Make a Difference with London Play Design

Are you a student or recent graduate who wants your skills to drive social change? Join London Play Design’s Student Volunteer Programme and help make London more child-friendly by improving play spaces and community gardens in partnership with local charities.

Work with us on supervised, real projects where small, well-made interventions add up to big community impact. Bring your curiosity and craft (design, architecture, engineering, journalism, media, marketing, landscape, sustainability); leave with purpose, portfolio pieces, and places that work better for children.

Please Note: 

  • You must currently study at a UK educational institution or have recently graduated. 

What We Offer

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.. 

Open to All Student Levels 

  • Undergraduate, postgraduate, and recent graduates are all welcome.

  • Flexible commitment that fits timetables and deadlines (one-off or ongoing).

  • Close supervision & mentoring from our design, build and comms leads.

  • Interdisciplinary welcome: design, architecture, engineering, journalism, media, marketing, landscape, sustainability and more.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

On-the-Ground Support

Delivery Support Volunteer

  • Commitment: Ad hoc (5 days minimum over 4 months) or regular, e.g. fixed days per week

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

  • 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

  • Commitment: 3–10-week placement on a project

  • 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

  • Commitment: Ongoing (3–10-week placement)

  • 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

  • Commitment: Ad hoc (5 days minimum over 4 months) or regular, e.g. fixed days per week

  • 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

  • Commitment: 2–12-month placement

  • 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

  • Commitment: 3–12-month placement

  • 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

If our cause speaks to you, get in touch and tell us your skills and interests; we’ll do our best to find a fit.

Please note: The opportunities depend on live projects and supervision. We only bring volunteers in when there’s real work to do and proper support. If it isn’t possible right now, we’ll keep your details for future roles.

Why Volunteer with Us?

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.

How to Apply

If you’re passionate about community development and want hands-on experience, we’d love to hear from you! Please send your CV and a short cover letter (a couple of paragraphs) outlining why you’re interested in volunteering with London Play Design, your current status (e.g. full-time student, recent graduate, etc.) and any relevant experience to: rosie@londonplaydesign.org.uk

We look forward to welcoming you to our team and working together to make London a better place for children to learn, play, and thrive.