Board member volunteer roles

Liberty is seeking a Chair and Vice-Chair with a genuine commitment to the mission and values of the organisation, and the credibility and experience to lead internally and externally at a time of change. Critically, the Chair will bring chairing experience and the requisite governance skills to effectively lead a board, and lead and deliver some key governance changes. They will bring the senior level strategic and organisational leadership skills to partner with the Director to ensure Liberty’s strategic ambitions are being achieved. Candidates will be committed to running a progressive organisation and bring a demonstrable commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Liberty welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, belief or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed domestic travel expenses will be reimbursed.

The time commitment for the Chair role is circa 2 days per month, which is variable depending on the time of year. There are 16 days on top of this per year for Board meetings (EC, CLT and Sub-Committee, AGM), spread relatively evenly with a more intense period in September and July. Currently three of these are on a Saturday and the rest are weekdays. The Vice Chair commitment is no more than half a day per week on average. The Vice Chair meeting attendance is approximately two days less than the Chair per year.

In line with the constitution, the appointment is for an initial two-year term, which it is hoped would be renewed for a further two years at the discretion of the Board.

Deadline for applications: Midnight on 2nd May

Candidates can expect to be contacted by: 16th May

The Farm Animal Sanctuary is seeking a dedicated Trustee to join its board and help shape a secure future for the 600 rescued farm animals in its care. Founded nearly 40 years ago by Jan Taylor, the charity is committed to providing a safe, nurturing home for neglected and abandoned farm animals.

Who we are

On a wet February morning, Jan visited a livestock market and witnessed the horrors unfolding before them. Sick, malnourished, diseased, and deformed animals were being offered up for sale.

To this day, the charity campaigns against animal cruelty, aiming to change both legal and individual perceptions of Farm Animal Welfare.

The charity's mission is to provide a safe and comfortable home for neglected farm animals.

The Role
Do you have a passion for farm animal welfare, an acumen for business and finance, and the determination to drive the charity forward?

Then you could become their next board member!

The Farm Animal Sanctuary invites individuals to join their small but dedicated team as they embark on an exciting journey to create a secure future for the charity and the 600 farm animals in their care. The Farm Animal Sanctuary is currently incorporating and purchasing the farm from which the charity operates.

Meetings are usually 1–2 hours long and held via Zoom, so trustees do not need to live locally — although visits to the sanctuary are always welcome. Previous trustee experience is not required, but trustees are expected to be proactive and contribute to administration, fundraising, or financial planning. An interest in Farm Animal Welfare would also be beneficial.

Those interested in helping the charity on this important journey are invited to send their CV and covering letter.

The Millennium Point Charitable Trust invests in projects, events and initiatives that support the growth of science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) in Birmingham and across the West Midlands. With profits generated by the commercial activity at Millennium Point, a landmark public building and multi-award-winning venue in Birmingham city centre owned and operated by the Trust, over £40-million has now been re-invested into the region.

Our mission as a charitable trust is to advance education for the public benefit, with a particular focus on the industrial and technological processes that shape the modern world. This includes areas such as  Space Research, AI, Robotics, Life Sciences and to help the next generation to gain the qualifications and skills to equip them for whatever as-yet unknown career opportunities may present themselves. We are delighted to work with established partners including Birmingham City University and Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum in advancing our cause.

Millennium Point Trust are proud to support a wide range of students and young people through various activities, including providing bursaries, collaborating and partnering with relevant educational organisations that support development. More information on our work in this area can be found on the Millennium Point website.

The Trust is now seeking a Chair of the Board of Trustees for an initial term of three years. The Chair will provide strategic leadership to the Board, delivering its responsibilities of governance and oversight of the Trust. The Chair will guide and support the Chief Executive Officer in shaping and delivering the Trust’s strategic plan, and where necessary challenge them to ensure the Trust’s financial health and that all operational activities are aligned to its mission and values. 

The Chair of the Board will act as a spokesperson, ambassador and advocate of the Trust to enhance its public profile and develop relationships, embodying the Trust’s values and representing its interests in the wider community, with corporate partners, educational institutions, and funding bodies.  More information on our project and partners can be found here: Case Studies | Millennium Point

The Chair of the Board of Trustees will be required to possess:

• A strong and genuine passion and commitment to the Trust’s mission and values.
• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level, with a successful track record of achievement.
• Experience of governance in the charity sector, with experience at Board-level; either as a Board member or in a senior advisory role. 
• A broad knowledge and understanding of the not-for-profit sector, and the current issues effecting it. 
• Financial management expertise and a broad understanding of charity-specific finance issues. 
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to foster and promote a positive and collaborative team-working environment. 

For full details of the requirements of the role, please refer to the Job Description document.

The Chair of the Board of Trustees will be required to commit to 2 to 4 days each month, including attendance at quarterly Board meetings and an annual general meeting. The Chair may also be required to attend sub-committee meetings and other meetings or away-days as deemed necessary. 

This role is unremunerated; however, expenses will be reimbursed for reasonable travel and other expenses. The Chair will serve an initial three-year term, renewable for one additional term.

If you are excited by the opportunity to offer strategic leadership and oversight to one of Birmingham’s prominent charitable Trusts, please click on 'How to Apply' for more details.

Join The Space as a Non-Executive Director and bring your passion for arts, heritage and culture, professional expertise and shared belief in the power of digital technology to revolutionise access to the arts to help secure the future of digital innovation in arts and culture.

Applications close: Monday 19th May 2025

Location: UK-wide with a registered office in Birmingham

Time commitment: c.1 day per month

About The Space

The Space exists to enable the arts, culture and heritage sectors to engage audiences using digital and broadcast content and platforms.

Founded in 2013 by Arts Council England and the BBC, we are an independent not for profit community interest company. Our role is to fund the creation of new digital cultural content and provide free training, mentoring and online resources for organisations, artists and creative practitioners.

We believe embracing digital is essential to the future of cultural activity. Digital technologies have the power to open up new ways for people to access, participate in, and share, the rich diversity of UK culture. Applying these strategically enables new artistic forms, attracts new audiences and makes cultural experiences democratic and available to all. The Space prioritises creating new engagement opportunities for people who are currently under-represented in cultural content and across broadcast and digital media.

The Space is based in the West Midlands. Our team of ten employees are located throughout the UK and work predominantly from home. They are supported by a network of around 80 freelance associates enabling us to give those we support access to specialist digital and broadcast skills in their own regions.

About the roles

You will work with our new Chair, Ri Chakraborty, and other members of the Board to provide governance and oversight and ensure the effective delivery of The Space’s community interest objectives.

You will act as a critical friend, constructively challenging both the Board and the Executive team to develop the organisation’s capabilities.

You will enjoy advocating for our work and supporting our ambitious agenda to help cultural organisations across the UK and internationally to thrive through their use of cultural digital content.

Who we are looking for

For the finance specialist, you will provide oversight and review of relevant financial procedures, controls and policies, ensuring that the organisation is operating within a sound financial framework, managing risk appropriately, is compliant with its legal financial obligations and is accountable to the Board.

A strong familiarity with not for profit governance is beneficial, alongside experience overseeing public funding and a passion for arts, culture and technology.

For the generalist role, we are looking for a Non-Executive Director with senior experience and, ideally, previous board experience. You will be familiar with governance in the not for profit sector, alongside senior experience in either the arts, culture, and/or heritage sectors.

You will understand digital and/or broadcast content production and be an advocate for the benefits of using technology to increase equitable access to cultural content for audiences.

You will bring a creative, curious and entrepreneurial mindset, excited by The Space’s plans and committed to supporting its ambitions.

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

Applications for these roles close on Monday 19th May 2025.

The purpose of the Institute of Osteopathy Appointments Committee is to ensure high standards of competence and performance on the main governing body, the Council of the Institute of Osteopathy (iO), with a focus on recruitment.

We are seeking a new professional member to join our committee to aid this important work.

You should have broad experience and a practical attitude with a proven track record, and ideally have experience in the following areas:

· Human Resources

· Executive development and performance management

· Knowledge of employment law

· Board/committee experience

The Committee meets quarterly online/in person to advise on such matters as promotional strategy, review candidate profiles against council member role specification, appraise the performance of the non-executive members of council and ensure that governance-related processes around appointments and term renewals are fit for purpose and working effectively.

Please see the attached role specification for full details of the responsibilities.

If you are interested in this opportunity to shape the development of UK Osteopathy, please submit your CV along with a covering letter detailing how you meet the role specification by close of business on Monday 26 May. Interviews will take place in mid-June.

About the iO

The iO, as the lead body in the profession, has a clear and mandated mission to improve patient care by supporting and developing the education and practice of osteopathy, and universal access to osteopathic care. 

Our mission is to support, unite, develop and promote the profession for the improvement of public health and patient care. We are committed to realising our vision to see osteopathy become a growing and thriving profession, recognised and accessible to all.

South West London Law Centres (SWLLC) is an independent registered charity providing specialised legal advice and assistance covering Wandsworth, Merton, Croydon, Kingston-upon-Thames, Richmond-upon-Thames and Sutton in South West London.

Our vision is a future where people who cannot afford a lawyer:

• Have equal access to assert and enforce their rights;
• Are empowered to benefit from everything a healthy society has to offer;
• Are treated equally with dignity and respect.

You will play a critical role in helping SWLLC to grow and prosper. If you have a passion for access to justice and believe that you can improve the impact the SWLLC can make, then we look forward to hearing from you. 

What will you be doing?

Our previous chair stood down after an extended term of 6 years. They helped oversee the law centre during the pandemic and its aftermath during which we have seen the law centre continue to flourish in a very challenging environment. We are looking for a new chair who believes in what we do and is prepared to lead and act as an ambassador for the charitable trust so that we can continue to do this work. We currently have a strong trustee board of varying skills and tenures and the day to day management of the law centre is delegated to a small team. This team is small for what the law centre is trying to achieve. We need you to bring your expertise, energy and networks to the law centre. The role isn't glamorous, it's unpaid, and it's sometimes unacknowledged, but it is rewarding. You will play a critical role in helping SWLLC to support over 6,000 people a year, who would not otherwise have access to legal advice. We are very proud of the impact that we have had over the last 50 years, and continue to have. SWLLC continues to operate in a challenging environment, the work of the law centre is regulated and audited by a number of external bodies, our finances continued to be challenged by static legal aid, grants and donations, despite this we have continued to flourish, but the need for our services is greater than we can provide. The main areas that our trustees board can support alongside the role of governance of the law centre are:

• Finance
• Fundraising
• Human Resources
• Communications and Marketing
• IT and facilities
• Community Engagement and Community Activism

Time commitment:

6 Board meetings per year. Take place through a mixture of in person and online meetings in the evenings (usually midweek between 6pm – 7:30pm). The Chair will also need to have regular meetings with the Chief Executive, and Senior Management Team outside of these regular board meetings. Such meetings will typically be brief, online and arranged at a mutually convenient time. The Chair will also need to represent the Charity at various events and meetings with key stakeholders. Our head office is based in Croydon with other offices in Clapham Junction and Morden. We expect the role to take around 1 -2 days per month.

What are we looking for?

Principal responsibilities:

Strategic leadership

• Act as representative of the whole board and not its defacto head
• Provide leadership to the charity and its Board, ensuring that the Charity has maximum impact for its beneficiaries

Governance

• Ensure that the governance arrangements are working in the most effective way for the Charity

External Relations

• Act as an ambassador for the cause and the charity in partnership with the CEO

Efficiency and effectiveness

• Chair meetings of the Board of Trustees effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision-making process
• Ensure that Trustees are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests of the Charity and that the Board takes collective ownership

Relationship with the Chief Executive and the Senior Management Team

• Establish and build a strong, effective, supporting and a constructive working relationship with the Chief Executive, ensuring s/he is held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives 

Personal Qualities:

• Personal gravitas to lead a significant organisation demonstrating a strong and visible passion and commitment to the law centre, its strategic objectives and cause  
• Exhibit strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role
• Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively
• Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the law centre
• Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment
• Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours

Experience:

• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation
• Successful track record of achievement through their career
• Experience of external representation, delivering presentations and managing stakeholders
• Significant experience of chairing meetings and events Knowledge and skills
• Broad knowledge and understanding of the legal sector and current issues affecting it
• Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together
• Good understanding of charity governance and finance issues Terms The charity’s Chair (and board members) will serve a four-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term.

What difference will you make?

The impact the Chair will have is to ensure the continuation of the law centres' successful mission 

Law Centres are community-led, not-for-profit organisations that help local people to understand and enforce their legal rights. Their services are free, and they attempt to target the people who most need them – people who are at risk of discrimination and ill-treatment and those who are least able to protect themselves, for example because they lack the money to hire someone with legal expertise to help them.  We are currently celebrating our 50th year. SWLLC s is one of the larger Law Centre in Great Britain covering six London boroughs – Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth. Our catchment area covers 1.7 million people. We now operate from 3 branch offices. We help over 6,000 people each year with a face to face service covering 3 broad services. 

• Expert casework and representation in the social welfare law covering community care, debt, employment, housing, immigration/asylum, public law, welfare rights and cost of living support 
• Emergency representation as part of the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme 
• Pro Bono Clinics 

Amongst the results we achieve that make us proud of what we do are:

• the prevention of homelessness 
• the prevention and reduction of poverty 
• the protection of family life by reuniting people living in the UK with those living abroad
• the prevention of torture and death beyond our borders by the provision of advice and representation to people fleeing persecution 
• the prevention of ill-health by successfully challenging unfit living conditions 
• the prevention of mental ill-health by assisting people to deal with their personal debts

Before you apply

If you would like an initial discussion before putting in your application please message through the Reach Volunteering Platform and Senior Management Team will be on contact to further discuss the role and the opportunity. A panel of trustees and senior management team will review your application. If we consider that your skills and experience are a good fit with the Law Centre, you will be invited for an informal discussion with the panel about our work and the trustee role. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and we encourage early submissions.

Help thousands of older people in Essex live their best lives.

Do you believe every older person deserves to live a happy, connected and dignified life? Join Age Well East as our next Chair of Trustees and lead positive change across one of the UK’s most populous and diverse counties.

Age Well East supported over 4,000 older people last year through nearly 400 volunteers and 23 staff, delivering befriending, benefits advice, social activities, and mental health support. We operate virtually and face-to-face, from our base in Clacton and across the community.

Yet, challenges remain. An estimated 47,000 older people in Essex live in poverty, 29,000 experience loneliness, and we know that in neighbouring Suffolk, 179,000 older people currently have little support

.The Role

We’re seeking a new Chair to guide the next phase of our development. You'll provide strategic leadership, act as line manager to the CEO, and ensure we continue to grow our impact while maintaining strong governance.

The expected time commitment is around 2–3 days per month, aggregated across the month to support flexibility. Board meetings are held quarterly (mostly via video call), with additional engagement as needed.

To ensure a smooth handover, the successful candidate will be invited to Co-Chair alongside our current Chair, Nick Avery. The length of this transition period is flexible and will be tailored to the new Chair’s preference, with full transition expected by early 2026 at the latest.

About You

You’ll share our belief that all older people should be able to Age Well. You’ll be collaborative, values-driven, and a confident leader able to support our CEO and work effectively with our Board. While prior Chair experience isn’t essential, we are looking for someone who has served on a Board—whether in the charity, public or private sector. Fundraising experience is a plus, and so is a strong network or voice in support of older people.

London CLT, Treasurer

Do you share our passion and commitment to empowering local communities to create their own permanently affordable homes?

Are you supportive of our drive to ensure that our homes are priced according to local earnings, ensuring that people are no longer priced out of the neighbourhood they grew up in?

Are you a Qualified Accountant with the necessary expertise in financial management and accountancy to serve as our next Treasurer?

If the answer to these questions is YES, we would love to hear from you.

Decent, secure, and affordable homes are getting harder to come by, and there is widespread recognition and acceptance now that London needs more affordable homes, with The Government, The Mayor of London and the London boroughs rightly prioritising affordable housing.

What remains is a gulf between those who are attempting to deliver affordable housing and the communities that need these homes. This is the gap that London CLT successfully bridges, working with local people to create genuinely and permanently affordable homes and community spaces, putting Londoners back in charge of how our neighbourhoods positively evolve.

Proud to be at the vanguard of the Community Land Trust (CLT) movement. We were the first CLT in the capital to sell homes, starting with our flagship project at St Clements in Tower Hamlets with 23 homes, and then continuing with our first direct development at Citizens House in Lewisham with 11 homes. We also currently have projects across 6 London boroughs, with 34 homes built to date and a pipeline of 100+ new homes in development.

London CLT Treasurer (unremunerated)

Our expectations for our new Treasurer are also equally high. As our new Treasurer you will be joining London CLT at a particularly exciting time as we enter a period of significant growth, not only advising on the financial implications of London CLT’s strategic plan, but also working to ensure that our financial systems and processes keep pace, so that we can continue to manage our finances confidently and proactively.

A Qualified accountant with demonstrable commercial awareness and a passion for community action, affordable housing, and sustainability, together with an understanding of Community Led Housing you will be expected to be a good communicator, able to explain financial matters to non-experts, and help to shape the future of London CLT.

London CLT actively embraces diversity, promotes equality of opportunity and is determined to reflect the rich and diverse city that we represent, encouraging applications from all sections of society and communities.

Newcastle Theatre Royal is one of the best loved and most recognised large scale, regional theatres in the UK creating moments of magic both on and off-stage. Our iconic Grade I listed building sits in the heart of Newcastle city centre and presents a diverse programme showcasing world class musicals, dance, opera and drama as well as our annual show-stopping pantomime, entertaining people of all ages from across the region.

Committed to creating a love of theatre for everyone, that lasts a lifetime, our wide-ranging Creative Engagement programme is central to our creative and artistic programme and provides pathways and opportunities to access, explore and enjoy creative activities for people of all ages, and support talent development in Newcastle and across the North East.

As an independent charity which receives no regular funding, ensuring financial resilience by broadening our income streams is key to our long-term future. Our Executive and staff team are supported by a committed and ambitious Board of Trustees.

We seek new Trustees to join our board – individuals who bring skills and lived experience to broaden the range of voices and perspectives in our leadership. In 2025/26 we are looking to appoint a number of Trustees across a range of skill sets to complement the make up of our current board members, but in this round of recruitment, we are specifically looking for a trustee with experience in audit and either financial management or charity finance expertise.  Knowledge and/or experience of either of the charity or arts sector or the leisure and hospitality sector is highly desirable.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference and support our aim to be a theatre for everyone. We encourage and welcome interest from candidates who will bring different lived experiences and perspectives to the Trust.

Job Summary
We are seeking a friendly and professional Weekend Receptionist to join our team. The ideal candidate will be the first point of contact for our patients and their families

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors warmly, ensuring all are signed in and out of the building.
• Answer incoming calls with excellent phone etiquette, providing information and assistance as needed.
• Ensure the reception area is tidy and welcoming at all times.
• Ensuring confidentiality at all times.

Experience

• Previous experience in a receptionist or administrative role is preferred but not essential.

Job Type: Volunteer

Schedule:

• Weekend availability
• Weekends only

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person

Reference ID: Volunteer weekend receptionist

Atkinson HR are proud to be partnering with The University of Suffolk Students' Union (UoSSU) to recruit three new trustees to their Board.

UoSSU is entering a pivotal phase in their journey. Having navigated significant changes, they are now focused on establishing strong foundations to ensure long-term health and success. 

They’re seeking committed individuals to join a skilled and dedicated Board in guiding the next chapter of UoSSU’s development. If you have experience in HR, Strategy or Business Development and are eager to engage with the complexities of higher education and students' unions, this role is for you!

About UoSSU 

The University of Suffolk Students’ Union is the independent representative body for students at the University of Suffolk. They exist to empower students, enhance their university experience, and support their personal and professional growth. They work to provide academic representation, welfare services, student activities, and opportunities for leadership and development. 

The Role

As a trustee, you will help oversee the strategic direction, financial health, and overall governance of the Students’ Union. You will ensure that they continue to deliver meaningful impact while remaining financially sustainable and well-managed. 

Key responsibilities of the role include: 

• Ensuring UoSSU operates in line with its mission and values. 

• Overseeing financial management and legal compliance. 

• Supporting the development and implementation of UoSSU’s strategic plan. 

• Bringing your skills and experience to support and challenge the executive team. 

• Acting in the best interests of students, ensuring their voices are at the heart of everything the Students’ Union does. 

Candidate Profile 

UoSSU welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. You don't need previous trustee experience— just a commitment to making a difference.

We’re particularly keen to hear from people with expertise in: 

• HR

• Strategy

• Business Development 

If you’re passionate about people, purposeful work, and the potential of medium-sized charities to do amazing things, we’d love to hear from you. 

A diverse Board is key to UoSSU’s strength, and they actively encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. 

Time Commitment & Benefits 

• The time commitment expected of this role is approximately 10 days per year.  

• The Board meets approximately four times per year, with occasional additional commitments. You will also be expected to attend board subcommittee meetings. 

• This is a voluntary role, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. 

• A unique opportunity to develop leadership skills, expand your professional network, and contribute to student life at the University of Suffolk. 

How to Apply

Please click 'apply now' or contact Atkinson HR via the email address in the job pack if you have any queries or would like to arrange an informal discussion.

Key Dates 

• Closing Date: Tuesday 27th May 2025 

• Interviews: Wednesday 4th June & Wednesday 18th June 2025

• Induction: Week commencing 23rd June 2025 

The purpose of the Institute of Osteopathy Appointments Committee is to ensure high standards of competence and performance on the main governing body, the Council of the Institute of Osteopathy (iO), with a focus on recruitment.

We are seeking two new non-executives to join our committee to aid this important work.

You should have broad experience and a practical attitude with a proven track record, and ideally have experience in the following areas:

· Human Resources

· Executive development and performance management

· Knowledge of employment law

· Board/committee experience

Osteopathic or medical experience is not a prerequisite for this role, but interest in health and patient care is welcome.  

The Committee meets quarterly online/in person to advise on such matters as promotional strategy, review candidate profiles against council member role specification, appraise the performance of the non-executive members of council and ensure that governance-related processes around appointments and term renewals are fit for purpose and working effectively.

Please see the attached role specification for full details of the responsibilities.

If you are interested in this opportunity to shape the development of UK Osteopathy, please submit your CV along with a covering letter detailing how you meet the role specification by close of business on Monday 26 May. Interviews will take place in mid-June.

About the iO

The iO, as the lead body in the profession, has a clear and mandated mission to improve patient care by supporting and developing the education and practice of osteopathy, and universal access to osteopathic care. 

Our mission is to support, unite, develop and promote the profession for the improvement of public health and patient care. We are committed to realising our vision to see osteopathy become a growing and thriving profession, recognised and accessible to all.

The Great Autistic CIC is Newly-Founded and exists to tackle rising mental health concerns, hypermobility, inadequate support systems, limited awareness and inclusion, educational barriers and community disconnection faced by neurodiverse individuals, particularly those with autism and learning difficulties. 

“

We believe that every neurodiverse brain has its own superpowers. Our organisation turns challenges into opportunities by offering tailored educational support, creative social activities like art clubs and nature walks, and strong advocacy that gives voice to those with autism. We’re a community built on lived experience and on a mission to help every unique individual shine.  

”

Are you a creative whiz with a knack for web design? Do you want to make a real difference in your community?

The Great Autistic CIC is looking for a passionate and talented Volunteer Web Designer to join our team! We're a friendly bunch dedicated to supporting the autistic community, and we need your help to make our online presence shine.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Help us create a beautiful and user-friendly website: We want our website to be a welcoming and informative space for everyone.
• Work on exciting projects: You'll get to use your design skills on real projects that make a difference.
• Learn and grow: We're a supportive team, and you'll have the chance to develop your skills and learn new things.

What We're Looking For:

• Someone with a passion for web design: Whether you're a beginner or a pro, we'd love to hear from you!
• A friendly and reliable person: We're looking for someone who's easy to work with and committed to helping out.
• Someone who's kind, honest, and understanding: We value these qualities in all our volunteers.

What You'll Get:

• The chance to build your portfolio: Showcase your skills and experience with real-world projects.
• Connect with a wonderful community: Meet new people and make a difference.
• Feel good about giving back: Your work will help us support autistic individuals and their families.

Interested: please email us!!

and tell us a bit about yourself and why you'd like to volunteer with us!

Who are we?

Switchboard LGBTQIA+ exists to provide members of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as their friends, family and those supporting them, with a listening service that they can contact via phone, instant message and email between the hours of 10am to 10pm every day.

We are happy to talk to service users about any topic they wish. Topics we often talk to service users about include: sexual health, safer sex, relationships, coming-out, gender identity, transitioning, mental health, experiences of hate crimes, support for meeting other LGBTQIA+ people and making friends, and much more.

However, we want to also be upfront and transparent about the fact that not all of our conversations are positive or constructive. Our volunteers can also be exposed to abuse from the public, manipulative callers, sexual fantasies and safeguarding concerns.

What is our over 50's club?

Our over 50's club is a new initiative for Switchboard. 

We want to create a space that enables older members of the LGBTQIA+ community to volunteer with us on our phone lines and instant messaging service, whilst providing a social element that encourages volunteers to come together at our London HQ. 

This club will meet on both Mondays and Tuesdays during the day (you can choose which day works better for you), completing a shift either between 10am to 1pm or 2:00pm to 5:00pm. You can join us weekly or bi-weekly, whichever you prefer.

We then come together between 1pm and 2:00pm to have lunch (paid for by us) and a good natter! 

Volunteers who support Switchboard in this capacity are trained to take both phone calls and respond to instant messages. They do not respond to emails, however. 

Who are we looking for?

To ensure we can provide a high quality service to those who contact us, we are looking for volunteers who:

• Simply put, like communicating and chatting with other people (you’re most likely a people-person who feels energised by this type of communication)

• Feel comfortable taking calls and speaking over the phone to people you do not already know

• Are familiar with different instant messaging platforms (such as WhatsApp and other chat tools) and the types of communication they might receive

• Are able to read between the lines to decipher messages

• Are good listeners who let others lead conversations and instead create the space they need

• Are able to ask broad, open questions to keep conversations flowing

• Understand the importance of using the right tone when communicating in writing, and are able to flex their writing style to suit different people

• Have a strong attention to detail, with a particular focus on spelling and grammar

• Are able to evaluate sources of information and identify those that can be trusted, from those that cannot

• Know when to challenge and when to step back

• Have essential digital literacy skills (such as using email tools such as gmail and outlook, search the web for information and copy and paste website URLs)

• Understand and support our mission

• Have an awareness of the challenges facing the LGBTQIA+ community

• Are empathetic in nature

• Agree to uphold our values of being non-directive and non-judgemental