Animal volunteer roles

Role Purpose

The Volunteer PR Officer will help raise awareness of the organisation’s mission, activities, and achievements by creating and sharing compelling stories. They will nurture relationships with the media, support communication campaigns, and play a key role in strengthening the organisation’s public profile.

Key Responsibilities

Media Relations

• Draft and distribute press releases, articles, and media briefings

• Build and maintain strong relationships with journalists, bloggers, and local media outlets

• Respond promptly and professionally to media enquiries

Content Creation

• Produce engaging content for newsletters, blogs, and social media

• Support the creation and design of promotional materials (posters, flyers, campaign assets)

• Capture and share stories that highlight the impact of the organisation’s work

Campaigns & Events

• Assist with promoting fundraising and awareness campaigns

• Publicise events through traditional and digital communication channels

• Represent the organisation at community events and networking opportunities

Brand & Reputation

• Ensure all communications reflect the organisation’s tone, values, and branding

• Monitor media coverage and report key highlights to the team

• Provide support with crisis communication when required

Skills & Qualities

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Confident networker with the ability to build positive relationships

• Creative, energetic, and full of ideas for campaigns and content

• Familiarity with social media platforms and digital communication tools

• Organised, reliable, and able to work independently

Commitment

• Flexible hours: approximately 3–6 hours per week, depending on campaigns and events

• Willingness to attend occasional meetings and community events

Benefits of Volunteering

• Gain hands-on experience in PR and communications

• Develop professional skills and expand your network

• Make a meaningful contribution to a cause that matters

• Join a passionate and supportive team of volunteers

Are you a qualified human-focused medical professional with an interest in multi-species medicine? Are you innovative, with creative insight & a vision for progressive medical practice? If so, we would welcome your application to join our Board of Trustees.

Our ideal candidate:

• A qualified medical professional with expertise in human medicine and a strong interest in multi-species medicine and innovative healthcare practice.

• Understands trustee commitments and responsibilities.

• Can contribute to strategic discussions through effective communication and judgment.

• Is non-judgmental and respectful of diverse experiences, views, and cultures.

• Is committed to the aims and values of Humanimal Trust and can work collaboratively to enrich the vision and strategy of our growing organisation.

We welcome applications from individuals with a range of perspectives, experience, backgrounds and skills.

What’s in it for you?

• A unique opportunity to drive innovative change and have a positive impact on millions of human and animal lives.

• Development of career enhancing skills and experience, including governance and leadership skills.

• The opportunity to build interdisciplinary relationships with a team of passionate trustees, staff, and volunteers.

Summary of responsibilities

• Drive strategic planning, provide leadership and oversee delivery of results.

• Approve business plans and budgets, agree targets, and monitor performance.

• Ensure board members have required skills through appropriate recruitment, induction and development processes.

• Ensure effective audits and approve annual accounts.

• Support the CEO and ensure good management.

• Ensure productive relationships are maintained.

• Ensure a high standard of corporate governance and behaviour.

• Be clear about the most significant strategic risks ensure mitigation steps are in place.

• Empathy with the aims of the organisation, its values and behaviours.

Appointment term: A minimum term of three years, with the possibility of two consecutive terms, so six years in total.

Time commitment: Quarterly Board meetings, c.2h per meeting, plus preparation.

Preferred background, knowledge and experience: A qualified medical professional with expertise in human medicine and a strong interest in multi-species medicine.

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Without the passionate and committed teams of volunteers across Cats Protection we wouldn’t be able to help the thousands of cats and kittens each year that rely on us for help. Our Cat welfare team leaders have the important role of coordinating, encouraging and supporting teams of fosterer volunteers and cat care volunteers. They help make sure volunteers with direct cat care roles are happy and confident and provide advice and guidance when needed. This incredible teamwork means we are able to help more cats and kittens in need.

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Volunteering alongside colleagues including the branch coordinator/team leader, Cat Welfare team, branch development manager and Vet team to ensure that cat care policies, procedures and standards are applied
• Support fosterers to follow cat welfare policies and procedures
• Acting as the main point of contact within the branch for cat welfare and ensuring that welfare updates are shared and implemented effectively
• Supporting the branch by ensuring that accurate and up to date records of all cats helped are maintained, using specified systems
• Attending relevant volunteer training sessions and encouraging other volunteers to do likewise
• With the other volunteers, recruit, induct and support all branch fosterers and cat care volunteers
• Represent the branch at relevant meetings
• Play an active part in the branch committee, being part of the branch team leading on cat adoption information and updates
• Collaborating with the cat adoption team leader to ensure the highest standards of cat care are applied in line with our policies and procedures

As a Gardening & Grounds volunteer you will be helping to maintain the flower beds and grounds around the Visitor Centre and our two AirBnB properties on site to a high standard, ensuring that we maintain a diverse habitat for nature and that our visitors and guests enjoy their visits.

This role involves:

• Assisting with the maintenance and development of the gardens and grounds around the visitor centre and car park;
• Seasonal planting, pruning and harvesting of flower beds;
• Weeding areas, where necessary;
• Mowing set areas when required;
• Welcoming and engaging visitors;
• Keeping up to date with the work of WWT and Welney and sharing that with visitors

Looking for valuable work experience to gain relevant skills or want to spend more time outdoors? Or both? Look no further - a volunteering position with us plays a crucial role in saving wetlands for wildlife and people as well as:

• Being part of a volunteering experience in an inspiring environment and getting closer to nature
• Making a real contribution to the conservation work of WWT
• Learning new, transferable skills and being part of an inclusive volunteering experience
• Becoming part of a friendly and dedicated team
• Gaining free entry to all WWT wetland centres throughout the UK on presentation of your WWT name badge, and enjoying a great discount in WWT shops and cafes
• You will be provided with a WWT uniform and receive full induction and training for your role

Volunteers are an essential part of the WWT team. You'll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and anything else you need. 

If you are interested in volunteering for WWT but don't wish to apply online, please email us or give us a call and leave a message with your name and number. 

About You

This role will suit you if:

You have a can-do attitude, are happy to help us in all weathers, and are both a practical person and physically fit. Having enthusiasm and experience in gardening would be helpful, but a willingness to use and develop skills in the hand tools and equipment we provide is more important. You’ll receive clear direction, however, the ability to work under your own initiative and being self-motivated is also needed. Having, or being happy to develop, the confidence to engage our visitors with the work of WWT is also a key part of this role.

Please note, you must be 18 or over to apply for this role.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you'll love volunteering at WWT

• Feel good knowing you are helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by like-minded wetland lovers
• Hear from the people who inject their energy, passion and expertise into wetlands and wildlife - talks, walks, webinars, tea and cake...
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Volunteer discount on shopping and memberships
• Access to webinars and practical information to help you manage daily life

We look forward to hearing from you! 

People & HR Director – Filling Good (Sustainable Retail Community Benefit Society)

Location: Remote/Hybrid – Maidenhead, Berkshire
Commitment: Voluntary (Approx. 4 hrs/week)
Application Deadline:We will interview candidates as we receive applications of interest
Start Date:  ASAP

About Filling Good

Filling Good is a community-led sustainable retail community benefit society on a mission to reduce waste, promote ethical consumption, and support local, eco-conscious producers. Based in Maidenhead, we are passionate about empowering our members and customers to live more sustainably. As a co-operative, we are owned and governed by our members and guided by values of fairness, transparency, and social impact.

Main purpose of the job

Recognising the primary importance of our volunteers, be responsible for all people-related issues and processes to do with volunteers, members, work experience and paid staff and occasional assistance with Duke of Edinburgh students.

This position is a volunteer position.

Key tasks

- Be responsible for recruitment and for issuing and maintaining contracts

- Members: manage membership lifecycle, from registration to end of membership: welcome emails, renewals, communication of information relating to training and the shop

- Maintain and when required be responsible for operating the grievance, disciplinary, and safeguarding procedures

- Make sure that the Filling Good community is nurtured with get togethers, laughs, etc…

- Training for volunteers

- Documenting organization and job descriptions

Ideal candidate:

- You have experience in HR and people-related processes.

- You have a good understanding of retail and shop floor working and the best approach to working with volunteers.

- You have about 4 hours per week to dedicate to the position, including some regular board meetings.

Every day, disabled people who rely on highly trained assistance dogs face unnecessary barriers. From being refused entry to shops and restaurants, to navigating confusing legal protections. These challenges persist despite the vital role assistance dogs play in giving people greater independence, confidence, and opportunity. Outdated legislation and a lack of clarity around rights and responsibilities mean progress is slow. Change is urgently needed.

That’s where you come in. We are working in partnership with Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK), the umbrella body of 14 accredited assistance dog charities in the UK, to build an Advisory Panel of expert voices to help shape the future of access and protection for assistance dog partnerships. By joining, you will contribute to a vision of a society where disabled people face no barriers, where legislation is clear and enforceable, and where high standards safeguard both people and dogs.

What we’re looking for

Panel members will bring credibility, relevant skills and knowledge, and a commitment to integrity, openness, and collaboration. You will be confident in influencing, communicating clearly, and making an active contribution. The ability to draw on your networks to support the panel’s work is also valuable.

To achieve this, ADUK seeks individuals from the following fields:

• Legal - able to offer insight and guidance on legislative frameworks and legal interpretations
• Lobbying and changemaking
• Advocacy
• Disability rights and access
• Animal welfare
• Strategic communications, marketing or PR

Panel members are expected to:

• Demonstrate high levels of personal credibility, bringing relevant experience, skills and knowledge.
• Conduct themselves with integrity, objectivity, openness, and honesty.
• Demonstrate their capability to be personally effective, with excellent communication skills, and the ability to influence, and actively contribute.
• Harness relevant networks as required.

Training will be provided on assistance dog standards and/or ADUK policy context.

About ADUK

ADUK work to the highest international standards of assistance dog training and welfare, uniting their member organisations, and systematically changing minds - from policymakers to service providers, through to sector professionals and the general public, using evidence-based advocacy and education to further their objectives.

If you’re really excited about this opportunity, but your experience doesn’t align with the skills and experience above, we still encourage you to get in touch to tell us what you can offer the ADUK Advisory Panel.

For more information, please contact Katherine Anderson-Scott, Executive Director of Charisma Charity Recruitment. Expressions of interest should be submitted through the Charisma website and include a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.

We welcome and encourage expressions of interest from people of all backgrounds who reflect our diverse society.

Closing date: Monday 24 November 2025

Charisma vetting interviews will need to be completed by close of play on the 2 December in preparation for shortlist submission on the 3 December.

Interviews with ADUK are expected to take place in mid-December, with the possibility of some sessions being conducted in January 2026. We appreciate your understanding as we navigate a busy time of year.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Thousands of cats each year rely on the help of animal charities because they have been abandoned, they have strayed or because there has been a change in their owner’s circumstances. Becoming an administration volunteer is just one way you can help improve the lives of cats in your local community. Our administration volunteers help provide vital admin support to our volunteer groups and teams across Cats Protection. They help keep up to date records of the number of cats that have been rehomed, collate supporter details and send out newsletters. This could be the perfect volunteer role if you have administrative experience, a passion for cats, or both!

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Recording relevant information related to your volunteer group
• Signposting enquiries to the relevant teams within Cats Protection
• Sending information to supporters, volunteers and to our Head Office
• Distributing information leaflets if required

Contempor.ary Music for All (CoMA) is a bold participatory new music charity, where music-makers of all backgrounds, ages and abilities build a culture of musical participation together. From ensembles to summer schools, festivals, sector conferences, and our extensive music score catalogue, CoMA’s activity is a catalyst for cultivating joyful musical participation, supporting diverse living composers in creating bold and innovative new work and championing diversity in the new music sector.

CoMA is seeking to appoint an experienced trustee to play a key role in the strategic planning, development and responsibility of the organisation. We are looking for a candidate who is passionate about ensuring the longevity of the charity, celebrating our bold approach in delivering creative and accessible new music experiences. We’re looking for trustees who are interested in ensuring the staff, particularly the CEO, are supported and positively challenged. This role is an exciting opportunity to make an impact on the vibrant UK-wide arts community, and to contribute significantly to the new music landscape of the UK.

Click here to view our current trustees.

After assessing the areas of expertise currently represented on our board, we’re particularly interested in applicants with the following experience:

• Environmental Policy and and Implementation
• Financial Management
• Philanthropic Development

CoMA operates under a collaborative leadership model, encouraging staff and trustees to suggest ideas, take initiative, and carry out new projects & strategies. Candidates are not required to have previous experience in a trustee position. CoMA is able to offer all trustees training opportunities in governance and arts leadership.

Welcoming people out of the cold for a hot drink, or out of the heat for an ice cream, you know exactly what our visitors need as part of their visit to us.

By getting involved, you could… 

• Join an enthusiastic team and make new friends 

• Support visitors to gain the best from their day 

• Learn about our access support equipment and how to welcome support animals in to the café 

• Get the low down on the latest Ickworth bake to share with others 

• Develop your hospitality skills and put them into practice 

• Use your smile and customer service skills, so people feel at home 

• Help us raise money so we continue our work looking after special places 

What’s involved?  

• Meet and greet visitors when they enter the café with a warm smile. 

• Help with queue management and direct visitors. 

• When visitors leave say goodbye and thank them for their visit. 

• Undertake tasks ranging from clearing and preparing tables for the next visitor, to supporting families with pushchairs and wheel chair users navigate the pathways between tables. 

• Use your smile and customer service skills to engage with visitors, share knowledge of the estate and generally enhance their visit

• Have a strong working knowledge of our menu and sharing this with visitors.

• Playing your part to continue our work looking after special places 

• Learning and developing a range of skills such as exceptional service, access support knowledge and sharing what’s on at Ickworth.

This role will suit you if you are:

• Are cheerful and like being around people – you’ll meet a lot at lunchtime! 

• Are looking for a varied role – you’ll be looking after a whole range of visitors 

• Are keen to be part of a team 

• Are good at keeping places looking tidy and welcoming  
  Have a keen eye to detail to notice when a visitor needs help 

• Love chatting about food, new recipes and where our ingredients come from

About The Role

Volunteers are integral to the running of our Welney reserve and visitor centre and without their help we wouldn’t be able to welcome our visitors to this amazing 1300 acre wetland of international importance. Our volunteer team are friendly and committed, and say they benefit by gaining new experiences, meeting new people and sharing the story of our work.

At WWT Welney Wetland Centre we want to ensure that our visitors receive a warm, friendly welcome to ensure they have a memorable visit to our Visitor Centre and Reserve. In this role, you will be helping to bring people of all ages and backgrounds closer to wetland wildlife, by providing assistance for visitors to explore the reserve and learn about WWT’s pioneering wetland conservation work, to save wetlands for wildlife and people. In this role you will support the delivery of a range of interactive visitor engagement activities, including guided walks, and other seasonal activities, drawing people in by telling engaging stories about our work and inspiring people to support us as members of the WWT.

On a day-to-day basis, you’ll be answering visitor questions, helping them to navigate the reserve, and identifying basic wildlife. You'll get regular briefings to keep you up to date with what's going on at the centre, and we can offer coaching to help you feel more confident talking to our visitors and leading guided activities.

Volunteers are an essential part of the WWT team. You'll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and anything else you need. 

If you are interested in volunteering for WWT but don't wish to apply online, please email us or leave us a message. 

About You

This role will suit you if you have a positive, friendly, can-do attitude and are committed to delivering excellent customer service. Welney has a close-working team, however, the ability to work under your own initiative and being self-motivated during quieter times is also needed. You’ll have a real interest in and enthusiasm for WWT’s work, nature and the outdoors and can share this with others. Having, or being happy to develop, the confidence to engage our visitors simply and effectively around their needs is also a key part of this role, being a good communicator in English (other languages are also useful!).

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you'll love volunteering at WWT

• Feel good knowing you are helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by like-minded wetland lovers
• Hear from the people who inject their energy, passion and expertise into wetlands and wildlife - talks, walks, webinars, tea and cake...
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Volunteer discount on shopping and memberships
• Access to webinars and practical information to help you manage daily life

Practicalities

Where will you be based? Welney Wetland Centre

Who will you volunteer with? Visitor Engagement Team, Events & Marketing Officer

Time commitment?  We are looking for volunteers who can ideally commit to one day a week on a regular basis. Shifts are from 9.15am to 3pm, with suitable breaks. However, we will mutually agree the hours that you can contribute.

We want your volunteering to be a positive and fun experience. You’ll get a warm welcome, including information on training, equipment and other information you need. This will include risk assessments based on your role and any particular support you need. Volunteers receive access to our sites, and discounts in our shops and cafes. Some roles include a uniform or require the use of equipment or protective clothing. If you are based at a particular site or office location, you’ll need to be able to get yourself there and back. Information on locations can be found on our website. We will keep you up to date with what’s happening across WWT and the difference you will be helping to make happen.

We look forward to hearing from you! 

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, staff 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 team leaders have the exciting and varied role of inspiring our fundraising volunteers to plan and deliver local fundraising events. Using their passion and imagination, they oversee a small team of fundraising volunteers who come together to raise the vital funds needed to cover costs such as veterinary bills and food. Our fundraising team leaders support their team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure our volunteers are happy, confident and supported.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Supporting and encouraging a team of fundraising volunteers in the Horsham and district area
• Planning fundraising events and activities with your team
• Allocating tasks before and during fundraising events
• Keeping financial records from fundraising events
• Encouraging and promoting a professional image of Cats Protection 
• Following policies and guidelines and ensuring licences and permits are obtained for events

A bit more information about this role and the team

• This is a flexible role. The amount of time you offer can work to your availability and convenience.
• There may be opportunities for your activities to be fully remote and/or admin based if you'd prefer.
• You will need your own transport if you wish to attend events, ideally a car or van since items, stock and equipment will usually be needed.
• We ask that you complete training to support you in your role. This can be completed online if you have access to the internet and the necessary device (computer/laptop/tablet etc). Support can be offered or paper versions of much of the training if needed.

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 funds and awareness through organising local events. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• Great people skills and the ability to bring out the best in others
• Excellent organisational skills
• The ability to prioritise and delegate
• An appreciation of the importance of handling money and charity resources responsibly
• Fine-tuned communication skills and a passion for engaging with people within your local community
• Basic IT skills to use Cats Protection systems - training and support can be provided
• Committee volunteers need to be aged 18+

Time expectation

Our fundraising team leaders usually spend three to four hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

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.

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Thousands of cats each year rely on the help of animal charities because they have been abandoned, they have strayed or because there has been a change in their owner’s circumstances. Becoming an administration volunteer is just one way you can help improve the lives of cats in your local community. Our administration volunteers help provide vital admin support to our volunteer groups and teams across Cats Protection. They help keep up to date records of the number of cats that have been rehomed, collate supporter details and send out newsletters. This could be the perfect volunteer role if you have administrative experience, a passion for cats, or both!

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

A bit more information about this role and the team

The branch are looking for someone to help them with the cat microchip administration. This will include logging microchip details on the microchip databases with the new owner information after a cat is adopted from the branch.

What we need from you

You’ll be:

• Recording relevant information related to your volunteer group
• Signposting enquiries to the relevant teams within Cats Protection
• Sending information to supporters, volunteers and to our Head Office
• Distributing information leaflets if required

Filling Good is a community-led sustainable retail community benefit society on a mission to reduce waste, promote ethical consumption, and support local, eco-conscious producers. Based in Maidenhead, we are passionate about empowering our members and customers to live more sustainably. As a co-operative, we are owned and governed by our members and guided by values of fairness, transparency, and social impact.

We are looking for volunteer retail assistants to help run the shop. The shifts are from 9.45 am until 1.45 pm or 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm and we are open Tuesday to Saturday 10 - 5 (and on Sundays but shorter hours).  You will be serving customers, refilling food dispensers, receiving and processing deliveries, liaising with other volunteers and helping make Maidenhead residents follow a more sustainable lifestyle.

Volunteering in the shop will entitle you to a discount on your shopping and you will meet lots of other environmentally friendly, lovely people.

Feel free to pop in for an informal chat or if you have any other questions

Invitation to apply for the position of Society Chair

A. Description of the Society

The Society is the third oldest local conservation charity in England, founded in 1897 by many of the public figures who  campaigned to procure the passing of the 1871 Hampstead Heath Act, which saved Hampstead Heath as a public open space in perpetuity, and who went on to found the National Trust.

The Society is an unincorporated association, constituted by its contractual constitution, and is a registered charity. Its charitable objects are as follows:

3. (a)  to preserve those parts of Hampstead Heath which are subject to section 16 of The Hampstead Heath Act 1871* in their wild and natural state, and also to preserve the natural and characteristic features of the later additions to the Heath, so far as is consistent with their enjoyment by the public;

(b) to promote and maintain the amenities and characteristics of the environs of the Heath, and of the buildings and streets of Hampstead; and

(c) to promote public interest in the study of natural history, conservation, and the history of the areas referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Rule 3.

*[Section 16 provides: The [Metropolitan] Board [of Works] shall at all times preserve, as far as may be, the natural aspect and state of the Heath, and to that end shall protect the turf, gorse, heather, timber and other trees, shrubs, and brush-wood thereon.]

The Society’s geographical remit is limited to Hampstead Heath, the fringes of the Heath, and the old borough of Hampstead (now legally subsumed into the London Borough of Camden).

It is governed by a ‘general committee’ of some 15 trustees which is supported by (i) three subcommittees (each of approximately a dozen members) responsible for the distinct areas of Hampstead Town, Hampstead Heath, and local planning applications, and (ii) a Plaque Selection Panel which is responsible for the erection of plaques on buildings in Hampstead Town commemorating famous residents.

The Chair, along with principal Society officers, is elected annually at the annual general meeting.

The Society has approximately 2,000 members and is in sound financial and reputational shape. Further details of the Society may be found on the Society's website. 

B. General role of the Chair

The general role of the Society Chair includes the duties outlined in the English Charity Commission document entitled “The essential trustee: what you need to know, what you need to do”, namely:

· help plan and run general committee meetings and in members’ meetings

· take the lead on ensuring that meetings are properly run and recorded

· take the lead on ensuring that trustees comply with their duties and the charity is well governed

· act as a spokesperson for the charity

· act as a link between trustees and committee members.

Reference should also be made to “A Chair’s Compass - A guide for chairs of charities and non-profit organisations”. 

Given the local remit of the Society, it is desirable that the prospective Society Chair should be resident in Hampstead (including West Hampstead), Belsized, Highgate or Hampstead Garden Suburb. The prospective Society Chair will be invited to join the general committee and ‘shadow’ the current Chair for the appropriate period before taking over.

C. Core and specific tasks of the Society Chair

Convene, set the agenda for, and chair bi-monthly meetings of the general committee, and approve the draft minutes of those meetings

Convene and set the agenda for the Society’s annual general meeting in June of each year, deliver a verbal annual report at that meeting, and approve the draft minutes of that meeting

Write the annual trustees’ report for inclusion in the annual return to the Charity Commission

Settle and approve the Society's annual financial statements as prepared by the Treasurer and the Society's auditors/examiners

Write a column of approximately 2,000 words for the Society's newsletter published in January, May and October

From time to time, as an observer, attend meetings of the Society's three subcommittees (Town, Heath and Planning) and the Society’s Plaque Selection Panel

Support the Society’s vice-chairs in their chairing of the Society’s three subcommittees (see above)

Oversee recruitment to the general committee and, as required, the Society's three subcommittees

As required, be the public or official face of the Society in dealings with the media, and the City of London Corporation (the freehold owner of Hampstead Heath and the sole trustee of the Hampstead Heath registered charity), Camden Council (including Hampstead Ward local councillors) and other local or governmental bodies

As required, lead (even if only in  a titular or nominal sense) campaigns run by the Society

Attend and, as required, host Society events, including the New Members Party, the Xmas Party and Society lectures (usually two to three a year)

Maintain relations with other non-governmental bodies with which the Society has regular dealings in matters of common interest, including the Vale of Health Society, the Highgate Society, the Hampstead Garden Suburb Residents Association, the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum,  Heath Hands, the Kenwood Estate, Keats House, Camden History Society, the London Forum and Civic Voice

Identify, and suggest to its editor, items for inclusion in the Society's newsletter