Volunteering with BAS is a truly rewarding experience. Whether you have personal experience of autism or simply want to make a difference, your support can have a big impact on local families. It’s a great way to connect with others, make new friends, and be part of a warm, welcoming community.
You’ll gain new skills, discover local services and support you may not have known about, and enjoy perks like free entry to some of our events and activities. We’re also happy to provide references to support your future employment or volunteering.
Volunteering with us can be a great step back into work after a break, or a way to boost your CV—and many of our volunteers have gone on to paid roles within BAS.
What we need
We are looking for parents/carers of autistic children with a good understanding of autism and ideally with more than three years experience and knowledge in some or all of the following areas:
- Experience of the autism assessment and diagnosis process
- Knowledge of the EHCP process, SEN support in schools, EBSA, PDA, post 16 or transition to adult services, DLA and other benefits.
- Knowledge of the Local Offer
This experience and knowledge is key in helping us support parents/carers of autistic children. You’ll be friendly and welcoming and comfortable working with a wide variety of people, or willing to work on getting to this point. You are not expected to know everything about autism or the areas listed above, this is a general support service.
The type of volunteering roles BAS may recruit for are listed below. The available opportunities will depend upon the funding BAS receives to work in each area.
Phone / email support volunteers
We provide short support calls or email check-ins for parents and carers who request them. These are usually around 30 minutes and offer a friendly listening ear, reassurance, and simple signposting to BAS services and other support. We provide you with a BAS phone number and email address—there’s no need to use your personal contact details.
What’s involved: Calls are allocated by our Volunteer Manager on an as-needed basis. You can choose when you’re available to help, making this a very flexible role. Support and guidance from the BAS team is always available.
How often: Term time only, on an as-needed basis.
Requirements:
- Friendly, empathetic and a good listener
- Experience supporting an autistic child (your own or through other roles)
- Willing to do a bit of research or signposting if needed
- Comfortable using phone and email (training and templates can be provided)
In-Person Volunteers
Our in-person volunteers help create a warm and welcoming environment at BAS coffee mornings, support groups, events and Supersense sessions. You might be greeting attendees, chatting with parents and carers, helping with setup and pack-down, or simply offering a friendly presence.
What’s involved: Supporting the smooth running of in-person sessions. This might include welcoming people, answering questions, helping with refreshments, and creating a positive, inclusive atmosphere. You’ll never be expected to do it alone—volunteers work as a team and are always supported by BAS staff.
How often: Some groups and events are weekly, others monthly or occasional. We’re happy to work around your availability and use rota systems where needed.
Requirements:
- Friendly, reliable, and approachable
- Comfortable chatting with a wide range of people
- Able to help with basic setup/pack-down tasks (where applicable)
- Willing to work as part of a team and follow our safeguarding policies
Facebook Group Moderators & Admins
Our private Facebook group is a vital source of peer support for hundreds of local parents and carers. Our moderators and admins help keep it safe, supportive, and aligned with our community values.
What’s involved: Approving new posts, monitoring conversations, gently enforcing group rules, and occasionally responding to member queries. You’ll be part of a small, friendly team who look after the group together.
How often: Flexible. Most moderators check in once or twice a day for a few minutes, but we understand that life can get busy—cover can be arranged when needed.
Requirements:
- Familiar with Facebook (especially Groups)
- Respectful, calm and good at handling sensitive topics
- Confident upholding group rules in a kind and consistent way
- Able to work collaboratively with other moderators and the BAS team
- Training and guidance provided
Trustees
Trustees play a vital role in shaping the direction of Bristol Autism Support. They bring a wide range of professional and lived experience to help guide the charity’s strategy, governance, and long-term sustainability.
What’s involved: Attending regular trustee meetings (usually every 6–8 weeks), reviewing reports and finances, contributing to decision-making, and offering insight and oversight in your area of expertise. Trustees also support key policies and help uphold our values and mission.
How often: Quarterly board meetings with a small number of shorter meetings during term time There may be occasional additional time commitments depending on your role and interests.
Requirements:
- A commitment to the mission and values of BAS
- Willingness to share your time, ideas and professional insight
- Reliability, good communication and collaborative working
- Previous trustee experience is welcome but not essential—training and induction will be provided
Interested?
If you’re interested in joining our volunteer team, we’d love to hear from you. No matter how much time you can give, there’s a place for you at BAS. To register your interest and learn more, fill out our Volunteer Form.
