Making a Difference with London Play Design

London Play Design’s Student Volunteer Programme provides opportunities for university students and recent graduates to contribute to projects that support child-friendly play spaces and community gardens across London in partnership with local charities.

Our programme involves supervised, real-world projects where small-scale, carefully considered interventions contribute to meaningful improvements in community spaces. We welcome all volunteers from all disciplines including design, architecture, engineering, journalism, media, marketing, landscape, and sustainability. We provide opportunities for university students and recent graduates to learn and apply new practical skills, to learn about community-led design and build projects, to hone teamwork, creative problem-solving, and leadership skills, and to make a lasting difference in communities by protecting London's adventure playgrounds.

Please note: Our next round of student volunteer recruitment will begin in mid to late August. Please revisit this page then for details on how to apply.

What We Offer

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Hands-On Experience

  • Build real things: help install small, maintainable features—decks, planters, paths, play elements—under supervision.

  • Co-design with communities: turn consultation into sketches, simple build packs and site-ready details.

  • Learn by doing: handle power tools; see how RAMS and sign-off work on a live project.

  • Tell the story: capture before/after photos, short interviews and case notes that become portfolio pieces.

  • Share the impact: create social posts, short reels and newsletters that turn project outcomes into engaging, on-brand content.. 

What our Volunteers do

On-the-Ground Support

Delivery Support Volunteer

  • Support the smooth running of corporate volunteer days in adventure playgrounds

  • Provide hands-on help with building, repairs, and general maintenance tasks

  • Help ensure a safe, enjoyable, and productive experience for all participants

  • Lead small teams of corporate volunteers on assigned tasks when required

  • Participate in briefings and make use of pre-event resources

  • Follow onsite training and task guidance provided by the team

  • Engage in regular check-ins and communicate any support needs throughout the day

Project Support Volunteer

  • Provide hands-on support with building and repairs, including small features like decks, planters, paths, and play elements

  • Collaborate with LPD staff on practical tasks and improvements

  • Contribute ideas to help keep adventure playgrounds safe, engaging, and exciting for children

  • Attend briefings, follow onsite training and guidance, and take part in check-ins

Creative Content

Social Media Volunteer

  • Curate, schedule, and post engaging social media content about corporate volunteer days, construction projects, and play advocacy work

  • Share authentic stories that highlight impact and community value

  • Work closely with the Content Creation Volunteer

  • Help increase reach and visibility to support partnerships and funding opportunities

  • Attend briefings and use provided resources

  • Receive ongoing tasks, feedback, and guidance from the team

  • Take part in scheduled check-ins

  • Contribute ideas and help shape the role over time

Content Creation Volunteer

  • Capture photos and videos during corporate volunteer days, highlighting impact and key moments

  • Create engaging, authentic, and story-driven visual content

  • Work closely with the Social Media Volunteer

  • Support content needs for reports, case studies, website, and social media

  • Attend briefings, follow onsite guidance, and take part in check-ins

Development

Impact Writing Volunteer

  • Write clear, engaging stories about projects and wider themes around play and child-friendly cities

  • Produce impact pieces, including case studies (e.g., before-and-after stories)

  • Conduct site visits, interviews, and work from briefs with facts, quotes, photos, and KPIs

  • Develop accessible explainers on funding/partnership models and design/policy impacts

  • Research and communicate topics such as children’s right to play and the value of community spaces for vulnerable groups

  • Collaborate with the team through briefings, introductions, and ongoing project support

  • Attend scheduled check-ins and receive guidance throughout

  • Contribute ideas and help shape and develop the role over time

Design Volunteer

  • Open exclusively to existing volunteers with substantial experience working with us

  • Use design expertise to develop solutions for construction and maintenance challenges in adventure playgrounds

  • Champion child-led play through thoughtful, inclusive design approaches

  • Work from consultation findings and on-site observations of playgrounds in use

  • Collaborate with studio staff, LPD staff, and project managers

  • Lead projects through all stages, from concept development to prototyping, testing, and delivery

  • Help drive projects forward as a key creative contributor

  • Receive support and increasing responsibility throughout your volunteer journey

  • Contribute ideas and help shape and evolve the role over time

What the Programme includes

Real-World Impact: Help enhance and preserve vital play spaces, enabling children to explore, learn, and grow. 

Skill Development: Develop project management, teamwork, and leadership skills while building a professional network. 

Flexible Schedule: Volunteer roles are on an ad-hoc basis, fitting around your academic commitments. 

Community Engagement: Contribute to London’s neighbourhoods, fostering safe, inclusive, and vibrant play environments. 

Full Support: We cover all travel and meal expenses, provide work clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE), and offer comprehensive supervision and training.

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We currently don’t have available opportunities, but you can email our Student Volunteering & Social Impact Coordinator at rosie@londonplaydesign.org.uk in mid to late August when we'll be looking for volunteers ahead of our Autumn season.

Thank you!