Get Involved

Volunteer With SCD Nigeria

Give your time, skills, and compassion to support children and young people who need it most. Volunteering with SCD is one of the most meaningful ways to contribute to positive change in your community.

Why Volunteer?

Your Time Can Change a Life

Volunteering with SCD is not simply a way to give back — it is an opportunity to be part of something that makes a real and lasting difference to the lives of children and young people who are navigating genuine adversity. Our volunteers are a vital part of the SCD community, bringing skills, perspectives, and commitment that enrich our programmes and extend our reach.

Whether you contribute a few hours a week as a mentor, share your professional expertise in a specialist capacity, or support our community engagement activities — your involvement matters. The young people we work with benefit directly from every hour of skilled, compassionate volunteer time that SCD is able to offer.

Express Your Interest
SCD volunteer supporting young people in Nigeria
The Value of Volunteering

What You Gain as an SCD Volunteer

Volunteering at SCD is a mutual exchange. You bring your time and skills; SCD provides a structured, well-supported, and professionally enriching volunteering experience that develops you as well as the young people you serve.

SCD takes its responsibility to volunteers as seriously as its responsibility to staff. Every volunteer is inducted into SCD's values, frameworks, and safeguarding requirements, provided with regular support from a designated supervisor, and given the training needed to contribute effectively and safely to our work.

Our volunteers consistently tell us that their time at SCD has deepened their understanding of child development, social disadvantage, and community-based support — and that the relationships they have built with young people and staff have been among the most rewarding of their professional and personal lives.

We ask for a minimum commitment of six months from our volunteers, with at least four hours per week. This consistency matters — the young people we work with benefit most from regular, reliable relationships, and volunteers who can offer that stability make the greatest difference.

1
Meaningful Contribution

Direct, tangible impact on the lives of children and young people who benefit from every skilled, caring interaction.

2
Professional Development

Training in trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, and youth work — valuable skills applicable across education, social care, health, and community development.

3
Structured Support

Regular supervision from an experienced SCD coordinator, ensuring you are never working alone and always have professional guidance available.

4
Community Connection

Become part of a national network of individuals committed to the wellbeing of Nigeria's young people — building relationships that extend beyond your volunteering role.

5
Reference and Recognition

A verified SCD volunteer reference upon completion of six months' active volunteering — recognised by employers in social care, education, health, and the voluntary sector.

6
Pathway to Employment

Many SCD staff members began as volunteers. Volunteering is an excellent way to gain the experience and confidence needed to pursue a career in youth work or social care.

How You Can Help

Volunteer Roles at SCD

SCD offers a range of volunteering opportunities suited to different skills, availability, and interests. Every role contributes directly to our mission.

Most In Demand

Youth Mentor

Provide consistent one-to-one support to a young person aged 11–18 — offering guidance, encouragement, and a trusted adult relationship that many of our young people have rarely experienced.

  • Weekly sessions of 1–2 hours with your mentee
  • Structured programme with clear goals and review points
  • Training provided: mentoring skills and safeguarding
  • Supported by a Mentoring Coordinator throughout
  • Minimum commitment: 6 months
Community

Community Awareness Volunteer

Support SCD's community outreach and awareness-raising activities — helping to deliver safeguarding awareness sessions, community events, and family engagement activities alongside our Community Engagement Workers.

  • Assist with community sessions and events
  • Support distribution of information materials
  • Help with translation and community liaison
  • Training in safeguarding awareness provided
  • Flexible commitment negotiable
Skills-Based

Life Skills Session Facilitator

Bring your professional expertise to support our Life Skills Development programme — co-facilitating structured sessions on topics including communication, financial awareness, employability, health, and civic responsibility.

  • Co-facilitate weekly or fortnightly group sessions
  • Contribute specialist knowledge in your professional area
  • Work alongside trained SCD Life Skills Workers
  • Full induction and session preparation support provided
  • Minimum 3-month commitment per programme cohort
Admin

Administrative Volunteer

Support SCD's administrative team with data entry, filing, correspondence, event preparation, and other operational tasks — freeing up staff time to focus on direct work with young people.

  • Office-based or remote support available
  • Tasks matched to your skills and availability
  • Valuable insight into NGO operations and social care
  • Suitable for students, recent graduates, and career changers
  • Flexible hours, minimum 4 hours per week
Specialist

Professional Skills Volunteer

Share your professional expertise to strengthen SCD's internal capacity — in areas including IT, finance, legal, communications, research, graphic design, training facilitation, or other specialist skills.

  • Project-based contributions tailored to your expertise
  • Collaborate with SCD's management and programme teams
  • Make a strategic as well as operational difference
  • Suitable for professionals, academics, and executives
  • Commitment negotiated based on project scope
Events

Events and Activities Volunteer

Support SCD's programme activities, community events, and young people's engagement activities — helping to create positive, memorable experiences that form an important part of our young people's development.

  • Support organised activities, trips, and events
  • Assist with setting up and facilitating group activities
  • Contribute to a positive, safe, and enjoyable environment
  • Suitable for those seeking an active, participatory role
  • Event-based commitment — flexible scheduling
Eligibility

Who Can Volunteer at SCD?

SCD welcomes volunteer applications from a wide range of individuals — students, professionals, retirees, community members, and people with lived experience of the challenges our young people face. What matters most is not a particular professional background, but the qualities, values, and commitment that you bring.

All volunteers must be aged 18 or over. Volunteers who work directly with young people — particularly in mentoring, life skills facilitation, and residential activities — will be required to complete an enhanced background check and to provide two personal or professional references before commencing their role.

We particularly welcome applications from individuals with lived experience of adversity, family difficulties, or the care system — because the authentic connection that lived experience can enable is one of the most powerful elements of effective volunteer mentoring. SCD provides the training and supervision to channel that experience safely and productively.

If you are unsure whether you would be a suitable volunteer, we encourage you to contact us. We will be honest with you about whether a volunteer role at SCD is right for you, and happy to discuss what kind of involvement would best suit your skills, experience, and availability.

The Qualities We Value

Genuine Commitment

Consistency matters to the young people we work with. Reliable, committed volunteers make the greatest difference.

Respect for Young People

Every volunteer must share SCD's belief in the inherent dignity and potential of every child and young person.

Empathy and Patience

The ability to listen, withhold judgement, and engage with warmth and patience — especially when young people present challenges.

Openness to Learning

Willingness to complete required training and supervision, and to reflect honestly on your own practice.

Professional Conduct

Adherence to SCD's code of conduct, professional boundaries, and safeguarding requirements at all times.

Cultural Sensitivity

Respect for the diverse cultural, religious, and community backgrounds of the young people and families SCD serves.

What to Expect

SCD's Commitment to Volunteers

We take our responsibilities to our volunteers as seriously as our responsibilities to our young people. Here is what every SCD volunteer can expect.

What SCD Provides

We never ask volunteers to give their time without providing the structure, support, and training that enables them to contribute safely and effectively.

Comprehensive induction to SCD's values, frameworks, and safeguarding requirements before you begin

Training in trauma-informed practice and safeguarding — relevant and applicable beyond your SCD role

A named volunteer supervisor who is available for guidance and support throughout your placement

Regular supervision sessions — individual or group — to support your practice and wellbeing

Clear boundaries, expectations, and role descriptions so that you always know what is required of you

A verified reference and formal recognition of your contribution after six months of active service

Reimbursement of reasonable travel and out-of-pocket expenses incurred in your volunteering role

What We Ask of Volunteers

In return for SCD's investment in your training, supervision, and support, we ask that volunteers commit to the following.

A minimum commitment of six months, with at least four hours of volunteering per week

Completion of all required training before working directly with young people

Full compliance with SCD's safeguarding procedures and professional code of conduct at all times

Attendance at scheduled supervision sessions and engagement with the reflective process they provide

Prompt communication with your supervisor if you are unable to fulfil a session or commitment

Treating all information about young people and families with strict confidentiality at all times

Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with young people in all settings

!

Safeguarding Note for All Volunteers

All SCD volunteers who work directly with children and young people are required to complete an enhanced background check and to provide two professional or personal references before commencing their role. This is non-negotiable and applies regardless of previous experience or professional background. Safeguarding the young people in SCD's care is our absolute priority, and this requirement reflects that commitment. Volunteers who work in administrative or specialist capacities without direct contact with young people may be subject to a standard check, depending on the specific nature of their role. SCD's Safeguarding Officer will advise you on the specific requirements for your volunteer role during the induction process.

"I came to SCD as a volunteer mentor not knowing quite what to expect. Two years later, I am still here — now as a member of staff. Volunteering at SCD changed the direction of my career and showed me what genuinely transformative work with young people looks like."
Former SCD Volunteer Mentor — now Youth Support Worker, Kaduna State
Get Started

How to Become an SCD Volunteer

Applying to volunteer at SCD is a straightforward process. We aim to respond to all expressions of interest within five working days.

01

Express Your Interest

Contact SCD by email (info@scdng.org), phone (+234 706 838 3770), or through our online contact form to express your interest in volunteering and indicate which role interests you.

02

Informal Conversation

A member of SCD's volunteer coordination team will contact you for an informal conversation to discuss your interests, skills, availability, and the role that would best suit you.

03

Application and Checks

You will complete a volunteer application form and, where required, provide references and consent to an enhanced background check. SCD will guide you through this process step by step.

04

Induction and Begin

Successful applicants complete SCD's volunteer induction programme — covering our values, safeguarding requirements, and the specifics of your role — before beginning their volunteering with full support in place.

Ready to Make a Difference?

Express Your Interest Today

We would love to hear from you. Contact SCD's team to find out more about volunteering opportunities in your area or at the national level.

Contact SCD Email: info@scdng.org

Phone: +234 706 838 3770  |  We respond within 5 working days