The centre of his helmet plate (badge) looks like the traditional heraldic rose used by both Yorkshire and Lancashire (in different colours of course!). Assuming that this Volunteer Battalion has a similar badge to its regular parent regiment, this would make him a member of the York and Lancaster Regiment. This only had two volunteer battalions, the 1st (Hallamshire) Volunteer Battalion based in Sheffield, and the 2nd Volunteer Battalion based around Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley. Both of these units did wear a very similar helmet plate to that seen here, with a rose as a central device. This gentleman, wearing a rank badge of 4 stripes and probably a crown, appears to be the battalion's sergeant major or possibly another senior non-commissioned member of the unit (note regular sergeant majors wore a different badge of just a crown in the same place).
The precise pattern of the cuff points to a date in the late-1890s, for reasons that are slightly difficult to describe (so I'm afraid I'm not going to try!). Unfortunately both the possible battalions wore similar uniforms, but as he would certainly have been one of the most notable individuals in his unit you may even get lucky and be able to pick him out in a group photo somewhere.
No Liverpool volunteer battalion wore white facings (collar and cuffs) with scarlet tunics, so I think you can abandon that idea.
Kind regards T
