Volunteer role: Non-Religious Pastoral Carer at Apostasy Conference 2025
Closing date: 23 September 2025
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Faith to Faithless, Humanists UK’s support programme for so-called ‘apostates’, and specifically in volunteering at the Apostasy Conference 2025.
The Apostasy Conference brings together academics, practitioners, and people with lived experience to highlight the impact of leaving a high-control religion on mental health. A central part of the day will be ensuring the emotional well-being of attendees, many of whom may find the themes discussed difficult.
In 2025 the conference is being held on Wednesday 1 October at Covent Garden Community Centre, 42 Earlham Street, London WC2H 9LA.
We are looking for compassionate and empathetic volunteers to provide non-religious pastoral support in our Well-being Room throughout the day. This space will be a quiet, supportive environment where attendees can take time out, talk with a trained listener, and feel cared for. The well-being room will be available from 09:30-16:30, but you would not be on shift for the whole day.
The role is just for one day, and we would like to informally debrief in the following days.
To find out more about the role, take a look at the description and see if it sounds right for you.
You are welcome to contact the Apostate Services Development Officer, Terri, by email at terri@humanists.uk, or Humanists UK at volunteers@humanists.uk to discuss the role before applying.
Our Recruitment and Promotion and Equal Opportunities policies are available to view via the Careers Menu or at the foot of our main Opportunities page.
- Department
- Faith To Faithless Apostate Support
- Role
- Non-Religious Pastoral Support at Apostasy Conference
- Locations
- London
- Employment type
- Volunteer
- Last date to apply
- 23 September, 2025
- Job type
- Volunteer
About Humanists UK
We started out in 1896, and since then we’ve always been a growing movement at the forefront of social change. Today we’re trusted by over 120,000 members and supporters and over 70 local and special interest affiliates to promote humanism.
We put humanism into practice through effective campaigning and services, supporting lasting change for happier, more fulfilling lives. Our policies are informed with the support of over 150 of the UK’s most prominent philosophers, scientists, and other thinkers and experts and we seek to advance them with the help of over 100 parliamentarians in membership of the All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group. We bring like-minded people together to make change happen, and we strive to be their voice in public debate, drawing on contemporary humanist thought and the worldwide humanist tradition.
We’ve been conducting non-religious funerals, weddings, and baby-namings for 120 years. Our highly trained celebrants are the best you’ll find anywhere, and they support individuals to create authentic, bespoke ceremonies that put people and their stories at the heart of every occasion.
We also help vulnerable people easily access like-minded and effective non-religious pastoral support that is specially tailored to work for them. Our trained and accredited non-religious pastoral support volunteers operate across hospitals, prisons, and the armed forces.