If you love what we’re about and want to be a part of it, if you are looking for ways to make positive contribution, and would get a thrill out of helping a great cause in a very real way, then you will enjoy being a volunteer here.
Click here to ask for more info and an application form
The Art House needs more cafe and kitchen volunteers to keep things running smoothly! Plus, we are always looking for a little bit of help with administrative tasks if that’s more your thing. With all the quirks and facets of The Art House and what we do, you’ll always find somewhere to fit in here.
Our financial model is that the cafe (food and drink sales) make the money we need to fund the space for grassroots art, community and more – and volunteers are an essential part of that picture.
Having volunteers enables us to buy and operate ethically – using organic, local and fairtrade – preventing the exploitation of people, animals and planet without passing the cost on to our community. This keeps us accessible to as many people as possible without compromising our values.
The volunteer roles here are hands-on, rather than creative – most of our crew give their time to support with this – serving customers in the cafe, preparing food in the kitchen, working on the till, clearing tables, talking to people who visit and (of course) washing up! However we also have a few admin tasks that we are looking to hand over to the volunteer team, this includes setting up our regular events and compiling our “What’s on” guides – and this could be done from home!
But it isn’t all about hands-in-the-dishwater.
Volunteering enables you to make a difference right at the heart of our organisation by pitching in with the many day to day tasks that keep us going, as well as helping to shape our larger vision.
We need enthusiastic, reliable people who are:
- Excited about our aims
- Willing to pitch in with day-to-day tasks
- Available fairly regularly – about twice a month or more
- Likely to be able to volunteer for at least 3 months or more
(we do take shorter term work experience placements sometimes) - Willing to learn and be challenged by our busy environment!
- Have an open mind and an embracing heart
Volunteering roles in the café and kitchen are open to people aged 16 and over. As per the council’s child safeguarding guidelines, we are unable to allow people under the ages of 16 to volunteer with us at this time, however we are liaising with the council to try and change this to 14 and over.
“I absolutely loved it! I made new friends and met really interesting people, I always left my shift in a good mood. It was also a brilliant way to get experience in customer service. I learnt more about vegan food and drink, which is always good info to have.”
— Kyra, cafe volunteer
You will get a real sense of purpose and achievement, gain confidence, learn new skills and make some great new friends – volunteering may well be the best decision you ever make!
Ode to Volunteering:
“Did a shift at the Art House yesterday, washing up / When I got home my skin was soft / and clean from the steam from the washer / Now you can not only do good but also look fit / With a free steam facial on every shift / The Art House: Volunteering never looked so gorgeous”
– Damian, cafe volunteer
Click here to ask for more info and an application form

Jade flips the sign to OPEN – something we can only do every day because of our amazing volunteer team.
“I volunteered at the Art House cafe for a year and absolutely LOVED it. My favourite place in Southampton and the best place I have ever been to eat. The atmosphere is so inspiring and I made so many great friends there………
Nowhere else will you find a place more creative, welcoming, and have cake that tastes THAT GOOD!!”
— Jade, cafe volunteer
Our everyday work, like the work our volunteers do, is based on small and simple actions, which add up to make a big difference.
The impact which providing this space makes to the people who visit here is very large indeed, people who visit and volunteer often say it is a life-changing experience for them.
Our way of working is also pioneering a new way of gathering community and doing business, so by helping us you are also becoming a part of a global movement for positive change.
Volunteer roles vary from preparing food in the kitchen, to working in the cafe, to some admin support, helping in the Trash Cocktail Boutique and even building maintenance!
Being part of a great team, meeting new people and dealing with customers are just some of the skills you’ll have the opportunity to develop.
Volunteering also has benefits including:
- Discounted meals when you are on shift
- Training in using a till, preparing food, barista training, food hygiene and customer service
- Discounted and free tickets to some events
- Special volunteer socials and outings, exclusive to our crew!
- Our volunteer privilege card (after your training period of 8 shifts is finished) giving you 25% off food and drink every time you visit us plus perks with local partners such as The Joiners and Orchard Therapies
We offer full training, so you don’t need to have experience, just a willingness to learn!
Click here to ask for more info and an application form
Please note that we have a zero tolerance policy to racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, ableist any other kind of discriminatory behaviour here at The Art House. We are also actively working to have a more diverse team of volunteers and would like to invite people who are part of minority groups to come and work with us. We warmly welcome refugees here.
Objectives: To contribute to the day-to-day running of The Art House
Duties and Responsibilities
These will differ according to your volunteer role, but will usually involve working in the café or kitchen, or other tasks which help The Art House to run smoothly. We do have some admin roles, but there are fewer of these.
Person Specification
Essential:
- Show a genuine interest in The Art House as an organisation.
- Demonstrate a commitment to our aims.
- Have an interest in either the arts, community, healthy eating, veggie/vegan diets or ecological issues.
- Be supportive of alternative lifestyles including veggie and vegan diets.
- Be friendly, welcoming and polite.
- Willing to take instructions from Shift Co-ordinators and directors.
- Able to work with other volunteers.
- Reliable, able to work unsupervised and use initiative.
- Able to speak English well enough to communicate with customers and other volunteers in order to carry out the role.
- Willing to carry out mundane tasks such as washing up!
Orientation and Training:
8 shifts ‘on the job’ training period – this is usually worked over a period of 10 weeks. You will also be given an introduction session to familiarise you with the workings of the organisation, where you will also need to provide proof of right to work in the UK.
Times needed and place of work:
Most roles are at The Art House and shifts can be worked flexibly, in most cases between 3-6 hours at least once a month, depending on the role.
Benefits:
You will get to enjoy the social and creative benefits of being involved with The Art House, make a positive contribution to your community, receive invitations to volunteer social events, attend certain workshops for a reduced rate and gain valuable skills which can be used in paid work and learn about how to live more sustainably.
You will also get a privilege card after 8 shifts, which will entitle you to a 25% discount on food, drink and preloved clothes, as well as some events!
Click here to ask for more info and an application form
Volunteering with us – FAQs
Although we are a very creative venue, most of our crew help with food preparation, serving in the cafe and (we’re going to be very honest here) lots of washing up! We need volunteers who are willing to muck in and help with the day-to-day stuff that keeps us running smoothly.
Most volunteers start in the cafe or kitchen, as these are good places to learn what we’re all about.
There are other opportunities once you’ve settled in to help in the Boutique, in the office, with the crafts, events, art exhibitions, window displays, learning how to mix bands at music events and lots more.
We have regular volunteer social events – from film nights to potluck suppers, and of course there’s always plenty of time whilst you’re working to get to know each other.
What kind of people volunteer at The Art House?
We are looking for people who have genuinely connected with our aims, understand what we are about and who want to offer their time to support what we do.
Our volunteers are a very diverse bunch of all ages, backgrounds and personalities. If you have specific needs to help you work here, we will do our best to find a way to support you.
How often will I have to volunteer?
Most volunteers come in about once a week for a four hour shift – the minimum is once a month. Talk to us about your availability, as we’re not inflexible on this – we recognise that people have lots of other commitments, too.
Shifts can be regular, or you can let us know when you’re available week to week – it’s up to you. Lots of our crew take short breaks in volunteering when their lives get busy – that’s also fine!
What happens after I apply?
We will contact you, usually within two weeks, to let you know if we have any roles which may be suitable for you.
You will then be invited to complete an introduction where you will have the chance to learn more about us and chat to us about when you would like to volunteer and what kind of work you would like to do.
If you want to know anything more, or need help filling in the form, please call 02380238582.
How to I apply?
If you are interested in volunteering,
Click here to ask for more info and an application form
After applying, if we have a role that is suitable, you will be invited to an introductory session where you will learn more about the role and meet some of the co-ordinators.
- What a fabulous bunch!
- Michaela, long term volunteer & paid co-ordinator, now headed off to the Royal Academy of Music – and Shivani, cafe volunteer
- There are even creative tasks to be done!
- You will learn how to rock an apron like Natalie here.
- You will learn ‘Safe Use of Knives’…..
- Volunteering at our outside events is great fun in the summer
- We won’t lie, washing up is involved (especially at first!)
- Help us with food and drink testing for our menu (a good perk!)
- Be part of something amazing
- Your efforts will make a huge difference!
- Keith is our oldest volunteer at the moment at 80
- We have the best looking crew: fact.
- Making delicious veggie nosh is fun…
- Learn some new skills!
- Find out the secrets of our cake…
- Crew socials are fun, too
- See The Art House from a whole new angle…
“……helping the Art House project has had a really great effect on me……I feel much improved as a person because of this. I wouldn’t have made so many wonderful friends had I not become a volunteer at the Art House. I wouldn’t have as wide a view of the world had I not done so. I wouldn’t have as much confidence in my own artistic and creative abilities if I hadn’t volunteered. I don’t think I would have had as much faith in the power of people to get together to get something that is worthwhile done if I hadn’t spent time volunteering at the Art House.”
(Feedback from Joe, long term cafe volunteer)
Do you have a minimum age?
For volunteering? No, we’ve had crew as young as 14
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do you have a maximum age?
Not at all, Dorothy! 🙂
is necesary a good level of english, because i´m interested but i´m spanish and my level of english is not so high
Hi Ana – you will need to be able to understand and speak enough to take instructions and speak to the customers, but your English does not have to be perfect 🙂
Do you do gluten free foods?
We do have quite a few things on the menu that are made without gluten 🙂