
Volunteering and guardianship
We are a social enterprise, which means we care about creating social value through the way we work. Supporting our property guardians to volunteer, typically in the local area, is how we do this.
When our guardians sign up with Dot Dot Dot, they are agreeing to volunteer for 16 hours a month at a charity or charities of their choice. We believe that people who volunteer make great guardians and vice versa. This is because they’re conscientious, happy to help other people and to make a place better through building community. We know our properties are in safe hands!
Dot Dot Dot guardians are currently contributing around 5,500 hours of volunteering per month to charities and community organisations in Greater London, Buckinghamshire, Lancashire, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire. Take a look at our infographic showing the impact Dot Dot Dot guardians have had in their communities since we began in 2011.
Read on to find out more about how and where you can volunteer; and the final section of the page summarises our most recent blog posts about volunteering.


If you already volunteer and are enjoying it, then we’re happy for you to keep up the good work. We don’t ask you to change what you’re doing, but we’d love to hear about it and continue to support you in it. Those who are interested in helping others and making a positive social impact generally make brilliant property guardians.
If volunteering is new for you, you can start by looking at helpful online resources which cover all or most of England. Click on the logos below to explore current opportunities.
We’re also particularly keen to support our guardians into volunteering within the neighbourhood where they live. Volunteers are always valuable, and there is an extra value when those hours are put in to support communities which are going through change. if you get housed in an area where we know of specific needs and charities working in the locality, we will make sure you’re connected with the relevant people when you’re ready to start volunteering.
We’re always on hand if you’re struggling to find the right volunteering for you but there are some brilliant resources out there for you to explore. You might end up doing something different every month, or you might be really passionate about a particular cause and get involved with one particular group.






26 March 2021 | Volunteering blogs
Guardian of the month: Laura Chaitow

We caught up with our Oxford guardian, Laura, who has been volunteering supporting her nursing colleagues throughout the pandemic.
20 August 2020 | Spotlight on, Volunteering blogs
Spotlight on: Elizabeth – Women in Localization

Dot Dot Dot guardian, Elizabeth, tells her volunteering story as part of our Summer Series.
24 March 2020 | Volunteering blogs
Where and how to volunteer during the Covid-19 crisis

There are a multitude of ways that you can volunteer during the Covid-19 crisis but we’ve compiled our own list of easy ways that you can get involved.
16 March 2020 | Volunteering blogs
How volunteering can help you live a happier life

Whoever you are and whatever your age, volunteering can give you the all-important help you need to divert your focus away from daily stresses, maintain a healthy mindset and add more spice to your life.
6 March 2020 | Spotlight on, Volunteering blogs
Life as a Dot Dot Dot property guardian: Desire

Through living as a Dot Dot Dot Property Guardian, Desire was given the all-important time she needed to put her passion into practice and volunteer with Futurist Women.