Looking for volunteering opportunities I can do with dc

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Became a lone parent earlier this year. I would love to do volunteering where I can take my ds with me as I would like for him to be involved, and have nowhere to leave him. We both volunteered at a local church that hosted Xmas dinner and really enjoyed it.
I'm happy to do weekend volunteering. He is 11. I'm happy to consider all options. Would really appreciate any ideas/suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Should add I live in north London. Although happy to travel occasionally.

Animal shelters and rescue centres often need volunteers.
Scouts.
Conservation type projects e.g. historic railway reinstatement.
Some museums need volunteers and might be able to include children.

I have just started volunteering at my sure start centre and can take my kids

Try animal shelters. And parks/nature reserves often have a "Friends of whatever-it's called" type of group that organise upkeep of the area. Similarly with wildlife groups. Parkrun events usually need marshalls/helpers. Sounds like a great way to have a meaningful experience together, and fun too.

Contact the elderly have a project where volunteers pick up elderly people and take them to someone's house for afternoon tea - you could volunteer to drive or to host. I used to volunteer at a local almshouse and the older ladies loved it when the volunteers brought their children to the Christmas parties etc.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4bnPmz1QX6ZmQfg3hmq2vrv/volunteering-with-children

this might have some good links :)

Parkrun definitely. Local library? 11 is really at the 'becoming useful' stage so i hope lots of places would be interested-maybe you could just look for options and then contact them to talk about how it would work with the two of you?

Second ParkRun. And it's only an hour or two per a Saturday.

Scouts are crying out for more adult volunteers to prevent troops closing.Look up your local district online and they can point you in the right direction.
similarly I know if community projects through DofE that have need if volunteers too.

Great ideas, thanks everyone. Will look into these suggestions.

I am particularly intrigued by the scouts idea as well home start.

Those who mentioned park run, I thought it was a mini marathon type thing. What volunteering opportunities are available there?

@shazkevin could you post a link to the DofE community projects? Thanks in advance

@catpyjama I really like the idea of approaching charities and asking if my ds can be involved. Thanks.

I was going to say parkrun too.

It is 5km (3 miles) and there’s loads of volunteer roles such as Race Director, volunteer coordinator, marshals, timekeeper and children are always made welcome.

At our parkrun we often have older children who work their way around the volunteer roles for their DofE award. It’s a great community.

I was also going to say Parkrun

A friend and her daughter, aged about 14, helped in a food bank. I'm not sure though if they would take them any younger.
Maybe look for charities holding coin collections outside supermarkets, as a one off.

I’d second scouts, you could volunteer while your son actually becomes a scout. He wouldn’t be able to be a volunteer until he was 14 and could help with the younger sections.