Volunteering with UKMT
UKMT’s dedicated volunteers give their time to inspire young minds, promote problem-solving skills, and contribute to the exciting world of maths education. From mentoring, marking and problem-setting, to supporting students taking part in competitions, summer schools, and team challenges – your skills make a difference to advance the education of young people in maths.
Registered volunteer?
Apply to be a UKMT Volunteer
We’re calling for volunteers to support UKMT in its exciting activities. See our current volunteering vacancies below.
If you would like to express your interest in any of our volunteering opportunities, or you would like further information on the roles and how to become a UKMT Volunteer, please email volunteering@ukmt.org.uk. We may ask you to highlight your experience and suitability to apply for certain roles.
UKMT values the diversity of our volunteer foundations, and as such we welcome applications from all sections of the mathematics community.
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Current Volunteer Vacancies
Mentoring Sub-Committee Members
The UKMT Mentoring Scheme forms part of the UK Maths Trust’s enrichment activities.
We are looking to further develop and improve our offering through this Scheme. Would you like to help with this by joining the Trust’s Mentoring Sub-Committee?
The Trust is expanding this group to increase their capacity, with the aim of:
- Supporting and developing in-school mentoring.
- Developing training for new mentors and sharing good practice.
Due to the nature of the group’s focus, we would encourage applications from existing UKMT mentors, or those who can demonstrate a working knowledge of student mentoring programmes. Please feel free to write to our Volunteering Manager, who will put you in touch with an existing member of the sub committee.
Mentors
Are you keen to support an able school student by encouraging them to engage in exploring challenging questions?
The Trust’s Mentoring Scheme provides young people who have an enthusiasm for mathematics the opportunity to tackle challenging problems with the one-to-one support of a mentor. The scheme helps pupils to develop their problem-solving skills, and their written mathematical communication.
We are seeking to expand our team of mentors to give more students this opportunity. We are also aiming to extend the scheme to younger students in Years 8 and 9.
There are more details of the scheme here. You will be offered the support of a ‘buddy’ during your first year as a mentor.
We will be holding a Mentoring Conference in 2026. If you express an interest in becoming a mentor, you will be sent the details and it would be wonderful if you could join us for this event, where you will have the opportunity to meet other mentors. The conference will comprise a number of sessions, including one for new mentors. Reasonable travel expenses will be covered.
Publications Proofreader
Working with the Publications Executive Committee:
- Ensures that UKMT publications meet the Trust’s aim of inspiring a love of mathematical problem solving in young people
- Adds value for teachers and parents who encourage and support the young people the Trust works with.
What does the role involve?
- Meeting with Publications Committee members occasionally (dependent on books being developed) and possible attendance of PC meetings (which take place twice a year).
- Working with PC members and other proofreaders to check the mathematical content of new titles.
- Working with PC members in support of amendments and updates to existing UKMT titles.
- The Trust will provide appropriate induction.
- This is a voluntary role.
Essential qualities, skills and experience:
- Graduate-level mathematics
- Experience with LaTeX editing
Desirable skills and experience:
- Experience in producing and editing diagrams using Asymptote.
What is the time commitment?
- Dependent on the status of books in development, but no more than a few hours a week of editing, proofreading text and diagrams.
- Emails in relation to editing/proofreading may be required, but this can largely be done within Overleaf and PDF markup.
- Occasionally, attending PC meetings will take up to one hour per meeting (meetings take place twice a year).
Please email volunteering@ukmt.org.uk for more information.
Executive Committee Members
Publications Executive Committee Member
Ensures that UKMT publications meet the Trust’s aim of inspiring a love of mathematical problem-solving in young people
Adds value for teachers and parents who encourage and support the young people the Trust works with.
What does the role involve?
- Meeting with other Committee members twice a year, to receive and provide updates on books in development, sales, marketing and any other considerations.
- Proposing new titles and updates/amendments to existing titles.
- Working with and supporting other volunteers in proofreading new titles and revising existing ones.
- The Trust will provide appropriate induction.
- This is a voluntary role.
Personal requirements for Committee Members:
- Willingness to take an active role in the work of the Executive Committee, devoting the required time and energy to help advance the education of young people in mathematics.
- Strong commitment to the UKMT’s aims and the aims of the Publications Executive Committee.
- Creativity and willingness to challenge conventional wisdom in an appropriate manner and open-mindedness about new approaches, recognising the value of innovation and creative thinking to organisational development and success.
- Ability to communicate views and opinions clearly and in a constructive manner in person and via email and other means (e.g. telephone).
- Willingness to listen and work in partnership with others and an understanding of the importance of building strong working relationships within the Executive Committee, with staff and with volunteers
- Understanding of the differences between a strategic role and an operational role.
What is the time commitment?
- No more than two meetings should be necessary per year, and these meetings should last no longer than an hour each.
- Responding to occasional emails concerning PC matters.
- Responding to occasional emails in support of proofreaders.
Desirable skills and experience
- Graduate-level mathematics.
- Experience with LaTeX and Asymptote editing. UKMT uses Overleaf.
Governance:
- Members of Executive Committees are appointed by, and are governed by, the UK Maths Trust’s Board of Trustees.
Please email volunteering@ukmt.org.uk if you are interested, and a member of the team will be in touch.
Volunteering FAQs
Do I need to be a mathematician to be a UKMT Volunteer?
You don’t have to be in a teaching or mathematical role to be a UKMT Volunteer, but most of UKMT’s voluntary roles do require some knowledge of mathematical concepts and ideas at the very least (meaning an understanding of mathematical problems and proofs would be advantageous).
How much time do I need to commit?
UKMT’s volunteering opportunities can be short-term events (such as marking weekends and the annual UKMT Summer Schools) or longer-term projects such as mentoring which might require a six month commitment or longer. We ask volunteers who commit to a specific project to fulfil their time commitment unless this is not possible. We will always give as realistic time-frames as possible.
What can I get out of volunteering?
It depends on the motivations and reasons you have chosen to volunteer with UKMT. Volunteering is a great way to use your existing skills or further your skills and knowledge, as well as meet new people and gain confidence. And, it is also a good addition to your CV if you are a student or at the beginning of your career. Many volunteers get huge satisfaction out of making a difference to others, and being part of a community of like-minded people
Will I be paid to cover my expenses?
Yes. You will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses that arise from volunteering (such as travel costs). The types of expenses you can claim for will be confirmed once you start a volunteering role. Some of our volunteering roles involve overnight stays, in which case accommodation and meals are arranged by UKMT
How old do I need to be, to be a UKMT Volunteer?
You will need to be over the age of 18 to apply to be a UKMT volunteer. Some of our roles will require you to be 21 or over.
Will I need a DBS check?
If your UKMT Volunteering role involves you working directly with children (students under 18 yrs of age) then yes, you will need to be DBS checked. Checks are processed by UKMT and there is no charge to applicants.
What training will I receive?
All UKMT roles that involve working with under-18s require the completion of a short Child Safeguarding course online. In addition, some roles involve completing an online First Aid training course. All other training that is specific to your role will be provided by the relevant lead volunteer in the relevant area.
Where will I be based?
UKMT offers volunteering roles that are in-person (such as residential camps based both in the UK and overseas), and also roles where the engagement with students is online (eg mentoring).
Volunteer Stories
Be inspired by UKMT’s brilliant volunteers who give hours of their time to support the charity’s challenges and events.
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