GOV.UK
Volunteer
Find out how to volunteer in your local community and give your time to help others.
Get involved
Find out how you can engage with government directly, and take part locally, nationally or internationally.
Engage with government
Respond to consultations
You can give your views on new or changing government policies by responding to consultations. Government departments take these responses into consideration before making decisions.
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Start a petition
You can create a petition to influence government and Parliament. If the petition gets at least 100,000 online signatures, it will be considered for debate in the House of Commons.
Take part
National Citizen Service
NCS is for 16 and 17 year olds. Take part in social action projects and build skills for work and life.
Start a public service mutual
If you work in the public sector, you may be able to set up a public service mutual.
Set up a new school
Free schools are independent, state-funded schools.
Help make your neighbourhood a safer place
You can help make your local area safer in a number of different ways.
Decide where homes, shops and businesses should be built
Your community can get involved in making decisions about where new buildings should be built.
Challenge to run a local service
Your group could take over the running of a local service, if you could make improvements.
Improve your social housing
Improve where you live by making sure your landlord provides what you need.
Protect a local building
Use the Community Right to Bid to mark out local buildings or land as valuable to your community.
Organise a street party
Meet your neighbours, celebrate an event or mark an occasion with a party.
Take over a local pub, shop, or green space for the community
Ways to help your area by supporting local businesses and services, and reclaiming underused space.
Volunteer as a school governor
Could you help set a school's direction and ensure that its budget is properly managed?
Set up a town or parish council
Local councils provide services to meet local needs and improve community wellbeing.
Invest in local enterprises
Use 'community shares' to support and invest in local businesses.
Help run a charity
Find out how you could help run a charity by volunteering as a charity trustee.
Make a neighbourhood plan
Have a say in development in your area by joining a neighbourhood planning group, or starting one of your own.
Create a community library
Find out how you can help support local libraries, including taking on ownership and management.
Become a councillor
All councils are led by democratically elected councillors who set the vision and direction, and represent their local community.
More ways to take part
Many people are already volunteering, donating and contributing, both in the UK and abroad. If you’d like to join them, but don’t know where to start, here’s a list of suggestions:
Follow a blog or social media channel
For an instant way to interact with government departments, try their social media streams. These are listed under 'Follow us' on the department's home page. As well as access to blogs, audio, video and more, you can comment, debate and rate.
See all government departments
Some active government blogs include: