Volunteer for the Rainbow Centre
Who can volunteer?
The Rainbow Centre values diversity and encourages volunteers from all sections of the community.
You will need to be over 18 to volunteer with our client-facing services, but we sometimes have opportunities for under 18s too.
How much time will I have to give?
As much or as little as you wish, please see our vacancies below and you can choose something that matches your availability.
What volunteer opportunities do you have?
We have a wide variety of volunteering opportunities across a range of services, so there is something for everyone.
-
- Family Contact Centre
- FoodStop
- Homeless Support Service
- Breakfast Club
- Reception
- Gardening project
- Folkestone Churches Winter Shelter
- Money First Aid
- Rainbow Food Services
- Shepway Foodbank
- Pantry
- Mobile Pantry & Foodbank
- Rainbow Food Warehouse
- Rainbow Shop
Depending on the service you volunteer for, you could be staffing our reception, serving food to homeless people, serving in the shop, helping children with activities, sorting food, helping people follow a budget, or even making the tea!
All volunteering roles will require references and some also require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This will be completed at no cost to you.
How do I get involved?
Current Vacancies – As at 21/05/25
| Location | Service | Role | Start Time | Finish Time | |
| Monday | |||||
| Tuesday | Cheriton | Shop | Shop assistant | 09:00 | 13:00 |
| Folkestone | FoodStop | Team | 16:30 | 18:30 | |
| Hythe | Warehouse | Sorter & Packer | 08:30 | 12:30 | |
| Wednesday | Cheriton | Shop | Shop assistant | 09:00 | 13:00 |
| Hawkinge/Van | Mobile Food Services | Driver/Server | 09:00 | 12:00 | |
| Thursday | Cheriton | Shop | Shop assistant | 09:00 | 13:00 |
| Cheriton | Shop | Shop assistant | 13:00 | 16:30 | |
| Folkestone | Homeless Support | Breakfast Club | 10:00 | 12:00 | |
| Friday | Folkestone | Homeless Support | Breakfast Club | 10:00 | 12:00 |
| Folkestone | Homeless Support | Breakfast Club | 10:00 | 12:00 | |
| Saturday | Folkestone | FoodStop | Team | 16:30 | 18:30 |
| Flexible | Folkestone | FoodStop | Team | Flexible | Flexible |
| Folkestone | Money First Aid | Mentor | 2hrs | P/W | |
| Folkestone | Money First Aid | Mentor | 2hrs | P/W | |
| Folkestone | Money First Aid | Mentor | 2hrs | P/W | |
| Ad hoc | Various | Warehouse | Sorter & Packer | Ad hoc | Ad hoc |
| Cheriton | Shop | Shop assistant | Ad hoc | Ad hoc | |
| Various | Mobile Food Services | Driver/Server | Ad hoc | Ad hoc | |
| Folkestone | FoodStop | Prep & Service | Ad hoc | Ad hoc |
Alternatively, you can contact us by email, phone or feel free to call into the Rainbow Centre to pick up an application form.
We are open weekdays 9am– 5pm.
Telephone: 01303 850733
Email: volunteering@rainbow-centre.org
Address: 69 Sandgate Road, Folkestone CT20 2AF.
“I have been encouraged and supported to realise potential I didn’t know I had.” A Rainbow Centre Volunteer
“Here you get respect and you have someone you can talk to, and someone who will listen to you. It’s the respect of life.”A guest of the Rainbow Centre
