Volunteer For Us

Help us fund the fight Together we will find a cure

Volunteers are vital to our charity - could you donate your time or skills to our cause?

Our amazing team of volunteers play a vital role in supporting our work. Without their dedicated time and commitment to our cause, our work wouldn’t be possible.

We rely on volunteers who help out in all sorts of ways including:

Supporting us at our Head Office with admin and fulfilment
In the community at fundraising events, by selling Christmas cards on our behalf, or by processing our collection tins.
Virtually from home, supporting our Digital Marketing team with online campaigns and social media.

While every volunteer has different motivations, they all share a common goal: to help us find a cure for brain tumours.

If you wish to volunteer for us, you must be based in the UK. Unfortunately, we cannot accept overseas applications.

Here are just a handful of people who give up their time to volunteer for Brain Tumour Research:

Emma

Emma started volunteering at Brain Tumour Research in October 2017, after her husband Brian had been diagnosed with a brain tumour the previous year. She helps at our Head Office and enjoys the sense of community she gains from her volunteering.

Emma said: “Brian and I had been together for more than 30 years when he was diagnosed with a grade 2 oligodendroglioma after suffering a seizure at home. He underwent surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He now suffers with memory loss and balance issues and has had to give up the career he loved in cyber security.

“I decided to volunteer at Brain Tumour Research to give something back. I am often in, along with other volunteers, helping to send out merchandise to charity supporters for their fundraising events and challenges. I love the sense of community my role as a volunteer brings, as well as working with a regular team each week. We have really got to know each other over the time I have volunteered and I count them as good friends.

“Volunteering also gives me a purpose. I’m not an athlete myself, but it’s great to know I’m helping our incredible supporters that take on big sporting challenges and other events for us.

“Since I started volunteering, I have never looked back. It’s been really nice to meet people in a similar situation and feel part of the community, knowing that I’m helping to make a difference.”

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Shannon and her grandmother, Lorraine

Lorraine started volunteering at the charity’s head office in 2012, to give something back after her granddaughter Shannon had been diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was nine years old.

Lorraine said: “Shannon was diagnosed in 2005 with a craniopharyngioma brain tumour after suffering with headaches. She has undergone quite a number of surgical procedures over the years to remove a cyst, but the tumour itself couldn’t be removed because of its location in the centre of her brain. Shannon also has had radiotherapy, as well as hormone treatment to ensure she continued to grow properly, because the tumour was near the pituitary gland.

“Her most recent craniotomy in 2014, when she was 17, resulted in Shannon losing the sight in her right eye and she has very limited ‘letter box’ vision in her left eye. Shannon now walks with a white cane and has a Labrador Retriever guide dog called Indy, who helps her remain independent.

“Despite living with long-term difficulties as a result of her brain tumour diagnosis, I am so proud of her, and particularly proud that she graduated from the University of Portsmouth with a degree in music and sound technology.

“Shannon and I both volunteer at Brain Tumour Research to give something back. Our tasks often involve sending out merchandise to the charity’s supporters to help them with their fundraising, along with other volunteers. I just love working with the team. People are so nice. It makes me happy to see us making a difference.

“I have also helped by manning the charity’s stall at Christmas fairs and the Bucks County Show.”

Shannon said: “The rewarding aspect of volunteering is how much I have seen the charity grow since I first volunteered during my school summer holidays back in 2013. Witnessing the increase in donations over the years has been a real privilege and I enjoy being treated as part of the team and being welcomed as a staff member.”

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Claire

Claire was diagnosed with an intraventricular meningioma in 2008 and underwent surgery, which left her with life-changing effects including vision loss, memory loss and seizures. Claire joined us as a digital volunteer in 2021, supporting our Digital Marketing team online.

Claire said: “I came across Brain Tumour Research a number of years ago and have done lots of fundraising in the past. I was delighted to come onboard as a digital volunteer in February 2021, helping out with the charity’s 10,000 Steps a Day in February Challenge.

“I monitored the Facebook Group, replying to people’s comments and answering their questions. It was really exciting to be part of the buzz and to cheer on supporters as they took part in the challenge.

“Although my tumour was fully removed, my surgery left me with quite a few physical and cognitive issues which meant I had to give up my job. In one of my previous roles in recruitment, I was interviewing people all the time, and I now run a blog where I interview people affected by a brain tumour from around the world. I encourage people via the blog and through social media. I like talking to people and finding out their personal experiences, so my volunteering was an opportunity for me to utilise my skills and experience, and to boost people’s spirits with a message of encouragement.

“There was a real sense of community on Facebook, which really inspired me. It was great to get involved and be able to support the charity in this way. Although lots of the stories were very emotional, it was nice to know that I could support people I wouldn’t otherwise meet by sending them a nice message or comment.

“My digital volunteering has given me the chance to connect even more with the brain tumour community. To anyone thinking of volunteering for Brain Tumour Research, I would say: go for it and don’t be afraid to ask questions! Everyone is so supportive and helpful; we’re all in this together, like a family.”

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Sally

Sally volunteered at our post-race reception at the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon. She supports the charity after her daughter, Jenna, died from a brain tumour in November 2019, aged 33.

She said: “Jenna was diagnosed with a brain tumour just a few weeks before I was due to run the London Marathon in 2014. I deferred my place for a year but wasn’t able to train as I was taking her to appointments so I gave my spot to a family member.

“I’ve run five marathons for charity previously and spurred a lot of people on to raise money. So, in 2019, I decided I wanted to give something back and volunteered to help at Brain Tumour Research’s post-race reception. I helped decorate the venue with balloons and banners, and also welcomed people when they arrived after their race. It was very busy, but I loved the buzz and the atmosphere on the day.

“Volunteering allowed me to meet lots of people who, like me, knew the pain of a brain tumour diagnosis. I listened to their stories and, although they were very emotional, it was amazing to meet and talk to others in a similar situation to me.

“Jenna was a fighter. She remained positive for the five and a half years after her diagnosis before she died and was always determined to help others. She was an inspiration to a lot of people and I do my bit now to help others in her memory.

“Volunteering is a way for me to support this cause which I am so passionate about. More than that, it’s a way for me to continue Jenna’s legacy and help make a difference for future brain tumour patients and their families.”

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Could you volunteer for Brain Tumour Research?

If you would like to join our wonderful team of volunteers helping us in our mission to find a cure for brain tumours, please complete the registration form.

If you wish to volunteer for us, you must be based in the UK. Unfortunately, we cannot accept overseas applications.