Advocacy volunteer volunteer roles in douglas, douglas

Are you passionate about ‘The Creative Arts’? At Bloomin’ Arts, we see and hear the difference made when ensuring disabled adults have opportunities to be artists and leaders within visual art, drama, dance, and theatre. As a Trustee you will share a responsibility to oversee how our charity is managed and run. Ensuring what we do is always in our participant’s best interest.

Do you recognising ‘art and culture’s’ place in society. Could you help us achieve our future objectives and impact our ability to empower the lives of disabled adults through the creative arts. As Chair, you will play a vital role in:

• · Supporting the development and growth of our charitable arts organisation.
• · Driving our commitment to disability provision and leadership within the arts.
• · Leading with empathy to tackle challenges and direct change where needed.
• · Leading governance and compliance in line with the charity commission.
• · Advocacy and support fundraising as an ambassador for the charity, leveraging your networks to advance the charity’s reach and influence.
• ·    Ensuring our values and disabled artists (participants) remain at the heart of everything we do.

We are seeking a candidate with:

• ·        Ideally experience of charitable sector and/or arts and culture management.
• · A strong connection to or lived experience of disability.
• · Ability to lead and inspire other trustees and our staff.
• · Dedication to the role to ensure your contribution and leadership makes a positive difference.
• · Ability to be in person at Trustee Meetings, held at our venue in RH7. 

Why it’s an exciting time to join us:

• · This is a time of growth for us as a charity.
• · The challenges we face, we approach positively and openly.
• · We are constantly working to improve awareness and build our relationships to increase our reach and impact.
• · We love finding people who share our passion and vision and will stretch our viewpoints.
• · We celebrate diversity and make inclusion part of what we do every day.

 Length of term and time requirements:

Chair to join ideally for a 3 year term and opportunity for a further two.

Approximately 4-6 hours per month inc preparation and attendance for trustee meetings.

Renumeration:

Your services are always hugely appreciated, but services are offered on a voluntary basis and receive no renumeration except expenses reasonably incurred.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a Trustee who is passionate about arts and social

justice, who wants to make a difference and is able to compliment our

Board of Trustees, Artistic Director, and Executive Director as we work

together to develop the impact and profile of Cardboard Citizens. We

believe that the need for Cardboard Citizens is as urgent as it ever has

been with the current external environment and the challenges for our

communities with experience of homelessness and poverty.

Whilst we’d like to hear from applicants from a range of backgrounds and

experiences, we are particularly keen to hear from those with skills in any

of the following areas:

·Digital, New Media

·Communications / public relations

·Environment & Sustainability

·Development

·Strategic partnerships

The general attributes we’re looking for in potential Trustees include:

·Good judgement

·An ability to think creatively and strategically

·An ability to collaborate and work as part of a team

·Effective interpersonal skills

·An active commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

·An ability to command trust and respect

·An understanding and acceptance of a Trustee’s legal duties and

responsibilities

·A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort required

What we ask of you:

·To serve an initial term of 4 years, with the possibility of re-appointment

until 8 consecutive years’ service has been reached.

·To attend 4 x 2-hour Board Meetings a year, committee meetings as

required, as well as an annual Away Day.

·To attend events, performances, workshops and other engagements, to

gain a full experience of the breadth of Cardboard Citizens work.

·To sit on one of the Board’s Committees.

·To provide specialist advice and expertise as required and appropriate.

·To advocate and champion Cardboard Citizens’ work, values, ambition,

and strategic direction.

In total, Trustees usually commit the equivalent of 10 days per annum to

their role.

What you can expect from us:

·The opportunity to help shape the future direction of a dynamic theatre

company driving social change, and be part of an active, loyal, and

engaged group of Trustees.

·Flexibility when it comes to attending meetings either in person or

remotely via video call.

·A full Trustee induction with current Trustees and permanent staff.

·Regular training and development opportunities.

·An offer of an annual 1-2-1 with the Chair.

Please note that Trustee roles are voluntary and therefore unpaid, but reasonable expenses will be covered.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you’re not sure because of,

for example, your working hours, employment status, caring

responsibilities, level of experience, socio-economic or cultural

background or access needs. We would still love to hear from you so we

can talk about any concerns.

We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with

different experiences, skills, and stories to join us and influence and

develop our working practice. By taking positive action around diversity

(as permitted in the Equality Act 2010), we will offer initial conversations

to candidates who self-identify with any of the following groups that we

have identified as underrepresented in our workforce and the wider

cultural sector:

People of African, Caribbean, South Asian, East Asian, Southeast Asian,

or mixed heritage, and others who identify as part of the Global

Majority

Candidates with lived experience of homelessness or poverty

Deaf, disabled, and/or neurodivergent candidates

LGBTQIA+ candidates

Candidates with care experience (e.g., those who have been in foster

care, residential care, or other forms of local authority care)

What to send

Either:

Letter (no more than 2 sides of A4)

OR

Video (no more than 5 minutes)

OR

Audio (no more than 5 minutes)

telling us why you are interested in the role and what skills and

experience you would bring to Cardboard Citizens

An up-to-date CV

Contact details for one referee who knows you professionally

A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form linked to the

vacancy page on our website. The information on the monitoring

forms is anonymous.

Please send your application by 26 September. Interviews will be

planned at a mutually convenient time in the week of 6 October. Please

let us know some availability when you apply.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

You know what it's like to practice as a solicitor. You've navigated the pressures, the culture, and the unspoken expectations. Now, imagine using that hard-won understanding to create meaningful change for neurodivergent colleagues who are struggling to find their place in our profession.

We're looking for a qualified solicitor who gets it - someone who can help us build programmes and campaigns that will work because they're grounded in the reality of solicitor practice.

Why does this role need to be solicitor-only?

We need someone who understands the culture, systems, and pressures of solicitor life from the inside. The work involves shaping strategy, influencing decision-makers, and ensuring our programmes reflect the real experiences of neurodivergent solicitors. A qualified solicitor brings both lived experience and professional standing, which helps build trust and makes our work more effective. This isn't about hierarchy, but about grounding the role in practical, credible experience that resonates with the people we're trying to help.

What we're looking for

We need a qualified solicitor who can be our eyes and ears within the profession - someone who understands not just the law, but the culture that surrounds it.

Your background might include:

• Current qualification as a solicitor (England and Wales)

• Real experience working in or with solicitor firms and organisations

• Understanding of how solicitor practice works - the good, the challenging, and everything in between

• Genuine commitment to making the profession more inclusive for neurodivergent colleagues

• The ability to communicate with everyone from trainees to senior partners

What would be brilliant (but not essential):

• Experience across different types of solicitor practice - private practice, in-house, government, legal aid

• Personal understanding of neurodiversity challenges in professional settings

• A network of contacts within the solicitor profession

• Background in training, mentoring, or professional development

• Experience in charity/not-for-profit law, employment law, or disability rights

What you'll be doing

This isn't about sitting in meetings talking theory. You'll be:

Being our solicitor reality-check:

• Sharing insights about profession culture, challenges, and opportunities that only an insider would know

• Helping us identify the real barriers neurodivergent solicitors face and practical solutions that might work

• Ensuring our initiatives make sense in the context of how solicitor firms actually operate

Shaping our strategy:

• Contributing the solicitor's perspective to our programme development

• Advising on the best approaches for engaging with firms, training providers, and professional bodies

• Helping develop resources that work in real solicitor practice environments

Being our face in the profession:

• Representing us at solicitor-focused events and networks

• Building relationships that open doors and create opportunities

• Speaking at events and contributing to professional discussions where your voice carries weight

Developing what matters:

• Advising on training and support programmes that solicitors will actually use

• Helping create career guidance that reflects modern solicitor pathways

• Supporting research and policy work that affects how solicitors practice

The need-to-know

Time commitment: Around 4-8 hours per month - one monthly trustee meeting plus the solicitor-specific work, and the occasional extra task that crops up. 

Term: We're looking for a minimum 2-year commitment initially, which then becomes a rolling 1-year term subject to the constitutional requirements. 

When we meet: We will be setting our meeting dates at the start of the organisation's year (October 2025) so everyone can plan ahead. 

Next steps:

• Applications close: 5 September 2025 at 17:00

• Interview dates: TBC - dependent on application numbers

• Next board meeting: TBC

Why this role matters

The legal profession is slowly waking up to neurodiversity, but too often the conversation happens without the people who actually understand day-to-day practice. We've seen well-meaning initiatives fail because they don't reflect the reality of billable hours, client demands, and firm hierarchies.

Your perspective as a practising solicitor isn't just valuable - it's essential. You know which ideas will work and which ones will gather dust in the diversity folder. You understand the language that resonates with partners and the approaches that will actually make a change. 

What we offer in return

• Real influence: Your insights directly shape our strategy and programmes

• Professional development: Gain charity governance experience and expand your network

• Meaningful impact: See your profession become more inclusive for future generations

• Supportive environment: Work with a committed team that respects both your time and expertise

• Flexibility: We’re a team of working professionals and always work around professional commitments

• Recognition: References, recommendations, and opportunities to speak on topics you care about

• Expenses covered: We reimburse reasonable costs related to your trustee work

We're committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you need any adjustments to our application process, just let us know.

Application deadline: 5 September 2025 at 17:00

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about increasing and representation for disabled families across society. 

What do I have to do?

Attend meetings roughly four times a year to help steer the organisation towards its goals. And using your skill set to help grow and advance our non-profit. 

Part of the fabric of Buttons & Bubbles that wherever possible people who volunteer and work with us have lived experience of disability and or illness, (including parents, carers, siblings and friends) This includes our board members.

If you would be interested in having more information about this opportunity or need the board member pack in a different format, please get in contact for an informal chat. 

Job Purpose

One Place London is a community interest company located in West London, engaged in Acting for Film and Music Recording workshops for young people aged 14-25, unemployed or at risk of getting involved in crime. As a key member of the Engagement Team working at Youth & Community Centres in Ealing and West London, this post will work alongside the Sound Engineer, Film Director or both to deliver Song-writing / music recording workshops and Acting for Film Workshops repectively, for young people aged 14-25.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop, promote and deliver engaging Songwriting workshop, Acting for film workshop or both for young people.

• Support, mentor, coach and ‘walk alongside’ individuals in their pursuit of independence and community cohesion.

• Undertake risk assessments and support planning interviews with new participants.

• Engage third parties to deliver support and activities to young people.

• To act as an advocate for young people and to engage partner agencies and services appropriate to the young people’s needs.

• Actively encourage job search, training, and volunteering opportunities with young people who are not in education, employment, or training.

• Undertake risk assessments and support planning with young people.

• Undertake training and professional development.

• Anything else reasonably requested by the management of the CIC.

Person Specification & Key Competencies

Qualifications and Experience:

• Demonstrable experience of programme delivery in youth, adult or community-based service

• An ability and willingness to relate positively to young people, visitors and staff

• An outgoing and friendly personality, able to communicate well and engage a wide range of people

• Ability to react positively and effectively when faced with unwanted high-risk behaviours from young people, whether targeted towards themselves, staff, visitors or other young people.

• An understanding of safeguarding principles and procedures

• An understanding of the issues facing young people

• An understanding of equality and diversity matters.

Personal Attributes

• A genuine enthusiasm for the work of the CIC.

• An outgoing and friendly personality, able to communicate well and engage positively with a wide range of people including with young people, visitors and staff.

• The ability to motivate and inspire others

• An ability to work under pressure and manage challenging situations.

• Good organisational skills in order to manage a highly varied and unpredictable workload.

• A creative and flexible approach to work.

We are an equal opportunities CIC with commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request.

Please apply now for this rewarding position and be part of an amazing CIC who continue to support and achieve wonderful things within the west london community.

For further information on One Place London CIC, visit https://oneplace.london

Socials: @oneplacelondon

Job Purpose

One Place London is a community interest company located in West London engaged in Acting for Film and Music Recording workshops for young people aged 14-25, unemployed or at risk of getting involved in crime. As a key member of the Engagement Team working, this post will work alongside the Manging Director to deliver evidenced-based and youth-focused programmes to residents and the wider community.

Benefits

• Career progression opportunities

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop, promote and deliver engaging and relevant social activities and programmes on a daily basis to young people.

• Support, mentor, coach and ‘walk alongside’ individuals in their pursuit of independence and community cohesion.

• Undertake risk assessments and support planning interviews with new beneficiaries.

• Develop community minded support and activities that involve the wider community.

• Engage third parties to deliver support and activities to young people.

• To act as an advocate for young people and to engage partner agencies and services appropriate to the young people’s needs.

• Actively encourage job search, training, and volunteering opportunities with young people who are not in education, employment, or training.

• Facilitate the booking and delivery of community-based programmes.

• Assist with the interviewing and selection of those applying for participation in the workshop program.

• Undertake risk assessments and support planning with young people.

• Act in the interests of your own safety & the safety of others at all times.

• Undertake training and professional development.

• Anything else reasonably requested by the management of the CIC.

Person Specification & Key Competencies

Qualifications and Experience:

• Demonstrable experience of programme delivery in youth, adult or community-based service

• An ability and willingness to relate positively to young people, visitors and staff

• An outgoing and friendly personality, able to communicate well and engage a wide range of people

• Ability to react positively and effectively when faced with unwanted high-risk behaviours from young people, whether targeted towards themselves, staff, visitors or other young people.

• Good level of IT proficiency.

• Knowledge of voluntary support services and processes.

• An understanding of safeguarding principles and procedures

• An understanding of the issues facing young people

• An understanding of equality and diversity matters.

Personal Attributes

• A genuine enthusiasm for the work of the CIC.

• An outgoing and friendly personality, able to communicate well and engage positively with a wide range of people including with young people, visitors and staff.

• The ability to motivate and inspire others

• An ability to work under pressure and manage challenging situations.

• Good organisational skills in order to manage a highly varied and unpredictable workload.

• A creative and flexible approach to work.

We are an equal opportunities CIC with commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request.

This is an opportunity to play a key role in the leadership of Sussex Area Ramblers by supporting the Chair in the oversight and direction of all Area activities, making sure that they are consistent, integrated and in line with Ramblers' mission and strategy.

The Ramblers, which celebrates its 90th anniversary in 2025, is the only charity dedicated to removing barriers so everyone can enjoy walking in green spaces, and to improving Britain’s most popular and least-known walking places. We’re committed to campaigning to keep our countryside open to all and to fighting for the things that matter most to walkers. We lead the way, and the walks, for a vibrant community united by the joys of walking, helping everyone get more out of their walks. 

The Vice-Chair supports the Area Chair in the leadership of Ramblers' activities in East and West Sussex including the provision through the Groups in the Area of organised walks, helping to ensure the Groups are run well, follow good practice and join in national/Area initiatives, the protection of rights of way, and and the preservation and conservation of, the countryside, includung representing the Area to external stakeholders.

The Vice-Chair deputises for the Area Chair, as required, at meetings of the Area leadership teams (Area Council and Area Executive Committee), represents the Area at meetings of the Ramblers' South East Regional Cluster and, in agreement with the Area Chair, leads specific projects in which the Area is engaged, making sure in all cases that Ramblers' policies and procedures are followed with a view to ensuring that the Area, its members and volunteers are kept safe and legally compliant.

The Vice-Chair supports the Chair in managing the Area's working relationship with local authorities, organisations and politicians.

The Vice-Chair assists the Chair by making sure that the Area follows all of the required governance, including AGMs and attendance at Ramblers' General Council Meetings.

The role holderwill work closely with the Chair and other members of the Area Executive Committee and Area Council, and where necessary seek advice and guidance from Ramblers' central office.

You will need to be a member of the Ramblers and live in East or West Sussex to hold the role.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a charity at the very start and to make a difference in shaping how we move forward.

Who are we looking for?

At present we are working towards being fully operational, over the next year Living Reasons will be looking to expand its reach and part of that journey is to work with the trustees and the team to create campaigns that are relevant to the charity values, aims, goals and purpose in an engaging way.

The role of Campaigns Co-ordinator will focus on creating campaigns to raise awareness, income and engagement with our supporters, donors and people who engage with the charity.

This role will be key in ensuring that the message of the charity operations is translated to a wide audience, while also aligning with the ethos and charity objectives.

In this role you will work with all other teams in the charity, including funding, research, live experience and social media and communications, to establish, develop and create on brand campaigns.

Living Reasons feels that experience is not as important as passion, drive and creativity, we like to do things differently, so if you feel you could create engaging, far reaching campaigns that speak to wide audiences, please get in touch with us about this role, regardless of experience, we want our volunteers to grow and develop alongside the organisation.

What is the plan?

The person who is starting the charity up is autistic, has ADHD, CPTSD and also multiple physical conditions that effect daily life and is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has faced a lot of issues in life because of these things.

Living Reasons is being created to fix what we think is a challenging situation that is getting harder to achieve every week, month and year in the current economic, political, environmental and societal landscape. It is not easily defined but we hope the charity objects below will help put context to what we want to achieve, what we can say is that below are the issues we are trying to address, how we do this will change as quickly as society does, but the issues we want to tackle are these:

1) Outdated and damaging employment practices

2) Accessibility to services

3) Limited employment, training and education opportunities

4) Lack of support during times of crisis or need

5) Lack of equity and agency for many people in society

6) Institutional discrimination that is not challenged

7) Abuse of the legal system at all levels

8) Abuse of power in government bodies

9) Poor access to healthcare

10)  Unequal treatment of many people in society by large corporations

11)  Assumptions made by wider society based on incorrect, outdated or discriminatory rhetoric that is used in daily life

12)  Outdated company engagement with the public

13)  Lack of support that is not talked about and not being addressed

Our Living Values -

Creativity

1) Imaginative Development (Individual)

2) Instilled Collaboration (Internal)

3) Changing The Status Quo (External)

Prospectivity

1) What Can You Do (Individual)

2) What Can We Do (Internal)

3) What Can They Do (External)

Revolutionary 

1) Inspire With Confidence (Individual)

2) Boundaryless Innovation (Internal)

3) Challenge Traditions (External)

Attentivity

1) Analyse and Redesign (Individual)

2) Rebel and Reform (Internal)

3) Enquire and Reimagine (External)

A cancer diagnosis brings extra expense from day one. Every child or young person with a cancer diagnosis has a short-term disability and needs to apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payments (PIP). The forms are long and complex and sometimes families need advice or support to ensure they include enough information to receive the correct level of financial support.

Your empathy, understanding and ability to identify the key information to enable families and young people to claim financial assistance will have a tremendous impact easing stress and allowing them to concentrate on supporting themselves physically and emotionally.

You will be an important part of the team and provide practical support to young people and families completing DLA and PIP forms which can seem lengthy and daunting to young people, and families. Each family’s needs are different, however support via benefits such as DLA and PIP are usually one of the first recommendations made to families seeking financial advice.

What you’ll be doing:

• Providing face to face to support to families of children and young people with a diagnosis of cancer
• Actively listening to families and asking relevant questions to enable them to identify specific support needs
• Supporting families to complete complex forms to enable them to claim DLA or PIP
• As a key part of the team recognise when to ask for other team members for advice or support

This will include:

• Looking at the DLA/PIP form with the family or young person
• Explaining the information Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) needs
• Coaching the family to include as much detail in their answers as necessary

The practical support required for this role will vary from taking the time to read through an application with a young person or family, who require a second opinion.  Others may require questions to be re-phrased to simplify them and make them more applicable to their lived experience.

You will be providing guidance on how to answer the questions on the forms and useful information to include. It may occasionally include filling in the form with the family/young person when they are not able to complete it themselves

Booking slots will be flexible to meet the individual need (30 minutes up to 2 hours)

There is scope and opportunity in this role for development into supporting families or young people with appeals.

What we’ll give you:

• The satisfaction of using your skills and talents to make a tangible difference in the lives of young cancer patients
• A solid introduction and first-hand experience of working in the charity sector with the opportunity to meet other Teams across the organisation and gain a clear insight into the day-to-day work of Young Lives vs Cancer
• Full induction and training with support from a dedicated volunteer manager
• The support of a friendly and knowledgeable team
• Experience of working with a social care team and opportunity to develop communication and planning skills and advocating for families
• Experience of working with and directly supporting children and young people with cancer and their families
• And of course, we’ll cover any out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Volunteering Policy!

You should be able to volunteer for 2 hours per week during Monday to Friday between 10am and 3pm at our Home from Home in London WC1.  We are flexible as to days or times to fit in with your other commitments.

We may close applications for this role early depending on applications

Experienced contributing writers (remote) are invited to join our global team to make a difference by creating impactful articles and that reach millions in over 120 countries.

Big-time sustainability is a global media platform of a United Nations CSO.  Join our global team of experienced contributors and change perspectives.

Join us as a volunteer writer (not limited to) UG-PhD and postdoctoral researchers in any field of sustainability, industry experts and leaders (sustainability execs and C-suite), scientists, marketeers DEI contributors, innovators and trailblazers, Professors and academics, thought-leaders, influencers and global voices. 

Themes (not limited to): Policy & Economics, Finance, Pollution, Climate Change, Oceans, Biodiversity, Energy, and Solutions, Innovations, DEI, ESG, SDGs, Water, Food, Material sciences, Fashion, Consumerism, Marketing, Ethics, AI, Art and all topics in sustainability. 

A Rewarding Opportunity: Why Write With Us

• Make a tangible impact by volunteering your skills for a purpose-driven global media platform
• Work flexibly, remotely, and around your schedule
• Write  about sustainability topics that you are an expert of or issues you care about the most
• Boost your portfolio and visibility through global distribution across our site, newsletters, and social media.

What You'll Do

• Research and craft well-informed, compelling articles aligned with our editorial themes
• Translate complex topics into digestible insights for broad audiences
• Meet deadlines and contribute reliably.

What are we looking for?

• Proven experience (3 or more years) of contributing to written pieces at work and in other media outlets 
• Fluent, engaging command of English
• Expertise in the area of contribution
• Skilled in selecting credible sources to support writing
• Academic background (any discipline) or professional experience in sustainability fields
• A genuine passion to make a difference through impactful storytelling.

What difference will you make?

Be part of the global sustainability media platform reaching millions in over 120 countries.

Over 85% of people in the UK and even more, globally, are unaware of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) let alone take any steps to create a more sustainable world for themselves and in the process for others in this complexly interconnected world.

This highlights the need for such initiatives to educate the British as well as global societies about the UN SDGs. Your contributions can educate and inspire millions to act on the SDGs and bring positive changes that will impact all of us in this complexly interconnected world.

Your contributions will play a vital role in sparking thoughtful conversations, spreading meaningful insights, and motivating others to take action for a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.

Most importantly your efforts will ensure that both individuals and organisations we reach via the global platform can come together and join forces to work in synergy, thus, benefitting more lives than acting alone.

Before you apply

Please provide a cover letter detailing why you are interested in this role and your relevant experience.

We’re looking to recruit additional trustees to join our board. We want our board to have a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds, so if you think you’re not a typical trustee, then you might be just what we’re looking for!

You don’t need to have had experience of Citizens Advice, or of being a Trustee – just a commitment and enthusiasm to help us shape the work and strategic direction of our forward-thinking charity.

Becoming a Trustee will give you the opportunity to gain experience in leadership, governance and strategy and is a great way to give something back to your local community – some employers may even give you time off to volunteer for a local charity.

Citizens Advice Winchester District provides free advice to over 5,000 local people each year, many of whom are in desperate or challenging situations and have nowhere else to turn.

Do you have professional expertise you could use to help a good cause? Are you passionate about animal welfare? Trustees manage the affairs of our local RSPCA Branch to promote and provide animal welfare within the branch area. 

We are the Surrey East Branch of the RSPCA, and it's our vision to live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion. 

Main activities: 

• To be familiar with and support the aims and policies of the RSPCA. 

• To be familiar with our branch rules and follow them at all times. 

• To work with your fellow trustees and branch officers to jointly act in making decisions for the best interest of our branch and the RSPCA. 

• To ensure the branch meets all the minimum animal welfare standards (MAWS). Where they are not met, work with national RSPCA staff to meet the standard as soon as practicable. 

• In conjunction with your fellow trustees and Branch support specialist (BSS), to write, adopt, monitor and review a branch development plan setting out the short and long-term aims of our branch. 

• To actively participate in branch committee meetings and attend the branch annual general meeting, and regional conference. 

• To be aware of the outcome of regional board meetings and support regional initiatives. 

• To attend the trustee training course. 

• To actively promote and advertise the society in an ongoing programme to recruit new branch trustees and volunteers. 

• To welcome new trustees and volunteers to the branch. 

About the RSPCA

We’re proud to be the oldest welfare charity in existence

• We were the first to introduce a law to protect animals and we work hard to ensure that all animals can live a life free from pain and suffering. 

• Through our campaigns we raise standards of care and awareness of issues for the animals who have no voice. We push for laws to be changed, improving the welfare of animals on farms, in research labs, in the wild, in paddocks or in our homes. 

• Through investigations and prosecutions, we stand up to those who deliberately harm animals to send out a clear message - we will not tolerate animal abuse. 

• Our highly trained officers tackle neglect and cruelty at every level and are working hard to stamp out large-scale serious, organised and commercial animal cruelty. 

• We believe every animal has the right to be counted as an individual. Animals can rely on us to rescue them when they need us most. To rehabilitate them wherever possible, provide them with the very best veterinary care and to find them new homes, either through rehoming or release.

What are we looking for? 

• Most people aged 18 or over are eligible to become a trustee. You will need to become a member of the RSPCA. Good interpersonal skills are important. You do not need to be an expert, although commitment, common sense and the ability to be objective is vital. 

• Specific skills such as finance, fundraising, project management, business experience, and awareness of employment and/or charity legislation can be useful, but not essential. 

• Trustees must sign a Trustee Declaration of Willingness to Act to clarify that they are not disqualified from being a trustee and that they accept the post. 

• In addition to our standard declaration of willingness, trustees also need to complete a declaration from the Charity Commission and read their guidance for individuals on who can’t be a trustee or senior manager of a charity. 

What can we offer you? 

• It’s a great way to meet like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for animal welfare. 

• You will have the opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones, whilst making a real difference to the lives of animals. 

• New RSPCA trustees are provided with a document “Trustees handbook” and asked to attend a training course which provides information and guidance about a trustee’s role and responsibilities. 

• Ongoing support is also provided by regional and national RSPCA staff in addition to any additional training provided by the relevant branch. 

• Volunteer at the heart of the local community. 

What we're looking for

We need a finance-minded trustee who can keep us on the right track financially while we focus on creating real change. You don't need to be a charity expert (we'll teach you that), but you do need to care about what we're doing and have the skills to help us do it properly.

Your background might include:

• Professional experience in finance, accounting, or bookkeeping

• An ability to make sense of financial information and explain it to others

• Strong attention to detail (because the small stuff does matter)

• A genuine enthusiasm for our mission and charitable objects

What would be brilliant (but not essential):

• Previous charity sector experience

• Formal accounting qualifications

• Experience with charity accounting software

• Understanding of what it's like to run a small charity on a tight budget

What you'll be doing

This isn't about sitting in boardrooms making abstract decisions. You'll be:

• Keeping our finances healthy: Overseeing day-to-day financial operations and making sure our bookkeeping stays accurate

• Being our financial voice: Presenting clear, understandable financial reports at monthly trustee meetings

• Planning ahead: Leading our annual budget process and helping us make smart financial decisions

• Staying compliant: Ensuring we meet all charity financial regulations and coordinate our annual independent examination

• Managing risk: Helping us spot potential financial challenges before they become problems

• Helping with fundraising: Writing grant applications, helping come up with fundraising ideas

The need-to-know

Time commitment: Around 4-8 hours per month - this includes one monthly trustee meeting, your financial review work, and the occasional extra task that crops up

Term: We're looking for a minimum 2-year commitment initially, which then becomes a rolling 1-year term subject to the constitutional requirements. 

When we meet: We will be setting our meeting dates at the start of the organisation's year (October 2025) so everyone can plan ahead. 

Next steps timeline:

• Applications close: 5 September 2025 at 17:00

• Interview dates: TBC - dependent on application numbers

• Next board meeting: TBC

Why this role matters

Every month, we see the difference our work makes to neurodivergent legal professionals who've struggled to find their place in traditional firm culture. Your financial expertise won't just keep our books balanced - it'll help us scale our impact responsibly and ensure we're here for the long haul.

What we offer in return

• Real impact: See directly how your skills contribute to meaningful change

• Supportive team: Work with a committed and welcoming board that'll have your back

• Professional development: Gain valuable charity governance experience

• Flexibility: We’re a team of working professionals and always work around professional commitments

• Recognition: References and recommendations for future opportunities

• Reimbursed expenses: We cover reasonable costs related to your trustee duties

We're committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you need any adjustments to our application process, just let us know.

Application deadline: 5 September 2025 at 17:00

This is an exciting opportunity to join a charity at the very start and to make a difference in shaping how we move forward.

Who are we looking for?

At present we are working towards being fully operational, over the next year Living Reasons will be looking to ensure that all of our operational activity, whether internally or with people who come in contact with the organisation, are having the best experience they can possibly have and that the work we are carrying out, the campaigns we are focusing on and where we are focusing our time and our money, is relevant and remains so moving forward.

That is where I lived experience board of volunteers comes in. In essence that lived experience board is the driver for all that we do as an organisation and will inform, guide and develop the organisation.

The board is broken in to separate lived experiences which hold focus groups, support groups and communicated with each other to talk about members lived experiences, support each other and feel part of a community, while also using the voice and power of that lived experience to bring about change. The board chooses what information is passed on to the organisation and what is not.

Additionally, to the community aspects of the role, you will also be sent specific materials to share your experiences or take part in research or in new policy discussions or campaign ideas as the organisation evolves.

Additionally, to the specific lived experience groups, the full board can communicate with each other and will have periodic full board meetings that will allow people to share their experiences from various viewpoints, so that cross overs and shared experiences can become strength but can also guide the overall operation of Living Reasons.

For this role, all you need is to have lived experience of mental health conditions, either from a personal viewpoint, or as a supporter/care giver/guardian/family member. There will be two separate groups (one for personal experience and people who are supporting someone – this allows for different conversations to happen).

This role will really drive change, not just in Living Reasons as an organisation, but in society as a whole.

What is the plan?

The person who is starting the charity up is autistic, has ADHD, CPTSD and also multiple physical conditions that effect daily life and is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has faced a lot of issues in life because of these things.

Living Reasons is being created to fix what we think is a challenging situation that is getting harder to achieve every week, month and year in the current economic, political, environmental and societal landscape. It is not easily defined but we hope the charity objects below will help put context to what we want to achieve, what we can say is that below are the issues we are trying to address, how we do this will change as quickly as society does, but the issues we want to tackle are these:

1) Outdated and damaging employment practices

2) Accessibility to services

3) Limited employment, training and education opportunities

4) Lack of support during times of crisis or need

5) Lack of equity and agency for many people in society

6) Institutional discrimination that is not challenged

7) Abuse of the legal system at all levels

8) Abuse of power in government bodies

9) Poor access to healthcare

10)  Unequal treatment of many people in society by large corporations

11)  Assumptions made by wider society based on incorrect, outdated or discriminatory rhetoric that is used in daily life

12)  Outdated company engagement with the public

13)  Lack of support that is not talked about and not being addressed

Our Living Values -

Creativity

1) Imaginative Development (Individual)

2) Instilled Collaboration (Internal)

3) Changing The Status Quo (External)

Prospectivity

1) What Can You Do (Individual)

2) What Can We Do (Internal)

3) What Can They Do (External)

Revolutionary 

1) Inspire With Confidence (Individual)

2) Boundaryless Innovation (Internal)

3) Challenge Traditions (External)

Attentivity

1) Analyse and Redesign (Individual)

2) Rebel and Reform (Internal)

3) Enquire and Reimagine (External)