Area volunteer roles in harlow, essex

Single Parents Support and Advice Services, we are a Charitable Incorporated

Company with over 35000 members UK wide

Our charity founder and director Nicola Booth in 2012 took the initiative to set up

SPSAS with the purpose to reduce isolation, loneliness, and to promote equal and

fair treatment among Single Parents and their Children. We also aim to help, advise

and support Single / Lone Parents by giving them access to support and services

that normally they would not have access for varied reasons. We also aim to

eliminate the stigma attached with being a single parent in society and across all

ethnicities across the UK. 

Our charity runs solely on donations and all members of our charity including the

director are currently working on a non-paid voluntary basis. Despite these hurdles

We feel we have made a positive impact with our services.

We are seeking Legal advisors to work remotely to conduct research and provide

advice on various areas on law via email to members seeking advice.

Legal Advisor Responsibilities:

 Conducting legal analysis and researching legal matters.

 Providing advice on legal matters.

 Drafting legal opinions, memoranda, and briefing documents.

 Reviewing legal material.

To be considered we require the individual to meet the criteria below

Legal Advisor Requirements:

 Bachelors degree in Law/ currently studying/completed LPC/BPTC

 Strong analytical and research skills.

 Effective interpersonal and communication skills.

 Ability to work well within a team and individually.

 Ability to work long hours when needed.

 Commit to one day a week for a minimum 3-month period

We hope we have caught your interest and very much appreciate you volunteering

for SPSAS

Summary

East Herts Family Support Service are looking for Volunteers across a variety of roles and locations to support the service lead by One YMCA.

Some of the sessions that require support include:
 

Stay & Play

Providing a fun session for children aged 0-5 years with a range of activities and resources for children to explore. We will provide a specific area for babies with staff on hand to offer support and advice. Families can come along with their children to have fun and socialise with other parents and carers.

Gilston Village Hall, GILSTON, Wednesdays, 10 - 11.30 am
Beane valley family centre (0 to 18 months), HERTFORD, Thursdays, 12.45 - 3.15pm
Selections Family center, HERTFORD, Fridays, 9.30 - 12.00pm
Southern Maltings,WARE, Thursdays, 9.30 - 11.30pm
High Trees Family Centre, TURNFORD, Fridays, 1.15pm - 3.45
Active Rhyme Time, High Trees Family Centre, TURNFORD, Mondays, 9.30 - 11.15
Creswick Family Centre, WELWYN GARDEN CITY, Wednesday, 9.30am - 12.00pm
Silver Birches Family Centre, WARE, Tuesdays, 9.30am - 11.15am
Greenfield FC – Waltham Cross, Tuesdays, 9.15am - 11.45am
Rosedale Community Church, Cheshunt, Mondays, 12.30 - 3.30pm
Woolmer Green Village Hall, KNEBWORTH,Tuesday, 9.30am - 12.000am
Howe Dell Community Hall, Hatfield, Wednesdays, 9.30am -12.00am 
Breaks Manor Community Centre, Hatfield, Mondays, 9.30am - 12.00

Main Tasks could include:

To support the vision of the Family Centre supporting the Early Start Team in their work with parents, carer's, families and Children (under 11years)

• To ensure all families
• feel welcome comfortable and valued.
• To support the engagement of parents in their children’s development and learning.
• Setting up/tidying away
• activities.
• Engage & play with the children.
• Lead on specific activities as required.
• Includes both indoor and outdoor activities
• Encourage and support families to register with the service

Skills, Experience and Qualities needed:

• Aged 18 or over.
•  Willing to undergo an enhanced DBS check.
• You need to have a friendly approach.
• Excellent communication skills
• Maintain confidentiality at all times
• The ability to work well in a team and unsupervised.

Support Offered:

• Training provided prior to starting role.
• Full induction into the service
• Ongoing support and supervision throughout role.

We are looking for a Campaigns Volunteer to raise awareness and campaign so that decision-makers know about and can address the needs of everyone affected by MND. 

“I love being a campaigns volunteer for the MND Association, it means I can give something back to the MND Community, who along with the Association provide a lot of support for people like me” - Ian Lev   

What is campaigning?

These are some of the things you could do as a Campaigns Volunteer! Our team will be here to support you in whatever you’re doing. 

• Sharing the MND Association’s campaigns on social media. 
• Contacting local councillors to improve services for people living with and affected by MND in your area. 
• Talking to MPs and other decision-makers about what MND is and why it’s important that people have access to high quality health and care services. 
• Working with MND Association staff to identify issues and gather evidence for campaigns. 
• Help to change laws to improve the lives of people living with and affected by MND. 

This role will suit you if:

• You want to make a positive difference for people living with and affected by MND. 
• You’re interested in learning and improving your campaigning skills. 
• You’re a good communicator. No matter where your interest lies, be it writing e-mails or talking to people, sharing stories or providing us with feedback, you have so much to offer! 
• You are computer literate and have access to email and the internet, or someone who can help you with this. 
• Willing to work autonomously but also link up with others when needed. 

‘Campaigning really works! It’s not as hard as it may sound – just be yourself and you’ll be making a positive difference for people living with and affected by MND.’ - Judith Rice 

What’s in it for you?

• A chance to make a difference to the lives of those living with and affected by MND.
• Get access to a range of training events where you can develop campaigning skills and network with other Campaigns Volunteers. 
• Join a friendly and dedicated team. 
• Exclusive early access to our campaign plans and developments in our campaigning. 
• Opportunity to connect with, learn and share with other Campaign Volunteers in our Facebook group!

How flexible is the role? 

The time required is flexible, but we would hope Campaigns Volunteers would commit to a minimum of 1-2 hours per week.

We do understand that this role may need to fit around your family, studies, caring or other commitments. 

Join Us as a Trustee – Fitzrovia Youth in Action

Make a difference in the lives of young people in central London.

Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA), a dynamic youth action charity in the heart of London, is seeking passionate and committed individuals to join our Board of Trustees. For over 25 years, we've empowered disadvantaged young people to lead positive change, enhance their skills, and actively shape their communities in and around Camden and Westminster.

We're at an exciting point in our development, with ambitious plans outlined in our 2025–2028 Strategic Plan. Our vision is clear: a society where young people confidently fulfill their potential and actively inspire community action.

Who We're Looking For:
We're keen to welcome trustees with expertise in:

• Legal (compliance, risk management, governance)
• HR (organizational development, workforce planning)
• Business Development (expanding networks and partnerships)
• Charity Growth (program scaling, sustainability)
• Fundraising (income generation strategies)

Previous board experience is beneficial but not essential. We highly value fresh perspectives, strong interpersonal skills, and a collaborative spirit.

We would especially welcome applications from individuals with connections to Camden and Westminster, as these are our core areas of operation. We are also keen to hear from people from disadvantaged backgrounds, underrepresented groups, and from former users and ambassadors of FYA.

Time Commitment:

• Four Board meetings annually (1.5 hours, held in-person)
• Four Subcommittee meetings annually (1–1.5 hours, held online)
• Two strategy evenings annually (1.5–2 hours, held in-person)

Trustee terms are three years, renewable up to nine years.

Why Join Us?

• Contribute your skills to a thriving charity with tangible community impact.
• Collaborate closely with a committed team, shaping strategic direction.
• Play a significant role in supporting and inspiring young lives.

Apply Now!

Help shape the future for young people in Fitzrovia and beyond. We warmly encourage applications from individuals across diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Summary

The gardening and growing volunteer will support our accommodation sites in maintaining their outdoor spaces at our sites across Hertfordshire and Bucks including

Brindle Court, Watford
Northgate End, Bishop's Stortford
Our smaller sites in Stevenage, Hoddesdon and Hemel Hempstead 
Crest Rd, High Wycombe

Detailed description

Having access to a secure garden or outdoor area can be crucial for providing opportunities to socialise and relax, which can be invaluable for the mental well-being of our residents.

The gardening and growing volunteer will support our accommodation sites in maintaining their outdoor spaces, including:

·Weeding

·Sweeping

·Pruning

·Clearing leaves and large twigs

·Watering plants

·Planting bulbs and tidying up flower beds

We would love for this to be an opportunity to involve our residents and potentially lead a gardening activity with them, equipping them with knowledge and skills to maintain their own green spaces in the future. 

You will need:

• Enjoy working outside in all weathers.
• An interest/basic knowledge of gardening
• Role requires some degree of physical work and lifting/manual handling
• To work under your own initiative.
• Good communication skills
• Opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills

A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided as well as access to training and events throughout the year!

Some sites have basic tools however any additional tools and material required can be discussed with your volunteer manager .

What volunteers need:
You will be required to under go a Disclosure and Barring Service check and provide details of 2 x referees

What we will provide to volunteers:

• Reimbursement of costs
• Full training and induction
• Access to events and celebrations throughout the year 

Somebody goes missing in the UK every 90 seconds. Missing People exists to ease the heartache experienced by those missing someone, and to help people who are away from home find their way back to safety. 

What will you be doing?

Missing People's vision is for every missing child, adult and family left behind to find help, hope and a safe way to reconnect. We are a non-judgemental, highly skilled team of staff and volunteers working for everyone who needs us. We provide free, confidential support, help and advice by phone, email, text and live chat.

In our 30th anniversary year, The Trustees and Executive launched a new 2023-2028 Strategy 'From Crisis to Hope' in consultation with people with lived experience and key stakeholders. The three key goals are:

1. Going missing is understood as a crisis that can be a matter of life or death
2. All missing people and their loved ones get the right help at the right time
3. Fewer missing people come to harm.

The new Chair of Trustees must be passionate about Missing People, its purpose and its values. We are looking for a new Chair of Trustees who brings valuable experience, skills and expertise. This might relate to the issue of missing (including personal experience of going missing), senior financial experience, charity experience, policing, legal experience and safeguarding. We are keen to further broaden thinking and perspectives and welcome applications from all areas of the United Kingdom, from all communities, which is important as missing touches every community. We believe diversity is important, and we aim for our board to have a mix of people, talents and backgrounds..

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a new Chair of Trustees who brings valuable experience, skills and expertise. This might relate to the issue of missing (including personal experience of going missing), senior financial experience, charity experience, policing, legal experience and safeguarding.

You will need to be aged over 18 and have:

• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to your duties as the Chair of Trustees - approximately 2-3 days per month
• Leadership, strategic vision and creative thinking
• Ability to manage a trustee board and take decisions for the good of the charity
• Ability to chair board meetings effectively and manage diverse perspectives
• Strong communication, interpersonal and networking skills
• Independent judgment and be willing to speak your mind
• The ability to read, understand and question reports including financial plans and information
• The ability to follow the rules of governing documents and any professional advice
• The ability to work effectively as a member of a team and encourage team working
• A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices
• Prior experience of committee / trustee work (desirable) 
• Knowledge of the type of work undertaken by the charity (desirable) 
• Wider involvement in the voluntary sector (desirable)

What difference will you make?

Our Chair of Trustees is integral to the mission and purpose of the charity, holding the Board and Executive Team to account for delivering the mission and achieving our ambitious goals. The Board of Trustees is made up of an experienced team of individuals who bring breadth of background, a range of deep skill sets, lived experience of the issue of missing and demonstrable empathy and passion for the work of Missing People. The Chair of Trustees will be responsible for the effectiveness of the Board of Trustees, planning and guiding meetings to ensure broad dialogue, good decision-making and clear actions.

Our Chair will work closely with the CEO and the Board to develop the charity’s strategy and to oversee its implementation and progress against its business plan. As part of this the Chair will provide support and challenge to the CEO and their senior team. 

As the Chair of Trustees at Missing People you will be driven by a powerful mission to be a lifeline when someone disappears. You will work closely alongside the Board, Executive team and Chief Executive in a collaborative way to lead the charity. The role provides a good opportunity to be involved in strategic planning in an organisation grounded in the issue of missing with a diverse group of committed and motivated Trustees.

Trustees meet quarterly at online and in-person meetings (usually in London). The Board has dedicated Committees for Finance, HR, Ethics, and Safeguarding, and Advisory Groups representing people with lived experience of the issue of going missing, policing, fundraising and policy. The Chair will attend and be a member of other committees or working groups and ensure that the governance arrangements are working in the most effective way for the charity.

Before you apply

Please apply through Reach or the application form on the Missing People website, attaching your CV and a supporting statement (maximum 2 A4 pages) that demonstrates how you meet the criteria listed in the role description attached. 

On the 'Work for Us' page of the Missing People website you will also find a Letter to Applicants detailing more information about the role and the charity. 

About the role: Advocacy Placement Volunteering You will be providing remote (office based/virtual) advocacy support for people impacted by hoarding behaviour (PwHB) who may be facing a variety of situations including legal, financial, psychological and discriminatory abuse/neglect. You will be working with trained colleagues to alleviate housing, benefits, mental health and other problems experienced by HUK's participants. HoardingUK (HUK) works to bring services together to improve person-centred, cost effective and time managed support.

The role: • Volunteer at HUK a minimum of one half-day (4 hours) each week. • Provide timely support to those using the service . • Maintain a caseload of up to three clients at each advice session. • Comply with HUK's case-management procedures, training programme and other relevant policies and procedures. • Work collaboratively to create an action plan with participants and professionals. • Assist in facilitating phone, correspondence, emails to statutory services and others. • Signpost to relevant external services based on participant need. • Keep accurate records. • Promote choice and control.

Who should apply

: • Trainees/professionals with interest/experience in mental health, housing, social care, legal frameworks, etc. • Passionate people committed to standing for rights. • People with lived experience of mental health and/or hoarding behaviour. • The ability to work sensitively and professionally with people who may be facing a variety of situations including discriminatory abuse and systemic neglect. • A commitment to values of HoardingUK Training on hoarding behaviour, advocacy and other relevant areas will be provided.

What is the Access Advisory Group?

We want to be able to share the Royal Air Force (RAF) story with everyone, including those living with all kinds of disability, visible or hidden. Our Access Advisory Group is a group of volunteers who meet to support and advise the RAF Museum to ensure access for all. Examples of previous areas of group input include new exhibitions to commemorate the centenary of the RAF and the access information available on our website.

What will I be doing?

• Attending meetings a few times a year, which you can opt to attend either online or on site,

• Giving the Museum your opinion and advice on matters relating to access,

• Contributing to tangible improvements and changes at RAF Museum London.

 This role is perfect for you if you…

• Live/have lived with a disability or have an understanding of living with a disability, or live with dementia or are supporting/have supported someone living with dementia,

• Have an interest in museums and a commitment to making museums accessible,

• Have the ability and willingness to use your experience to help us improve access throughout the Museum,

• Are committed to attending three meetings per year either online or at the RAF Museum in Hendon.

How much time would I need to commit?

The group meets three times per year (on dates agreed in advance). You can opt to attend on site or online. Meetings last for approximately two hours and are usually held during Museum opening times (10am – 5pm). We may also send occasional emails asking for advice and opinions.

Generally meetings are held every four months. Our address in London is Grahame Park Way, NW9 5LL.

What happens next?

Once you have completed the form to show your interest, we will email you with the date of the next meeting. Having attended this meeting, you could then decide if this group is for you.

Expectations

• Attend three meetings per year

Benefits

• Help heritage to be accessible to all,

• Become part of a great team of volunteers and staff,

• Gain behind-the-scenes experience within the heritage sector,

• Discover more about the history of the RAF,

• 25% discount at our retail outlets and café,

• Free access to flight simulator, 4D and virtual reality experiences,

• Travel expenses reimbursed up to £14.50 per day, in line with our policy,

• Free entry to a wide range of museums and heritage sites across the UK.

Contact

Please apply by clicking the Apply Now button on this page.

The Fourth Choir is seeking passionate and dedicated individuals to join the board managing our LGBTQ+ charitable entity and arts organisation.

The choir was founded in 2013 to give professional and non-professional LGBTQ+ singers and allies the opportunity to sing a cappella choral music to the highest standard possible, and since then has since performed more than 100 times in over 40 venues.

Fostering a fully inclusive musical environment is at the heart of what we do, and we work to affirm the identities of our members, support their wellbeing, challenge stereotypes and explore innovative themes through our activities and concert programming.

The choir is a registered charity and incorporated as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). We are governed and managed by a small board of trustees, all of whom are currently active singers with the choir. As well as governing and directing the strategic development of the choir, our trustees also manage ongoing operations, with each taking a lead role for a particular function.

We employ a professional Musical Director, who is responsible for our programming and musical leadership, and also work on occasion with a roster of Guest Conductors.

To continue building upon the success of our first decade, we are seeking to recruit external trustees to a number of key positions, who can bring external perspective, experience in key areas and help to build the capacity of our management team.

Roles we are looking to fill include:

Treasurer

Responsibilities

• Prepare annual financial report for the Charity Commission
• Keep records of income and expenditure and report on profit and loss position of events
• Pay invoices for professional fees and services

Preferred experience

• Bookkeeping experience in a business or nonprofit capacity
• Experience using accounting software such as Xero

Secretary

Responsibilities

• Keep accurate minutes of planning and board meetings
• Manage schedule of planning meetings
• Potentially take on additional organisational responsibility, such as venue bookings

Preferred experience

• ​Prior experience with minuting meetings and following up with agreed actions
• Highly organised and collegiate

Philanthropy Lead

Responsibilities

• Identify and apply for grant opportunities and report on activities
• Develop sponsorship relationships with corporate and individual donors
• Manage our communications with and offers to significant donors

​Preferred experience

• ​Experience managing and growing a giving program for a charity
• Successfully sourced grant funding and/or corporate sponsorship

Join CAP's Board and help transform the UK's relationship with alcohol.

Location: London Bridge

Time commitment: The equivalent of a day a month

Closing date: Monday 21st July

After 18 years of proven local impact, Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAP) stands at an extraordinary inflexion point. What began as a pioneering pilot in 2007 has grown into the UK’s most effective approach to tackling underage drinking, with over 300 partnerships already established across England, Scotland and Wales. But our greatest achievements may still lie ahead.

Who we are

The numbers tell a compelling story. Across our network, we’ve achieved a 63% reduction in weekly drinking among under-18s, a 44% reduction in anti-social behaviour, and 98% pass rates in Challenge 25 compliance tests following our training. We’ve surveyed over 42,000 young people, gathering evidence that has shaped policy and practice nationwide. Yet perhaps our most significant discovery came through groundbreaking research into the issue that remained stubbornly resistant to change: parental supply of alcohol to children.

While we celebrated success after success in reducing underage drinking through retailer training and youth engagement, one statistic troubled us. More than 6 in 10 children aged 11-15 who drink regularly still obtained their alcohol from their parents. Despite all our community interventions, this remained the single biggest driver of underage alcohol consumption.

That challenge led us to commission to conduct the most comprehensive review ever undertaken of why parents supply alcohol to their children and what interventions might change this behaviour. Parents aren’t acting from malice or ignorance alone – they’re driven by complex beliefs about protection, social norms, and misplaced confidence in their ability to teach “responsible drinking” to their children by allowing them to sample alcohol while their brains are still developing.

Armed with these insights, CAP secured unprecedented funding increases from our industry partners, who recognised that addressing parental supply could transform the landscape of underage drinking. Our annual income has doubled, our team has expanded significantly, and we’re now positioned to pilot evidence-based interventions that could change parental behaviour at scale.

This is where our story becomes your opportunity. CAP is transitioning from a programme with significant local impact to one with genuine national reach. Our analysis suggests we need to double our current coverage – establishing perhaps 250-300 additional partnerships in high-harm areas across the UK. We’re developing the first systematic campaign to tackle parental supply, with pilots planned across six locations that could lay the groundwork for national policy change and action.

We’re have also expanded our remit to support 18-25 year olds, recognising that our work with under-18s creates a perfect foundation for promoting safer drinking cultures in universities and young adult communities. Projects like our Cardiff CAP’s groundbreaking work on alcohol-free student activities show the potential for reshaping social norms around alcohol throughout young adulthood.

About the roles

To realise this vision, we need new Board Directors who can provide both strategic wisdom and operational insight during our most ambitious period of growth. We’re particularly seeking individuals with deep expertise in

• Finance (ideally a qualified accountant)
• Marketing and public influence
• Government relations at local or national level
• Adolescent development or education

Experience in Scotland or Wales would be especially valuable as we prioritise expansion in these high-harm regions.

This isn’t a typical non-executive role. You’ll be helping to steer an organisation that’s pioneering new approaches to one of the UK’s most persistent public health and social challenges.

You’ll work alongside an independent chair in Derek Lewis, industry representatives who are committed to our mission, and fellow independent directors who bring diverse expertise to our governance.

The policy landscape has never been more receptive to evidence-based approaches to alcohol harm reduction. The Westminster and devolved governments increasingly recognise that traditional enforcement-only approaches have limitations, and our track record of delivering measurable impact through partnership working positions us perfectly to influence national policy.

More importantly, we have the research foundation, funding commitments, and operational capacity to achieve transformational change. Our pilots on parental supply interventions, if successful, could influence how the UK approaches underage drinking prevention for generations to come. Our expansion into high-harm areas could bring effective prevention to communities that have struggled with alcohol-related problems for decades.

The commitment is manageable but meaningful: five board meetings annually (two in-person near London Bridge, three virtual), occasional evening events, and informal advisory support to our small but dynamic executive team. Overall we expect the time commitment to be the equivalent of a day a month.

If you’re someone who believes that evidence-based interventions can create lasting social change, who has experience in strategic leadership, and who wants to contribute to work that directly improves young people’s life chances, we’d welcome your interest.

You’ll join a board that’s committed to CAP’s constitutional objectives while providing the strategic oversight needed to navigate our most ambitious period of growth.

CAP has spent 18 years building the foundations for this moment. We now have the tools, the team, and the momentum to achieve significant new progress. The question is whether you’ll join us in writing the next chapter of this story.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

About us

Penificent is a business seeking to address issues faced by young people and to provide a positive influence through comics and workshops. Our books contain thought-provoking discussion questions directly related to the topic of the book, e.g. mental health, Knife crime etc. The books also have activities for young people to go through during a workshop or at home with their parents,keyworker,appropriate adult. These activities range from colouring to creating your own story that tackles a young person’s choice. Through user feedback, we have learnt that our comic story structure with the questions and activities promote more profound thought in young people than the average workbook or mainstream comic book. We currently run workshops in schools with our comics either in person (before Covid-19) or via zoom due to the pandemic. We have also run workshops with BBC Newsround ( Search: Penificent BBC Newsround) Quotes from Anti Knife crime newsround workshop (Adam 16,:"Living in a notorious area I think it stops me from doing many things like leaving my house and going out.

"Girl 16, who didn't want to be named, said: "I feel like you hear so much about knife crime, people begin to think that it's normal but the characters in this comic tell you there's a different way."), gained support from the Mayor of London and the Mayor of Southwark and also been featured in the Sunday time (Search: Penificent Sunday times)

What you will do

We are looking for a Marketing & Communications Volunteer to join our team to drive the organisation’s exciting growth ambitions.

The role will report into the organisation’s founder and will be remote based.

We will offer you stimulating and meaningful work and the opportunity to make a real difference.

Create posts for each of our social media platforms - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn,tictoc.

Analysis of the traffic on our social media and providing insights of our demographic.

Looking for ways on how to turn views into purchases from the posts.

Person specification

• Focused and driven

• Planning and organisational skills

• Good written and verbal communication ability

• Knowledge of social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

• Attention to detail

• Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines

• Working knowledge of Word and Excel

• Marketing experience or qualification (desirable not essential)

This is an exciting opportunity if you have some previous Marketing experience or are looking to move into a Marketing role.

This will also look great on your cv when applying for future jobs and we will provide a reference.

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

CHARITY SHOP ASSISTANT

Charity Shop Assistant (East Finchley - RSPCA Finchley & District Branch)

Our charity shop in the heart of East Finchley is looking for a friendly volunteer to join our team and help make our shop a huge success. Make new friends, have fun, and help us help more animals!

Overview of opportunity

As a volunteer Charity Shop Assistant, you would join a small team working with the shop managers and other volunteers to help make it a success and raise vital funds for animal welfare.

About the RSPCA

Founded in 1824 we have been saving animals for almost 200 years and are proud to be the oldest welfare charity around. It has always been our vision to live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion, so our volunteers and employees work tirelessly to ensure that all animals can live free from pain and suffering.

About Our Charity Shop in East Finchley

The shop is part of the RSPCA Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon & District Branch and plays an essential role in raising the profile of the RSPCA in our local community and funds for our branch so that we can continue our vital animal welfare work. Our shops sell a mixture of donated items, including clothes & accessories, books, bric-a-brac and collectables.

We have positions available on the shop floor and in our stock room or you could

volunteer to do a mixture of both.

Volunteer Charity Shop Assistant responsibilities

•  Helping customers in the shop find what they need.
• Accepting donations of items and money from the public.
• Processing sales through the till and card machine, including Gift Aid.
• Sorting through donated items to determine what we can sell.
• Preparing donated items for sale by steaming and hanging items.
• Merchandising stock on the shop floor.
• Creating attractive shop window displays.

What we are looking for in a volunteer Charity Shop Assistant

•  Friendly volunteers who are confident talking to people.
•  Retail experience would be ideal but is not necessary as full training will be given.
• We are ideally aiming for someone who is flexible and can offer an ongoing commitment predominately on set days each week based on your availability.
• Good communication and numeracy skills.
• You will need to be aged 18 or over.

What we can offer you as a volunteer Charity Shop Assistant

• A way to meet new people and make new friends in your local area.
• A place where you will learn excellent new skills to add to your CV, such as customer service, multi-tasking, merchandising, and many more.
• An excellent induction and training programme relevant to your role.
• The opportunity to make a huge difference to the welfare of animals.
• ·Reimbursement for any reasonable travel expenses you may incur whilst volunteering with us.

If you’ve got the drive and compassion to volunteer with the RSPCA and are passionate about improving animal welfare, we’d love to hear from you!*

Join us in making a real difference to the lives of animals in need.

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependent on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.

Professionals Aid Guild (PAG) is seeking a new Trustee to join a well-established charity based in London to assist with ongoing and future strategic development. A background in Education or Social Welfare would be desirable.

Using your experience, skills and knowledge, as Trustee you will be;

• Contributing actively to the Board of Trustees' role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation,
• Setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation.
• Protecting and managing the property of the organisation and ensuring the proper investment of the organisation's funds.
• Ensuring that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these.
• Being responsible for the performance of the charity and for its “corporate” behaviour; ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.
• Acting as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application.
• Ensuring that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard.

We are particularly interested in hearing from anyone with a background in IT, Education or Welfare; however a general interest in the relief of poverty is important. A successful applicant would be decisive, responsible, good at networking and passionate about delivering and developing the aims of the charity. Our Trustees play a vital role in the work of the charity and have a high degree of responsibility. The charity processes confidential information about our applicants and so an awareness of data protection regulation would be useful.

As a Trustee for PAG you will make a difference to professionals throughout UK.  Examples of our beneficiaries could include a family struggling to afford school uniforms for their children, a cancer sufferer who has had to give up work and is struggling to manage financially, a medical student whose funding has failed, or a single parent who has moved to a new home and needs assistance with the cost of furniture – these are all areas in which PAG has assisted and continues to assist.

Some case studies below demonstrate the real impact that the charity has;

1. Mrs B accumulated large debts when she lost her job and was unable to obtain further loan or credit.  She was awarded a one-off gift of £500 towards travel for the final year of her MSc/Diploma from PAG’s Education Committee. Mrs B wrote “I am lost for words to express my gratitude for the received cheque. I would like to say thank you for helping me to every person involved. It will truly make a big difference to my life.”
2. Ms E left the family home due to domestic violence and subsequently divorced, she has one son, who is in employment and who contributes to the household income, and one daughter, who is at school. Mrs E is not currently employed; she has completed a Diploma and hopes to find paid employment soon. She was awarded a grant by the Case Committee and a further award for her daughter’s education from the Education Committee. Ms E wrote “I just wanted to thank you all for helping my family and I. I truly feel grateful and supported by PAG. I really don’t know how I would have coped over the years with so many different events that have happened to in my life. Thank you once again.”