Join our team

There are many ways to join People Know How! We're frequently looking for new volunteers to support our services and spaces: Positive Transitions, Reconnect and All Aboard. You can also join us as an intern or placement student through an organisation or university. Or if you're looking to apply your experience on a strategic level, you can join our Board of Trustees. Finally, we also often advertise for positions on our staff team.

No matter how you join our team, you'll become part of a passionate community of people from all walks of life, committed to making a difference.

Become a VIP

We call our volunteers, interns and placement students VIPs. This is because they're indispensable to our services supporting the community. Everyone is welcome, no matter your age or background. Whatever role you take, we can guarantee that you’ll make new friends, gain experience and feel part of something bigger.

We’re committed to ensuring that VIPs gain as much from their experience with us as we gain from their efforts. We deliver high quality and innovative projects while offering a learning environment with meaningful opportunities, tailored to your needs. We call this our People Pledge and all we ask in return is your commitment to engage with us and strive to achieve your best.

Read our People Pledge

Volunteer

Volunteers support our projects and drive social innovation. Because the work we do is so broad, we offer roles to suit a range of ages, interests and parts of the community. In joining our team, you’ll receive comprehensive support to gain work experience and training to develop your skills and achieve your goals.

Please note that these opportunities are all based in Edinburgh and the Lothians. We ask that our volunteers, interns and placement students are available to visit our Edinburgh offices in order to interact with our projects and services.

Details about our volunteering roles can be found below or if you're not sure which role to choose or have any questions, you can register your interest with us and we'll get in touch to set up an informal chat.

Two People Know How volunteers learning how to tie knots on the All Aboard canal boat

Volunteer with
children & young people

Take part in Positive Transitions, supporting children, young people and families through a wide variety of projects in school across Edinburgh and East Lothian.

Befriender: Join our accredited Befriending project and support children and young people by providing a safe environment and positive role model.

Volunteer
with adults

Get involved in Reconnect, supporting adults and families to improve wellbeing through social and digital inclusion.

Adult Befriender: Help adults and families to improve wellbeing. Whether offering a friendly ear over the phone, providing company on a walk, or supporting someone to use a digital device, you'll be making a difference in someone's life.
Helpline Volunteer: Provide phone support to those who received a device through our national Helpline. This can range from support to use a device, to information about the internet and staying safe online.

Volunteer in
our spaces

Gain valuable experience in our office or aboard our canal boat, contributing to the development of our projects in the community.

Administration, Finance & HR: Support us with our finance, accounting, administration and HR tasks and processes.
Development: Gain experience in bid writing and contributing to strategic development.
Boat Volunteer: Help us run the All Aboard canal boat moored at Polwarth Pontoon.

Volunteer with
children & young people

Join our Positive Transitions service supporting children, young people and families in schools across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

As a Youth Work Volunteer, you'll help facilitate our group workshops with young people, providing them with support and a safe environment to build their confidence as they transition into secondary school.

Volunteer
with adults

Get involved in our Reconnect service supporting adults and families to improve wellbeing through social and digital inclusion.

As a Digital Support Volunteer you'll provide digital support in person at our digital groups in communities across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

As a Helpline Volunteer you can volunteer either remotely or in person, offering a listening ear and a helping hand to people who call our Connecting Scotland Digital Support Helpline.

Volunteer on
our canal boat

Gain valuable experience volunteering on our All Aboard canal boat. Spend your volunteering time in the unique setting on the beautiful Union Canal at the heart of Edinburgh.

As an Boat Volunteer (Crew/Helmsperson) you'll help us to run our All Aboard canal boat and facilitate trips with groups, gaining new skills in a beautiful outdoors setting.

A People Know How VIP supporting someone to use a device as part of a Reconnect digital group, the two sit side by side and look at a tablet

Internships

We host internships providing a range of experiences across our services. We welcome enquiries from any students, organisations or course leaders both locally and internationally. Get in touch for more information.

Get in touch

Placements for students

We offer placements across our services for students from universities across Scotland. Placements provide opportunities to be creative in practice while tackling real challenges with our support and supervision. We have previously hosted placements for students studying social work, arts therapies, occupational therapy and community learning and development. Get in touch if you want to discuss the potential to do a placement with us.

I really enjoyed my time with People Know How, it was really clear that everyone is enthusiastic about helping people. All the staff I worked with were really encouraging of my project, especially the VIP Coordinator who was extremely approachable and willing to hear and act on any ideas I had.

Gráinne Ryan

Placement student

It has been a pleasure working with People Know How. They made us feel so welcome from the start and were always open to new ideas and suggestions. They provided invaluable support and guidance throughout my project. I have definitely improved my confidence and communication skills throughout this experience.”

Emma Sherry

Placement student

My time at People Know How has been even better than I expected. Being able to hear directly from their service users, and research into the issue of data poverty in Scotland has made me remember why I chose to study social policy. People Know How has made me want to work even harder to address social inequality, and make a difference in the lives of people who need it most.

Murrin Wilding

Intern

People Know How provide an opportunity for volunteers to use their own skills and talents, to help others in a verity if ways; a charity that moulds round the needs of others, rather than providing a one size fits all service.

Matthew Pirie

Volunteer

People Know How is a vital lifeline to those in isolation that need support, particularly at this time of need during COVID-19 where even more people are in isolation. It’s great to know that this service is here for everyone and it is a pleasure to volunteer for them.

Ashley Roxburgh

Volunteer

I can’t thank People Know How enough for their support and guidance during my placement. They do an amazing job for young people and students alike. Miren Ochoa’s commitment, creativity and positive energy made me feel empowered to practice in a child-centred way. I have learnt so much from this fantastic opportunity!

Luke Suddaby

Placement Student

Volunteering with People Know How gave me the confidence I need to get the job I want. I met some really special people and I know we will remain friends for life.

Sean Britton

Volunteer

People Know How has offered me a space to explore my interests. More importantly, in the team I have met excellent colleagues, exceptional people and very good friends.

Enara Eizagirre

Volunteer

Doing my internship here was an opportunity for me to improve my English level, get new professional skills such as leadership, teamwork and organisation, and for my personal development as well. I totally recommend this experience. You will meet new people from all nationalities and live in Edinburgh, which is one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Alicia Sancho

Intern

Interning with People Know How last year was an amazing experience for me, that I will never forget. Great people with a wonderful attitude that inspire people all around them to live their potential and really make a difference. Because people DO know how.

Isabella Aluani

Intern

People Know How has given me the opportunity to learn great things! I felt like a part of a big family. Everybody is very open-minded and all ideas are welcomed. I’ve been able to learn more about myself and share different points of view with people. Definitely a great experience!

Itziar Irigoyen

Volunteer

I only have good words for them, they made me feel comfortable from the first to the last day and gave me the chance to collaborate on different kinds of projects. I would especially like to highlight the wonderful group of collaborators and volunteers with whom I had the pleasure of working.

Jorge López

Intern

VIP Strategy

Our VIP Strategy outlines our commitment to providing a rewarding experience for our VIPs.

Through gathering feedback and speaking with our VIPs, we have tailored a strategy that meets their needs and goals. It sets out our approach to VIPs and our plans for refreshing our VIP programme, developing opportunities and making People Know How the place to go for volunteers, interns and placement students to develop their skills, share their experience and achieve their goals.

Read our VIP Strategy

Become a trustee

People Know How is governed by a Board of Trustees. Trustees ensure the charity delivers on its strategy, ensuring its purpose is adhered to. They also ensure good stewardship of the assets of the charity, including physical assets, finances, and intangible ones, such as our reputation. The board ensure good practice and professionalism in all we do especially ensuring the safety and wellbeing of volunteers, interns, placement students, staff and the people who use our services.

We currently have an open call for trustees to join our board.

To apply please download our Trustee Recruitment Pack, as well as our Applicant Information form and Equality & Diversity Monitoring form below and send the completed forms, alongside your CV and cover letter to recruitment@peopleknowhow.org.

Trustee Recruitment Pack

Applicant Information Form

Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form