create an end of programme wrap-up film featuring the stars of our programme: Our Young People.
application process
Apply Online.
Attend an informal interview (30 mins) with our Volunteer Coordinator, Anna.
Provide character references, complete a DBS check and sign up to 2 x Adventure Trips.
Attend a Training & Induction Day in Leeds; sign key policies, get added to our communication channels and receive your volunteer kit.
Begin the adventure!
If you have any questions or want to learn a little more about either of our roles then please get in touch with Anna, by phone on 07498 415838 or email at anna@basecamp.org.uk.
FAQ’s
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No, not necessarily. Any experience you do have is helpful but a keen attitude and an open-minded approach is what we are looking for. Plus, we'll give you lots of training and support .
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Our first Residential Trip, in October, takes place in Malham. The remaining residentials from December to June will take place in various locations in the Lake District including Borrowdale, Windermere and Penrith.
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We ask volunteers to commit to two Adventure Trips a year. They take place between October and June and last for 3 days, mid-week, in term-time.
Some of our current volunteers work part-time and arrange their hours around this. Others get volunteering leave, take annual leave or are retired/studying.
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All meals are included with the exception of lunch on the first day and any snacks you may want to bring.
Accommodation is also provided, and will consist of shared same-sex dorm rooms or tent camping.
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Yes, we offer to make a contribution towards the cost of mileage for all volunteers. Here's a few guidelines taken from our policy:
Claims may be made for journeys from home to our residentials and volunteer training. Mileage can be reclaimed at a rate of 25p per mile.
Only the driver is eligible to claim for the journey.
Claiming mileage expenses is optional.
To ensure the cost effectiveness of our programmes we undertake to staff our residential trips with locally based volunteers as far as is possible. However, want to ensure our residentials are staffed with the right number of volunteers with the right mix of skills, so volunteers do not strictly need to be based in the Leeds area.
To avoid confusion, the maximum claim for a residential or volunteer training is £50 for a return journey.
These upper limits cover travel on public transport, car hire costs (inclusive of fuel) and mileage claims.
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Yes, of course. You are under no obligation to keep volunteering for us if it isn’t for you. We ask that you speak with a member of our team before stopping to discuss what you feel would improve your time as a volunteer.
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Not at all although we welcome any and all outdoor experience. Our activity facilitators have all the necessary qualifications required to host all of our outdoor activities, allowing you to be an active participant focused on having fun and supporting our young people.
