Volunteer Training

A collation of online training resources available for volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations.

Training to support Volunteers' Wellbeing

Buckinghamshire Mind and Community Impact Bucks have produced the following three training videos to support volunteers’ wellbeing

See more from Community Impact Bucks' here

See more from Buckinghamshire Mind here

Setting boundaries as a volunteer


Looking after your own mental wellbeing as a volunteer

Supporting someone else's mental wellbeing as a volunteer

The Leadership Learning Zone

A platform for all learners with a selection of modules that will help you on your leadership journey.

The Leadership Learning Zone is part of the NHS South East Leadership Academy but is available and free for use by ALL learners, no matter the organisation.

When selecting sign up now for a new account please use the following details:

  • Profession – select other if not listed (tenth option)
  • Band – select unknown if not part of the NHS (last option)
  • ICS – select Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (first option)
  • Organisation – select Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy (sixth option)
Create your account and access the platform here
  • Leadership modules

    23 modules including:

    • How to give effective feedback
    • Effective communication
    • Imposter syndrome
  • Systems and Relational Leadership

    10 modules including:

    • Working with complexities
    • Stuckness - tools for shifting patterns
    • Agile project working
  • Leading Transition in Primary Care

    2 modules:

    • Coping with today and planning for tomorrow
    • Articulating the voice of primary care
  • Leading Transformation for Integrated Care

    8 modules including:

    • Leading alongside your local communities
    • System workforce innovation
    • Collaboratives - a new way of working
  • Systems OD and Transformation

    5 modules including:

    • Influencing without formal authority
    • Challenging the status quo
    • Consulting mindset and skillset

E-Learning for Health

Providing e-learning programmes to educate and train the health and care workforce

  • Developed in partnership with the NHS, third sector and professional bodies
  • Accessed for free, 24/7 by health and care professionals (just register with an email address)


450+ programmes available, including 'Volunteer Learning' which encompasses:

  • Roles and Responsibilities of a Volunteer
  • Communications for Volunteers
  • Data Security Awareness for Volunteers
  • Conflict Resolution for Volunteers
  • Equality, Diversity and Human Rights for Volunteers
  • Safeguarding Adults for Volunteers
  • Safeguarding Children for Volunteers
  • Preventing Radicalisation (Basic Awareness) for Volunteers
  • Mental Health Awareness for Volunteers
  • Health, Safety and Infection Prevention and Control for Volunteers
  • Fire Safety for Volunteers

and more...

Introducing the Voluntary Sector

A free 8-week course with The Open University to learn more about the voluntary sector.


"The course will guide you through some of the distinctive features and values of the voluntary sector, how organisations are funded and involve volunteers and other ‘stakeholders’ in their work.

It will also provide you with knowledge and skills you can apply to your own work or volunteering as well as your everyday life.

You can progress at your own pace over the 8 weeks; each week will take a minimum of 3 hours of your time."

View the course here

The Open University's free course catalouge

The Open University have hundreds of free online courses available to complete.


Courses are available in the following areas:

  • Money and Business
  • Education and Development
  • Health, Sports and Psychology
  • History and The Arts
  • Languages
  • Science, Maths and Technology
  • Society, Politics and Law
  • Digital and Computing
The Open University's free course catalouge

BHSCA's Organisational Development and Leadership (OD&L) faculty

Additional training and development resources are available through Buckinghamshire Health and Social Care Academy's OD&L faculty

More from the OD&L faculty here

ZSA's (Zero Suicide Alliance) Suicide Awareness Training is a short, free, online course that can be taken by anyone who wants to learn basic suicide awareness and prevention skills.

ZSA believe suicide is preventable and they know that sometimes all it takes to save a life is a conversation.


Who it's for:

The training is aimed at anyone aged 16 and over who wants to know what to do if they’re ever in a situation where someone they know or see may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.

What you'll learn:

The training will take you through suicide risk factors, suicide warning signs, coached scenarios sharing approaches for how you can talk to someone you’re worried about, videos from people sharing real experiences and where to find information about available support. At the end of the course, you’ll get a training certificate to download.

We hope through the training, more people will feel equipped and confident to talk to someone who may be struggling.

How long it takes to complete:

This is a short online course that can be taken at your own pace. You can choose the parts of the course that you interact with. We recommend allowing yourself at least 30 minutes.

Access the training here
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