Colorful window mural for Homeless Advice and Mental Health

Get involved

Volunteer with us

Carlisle Key welcomes the support of volunteers from all sections of the community. If you are 18 years and over, a student, between jobs, retired, or a part-time worker, there is a way for you to get involved.
Volunteering with Carlisle Key is a rewarding way to gain valuable experience, develop new skills, and make a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their home.

We offer a range of volunteer roles, including:

Supporting our drop-in centre by helping young people access advice, food parcels, toiletries, and computers
Assisting with activities and trips, such as Lake District hikes, ice skating, bike rides, and residentials
Helping with fundraising and community events
Office-based support, social media, and administrative tasks

Whether you have a few hours a week or can commit to a longer-term role, your time and talents will help Carlisle Key continue to provide life-changing support for young people in Carlisle.

To register your interest, please complete our volunteer referral form. Once submitted, a member of our team will get in touch to discuss suitable opportunities and answer any questions you may have.

Life changing

- Young person

Volunteers - Job description

Volunteers - Application form 2026

Local business

Become a Carlisle Key business partner

Together, we can make sure that no young person in our community faces homelessness alone.

Local businesses and tradespeople can make a real difference to the lives of young people facing homelessness across Cumbria. By becoming a Carlisle Key Business Partner, you will be helping us provide safe spaces, practical support and opportunities for young people to build a better future.

Businesses can support us through an annual sponsorship of £1,000 to £10,000, helping fund our drop-in centre and the support that young people rely on every day.

We also welcome support from local trades and contractors who are able to help with housing repairs, decorating, maintenance or materials at reduced rates, allowing us to invest more directly into supporting young people.

Four people holding 200 pound donation signs at a food bank.

Sponsorship levels

Bronze Partner - £1,000 per year

Helping provide practical support and advice for young people accessing our drop-in centre.

Silver Partner - £2,500 per year

Supporting counselling, wellbeing activities and emergency assistance for young people in crisis.

Gold Partner - £5,000 per year

Helping fund one-to-one support, housing advice and pathways into education, training and employment.

Platinum Partner - £10,000 per year

Making a significant contribution towards supporting young people experiencing homelessness and securing the future of Carlisle Key.

Interested in becoming a Carlisle Key Business Partner or supporting us through your trade? We'd love to hear from you. Together we can build a stronger community for young people.

Trustees

We currently have three trustees, four permanent members of staff, an apprentice, a part-time counsellor and three part-time volunteers. The trustees will guide the next phase of Carlisle Key’s development and continue our firm commitment to supporting young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Trustees normally meet monthly for formal meetings and are encouraged to attend as many meetings in person as they are able to do so. Trustees are not remunerated, but we do cover reasonable expenses such as travel costs.

Skills and experience

We have a friendly and collaborative culture. Prospective trustees need to be wholeheartedly committed to Carlisle Key’s core work and to be an advocate for the organisation. We don’t ask that you are already an expert in providing support to young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. However, it is important that you’re interested in the challenges that young people face, and it would be useful, but not essential, if you have some knowledge or connections related to some of the topics we work on.

Ideally, we are looking to recruit trustees who have one or more of the following:

Skills and experience of working with or within issues relating to the health, education or similar sectors
Safeguarding
Legal and governance
Commercial business management and development
Planning and strategic management
Previously worked in the voluntary sector
Personnel and HR
Finance or accounting
Organisational culture and/or staff development
Building and sustaining relationships with prospective and existing funders/donors

Essential requirements

Willing to attain an understanding of the UK charity sector and the principles of good governance
A strong team player, who is keen to work collaboratively with other trustees and Carlisle Key’s staff members and volunteers

Inclusion and diversity

We particularly invite applications from women, people from minority ethnic and/or less advantaged backgrounds and younger people. We also welcome applications from those who have not previously served as trustees before.

Carlisle Key Trustee Interest Form