Lay Advisory Group member (Patient and Public Engagement)
Average of one to two days per month
Are you interested in healthcare? Pathologists are either doctors or scientists who are experts in diagnosing illness and disease together with supporting the treatment of patients throughout their life. At the Royal College of Pathologists, we have members from 17 diverse pathology specialities working mainly in hospitals and universities across the UK. We regard lay input as essential to our work in setting standards for training and high-quality practice of pathology.
Nominations are invited for one post of the Lay Advisory Group. The successful candidate will be in post for a period of three years in the first instance, within the College’s Lay Advisory Group of volunteer members.
The Lay Advisory Group member is responsible for contributing a lay perspective on matters of importance to the College by working with committees or working groups assigned to oversee or manage specific areas of interest.
Lay members contribute the perspectives of patients, people who use services, experts in related fields of interest, or communities to a committee's work. This means they tend to offer a different point of view from other members on a committee. Lay members usually have a strong understanding of what matters most for people using health services.
AVAILABLE ROLES
We consider lay input as essential to our work, ensuring that we always see our professional activities through the prism of the patient and the public. We are recruiting to fill specific lay roles within the College according to applicants’ background and expertise. We also wish to be able to call on our Lay Advisory Group to advise on ad hoc issues as needed, and to review certain guideline documents.
Public Engagement (1 post)
The focus of this new post will be working with the Corporate and Public Engagement Manager in promoting awareness of College function and its 17 pathology specialties to our target audiences. They will support the development and delivery of public engagement events and activities. There will be opportunities to assist in the review and development of planned resources and materials to support public engagement.
The post-holder will also provide, with other lay members, input to College guidance for the profession.
This post would suit an applicant with a background in public engagement (in health or otherwise), or with experience in the health sector. Experience in patient involvement and engagement would be an advantage as this is an area that the College is looking to develop and expand on over the next few years.
WHAT IS THE COMMITMENT?
- Become familiar with the College, its high-level processes, and the detailed work of specific group(s) or committee(s). This may include occasional attendance at College Council as an observer.
- Through membership of one or more College committees, advise the College Council and provide a lay perspective on College matters, acting as a ‘critical friend’.
- Keep up-to-date with the College’s activities through access to Presidents’ newsletters, The Bulletin and website.
- As needed and by negotiation, provide lay input to ad hoc work as required e.g. to develop a College policy position on specific topics of public concern.
- Horizon scan for issues of possible interest to the College.
- Reporting within the Lay Advisory Group and to the Clinical Director on the lay input to committees with which they are working with and attend 3 annual Lay Advisory Group meetings at the College or online.
- Contribute to an annual report to Council that is submitted in writing by the relevant committee(s) on which they sit.
The closing date for applications is Monday 5th May 2025.
Selection will be by application and interview, and full induction will be given on appointment.
Applications will be considered by a panel comprising a Lay Trustee, Clinical Director of Publishing and Engagement and a relevant subject specialist. An interview (either in person or via tele/video conference) will be arranged to confirm interest, suitability and the role itself.
The panel will make a final decision on appointment to the role.
Lay Member posts are not remunerated, but all expenses are covered.
We are committed to increasing diversity and inclusion within our organisation, as well as using our voice and platform to help make pathology as a profession more inclusive. This means reflecting critically on issues of diversity and inclusion within all that we do, identifying and taking appropriate actions to reduce inequality, and welcoming challenge.
We welcome applications from anyone regardless of their disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion or socio-economic background.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care.
We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, employees and supporters.
A bit about this role
As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising volunteers use their passion for cats and people to raise the vital funds needed to help more cats and kittens in need. As a fundraising volunteer we want to support you to fundraise in whatever way suits you best – whether that’s organising a fundraising event, fundraising online, promoting fundraising activities on social media, completing administration or supporting the development of new fundraising ideas! Whatever your skill set, this could be the role for you!
What can you expect to be doing?
This is a really flexible role – you can choose what you’d like to get involved with:
- Face-to-face fundraising – organising or helping with fundraising events, running supermarket collections and fundraising stands, monitoring collection tins
- Online fundraising – setting up online appeals, increasing social media engagement to maximise funds raised
- Marketing – spreading the word about our fundraising activities, for example on social media and with the local press
- Completing administration – processing donations, sorting and recording donated goods, completing Gift Aid paperwork
- Championing our work – getting involved with developing new fundraising ideas and increasing community engagement
What are the benefits to you and the cats?
You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by helping raise vital funds through fundraising activities. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated group of volunteers. Whether you’d rather be out and about, or volunteering from your own home, there are so many ways to fundraise.
We’re looking for someone with
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Willingness to be part of a team
- Good organisational skills
- Flexible approach
- Knowledge of local community networks (would be an advantage)
Time expectation
This is a flexible role that can fit around your other commitments. You’ll be part of a team all working together to raise vital funds while having fun in the process!
Support, guidance and keeping you safe
At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.
The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.
Making a better life for cats, because life is better with cats


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Community researchers wanted to help East London Waterworks Park ensure our community-owned park is inclusive and welcoming for all.
East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces.
We are looking for community researchers specialised to contribute to our community-led working circle who are working on on a listening project to ensure often underrepresented voices in conservation and environmental projects are heard and centred.
There is opportunity to lead on projects and facilitate the direction of the working circle.
The Inclusivity Circle currently meets monthly on a Wednesday evening on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.
While your experienced research skills are crucial, we also value your ability to engage with the community and build partnerships. Experience in conducting community-based research or working with community organisations is important. A strong understanding of community dynamics and the ability to collaborate effectively will be invaluable in ensuring your research findings are relevant and impactful. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role.
Contribute to the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. Your research expertise will be vital in shaping our new biodiverse park. By conducting listening research on community needs, and potential park uses, you'll help us create a sustainable and inclusive space. Your findings will inform our design, programming, and outreach efforts, ensuring the park meets the needs of our community and contributes to biodiversity conservation.
East London Waterworks Park is a charity campaigning to create a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces



