Central fundraising assistant volunteer roles

Volunteer with Us at the Big Sleep Out 2025 

On Friday, 14th November, Off The Fence will host its Big Sleep Out at St Peter’s Church, Brighton – our largest fundraising event of the year to support those experiencing homelessness in our city through our Antifreeze programme.

We’re looking for a team of volunteers to help with hospitality at the event and event delivery to ensure it runs smoothly and we create a welcoming, supportive experience for all participants. Volunteers will play an important role in greeting, serving, supporting, and encouraging participants throughout the evening and overnight. 

You’ll be part of a fun, committed team helping make this event possible – ensuring participants are cared for and that every detail runs smoothly. 

Once you’ve completed the volunteer application and have let us know which role you’re interested in, we’ll get back to successful applicants about an interview and provide a full role description. 

This is a brilliant opportunity to take action, grow in awareness, and work alongside Off The Fence, an established local charity equipped to support those most at risk of experiencing homelessness or trapped in the cycle of poverty here in Brighton & Hove. By volunteering, you’ll play a part in creating real change in our city. 

Hospitality Roles include: 

• Greeters – welcoming and checking in participants as they arrive. 

• Servers – helping with dinner (Friday evening) or breakfast (Saturday morning). 

• Overnight Support – topping up drinks and snacks, signposting toilets, and providing a friendly presence alongside our security team. 

• Essentials Kit Packing – guiding participants in packing practical kits and writing encouragement cards for our clients. 

Event Delivery Roles Include: 

• Set-Up Team - Help unload, set up barriers, tables, signage, and prepare spaces for participants. 

• Take-Down Team - Assist with packing away equipment, signage, and tables, leaving the site clear and tidy. 

• Promotion Team - Share leaflets and digital materials with your networks to create buzz, encourage participation, and promote sponsorship opportunities. 

• Media Team - Capture photos, videos, and participant stories (with consent) to thank supporters and promote future Big Sleep Outs. 

Are you passionate about improving children’s literacy and life chances? Schoolreaders is a leading children’s literacy charity and we’re seeking new Trustees to join our Board. This is a fantastic opportunity to use your expertise to help shape the overall direction and vision of our innovative and impactful charity.

Schoolreaders is a UK-based charity that provides one-to-one reading support to children in primary schools by matching them with local volunteers. We became the largest in-school reading support Charity in England in the 2024/25 academic year, supporting over 35,800 children each week. A significant portion of the children we support (45%) are eligible for Pupil Premium funding, and over 50% of partner schools are in disadvantaged areas.

As a Trustee, you will work with the executive team and other Trustees to ensure the charity remains mission-drive, financially resilient, and effective in delivering its high-impact literacy support. The role involves shaping and challenging our strategy, championing evidence-based interventions, and acting as an ambassador for the charity. We are looking for candidates with expertise in two key areas: IT and digital marketing, and education.

Specific experience desired includes:

IT and Digital Marketing
The Board would benefit from stronger insight into organisational IT systems and efficiencies in operational processes, particularly the management of cyber security risks and the strategic adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Broader experience in overseeing IT strategy and infrastructure would also be highly valuable. If candidates also bring digital media experience — such as online recruitment, fundraising campaigns, or strengthening web presence — this would be an asset, but it is not the primary focus. This expertise could come from any sector, and candidates may have held senior leadership roles such as Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, Chief Digital Officer, or similar positions with responsibility for IT strategy, systems, or security.

Education
The Board welcomes applications from those with current experience as a primary school practitioner, ideally within the state sector. Insight into challenges linked to deprivation and the use of educational technology would be particularly valuable in shaping policy, practice and partnership development. Candidates may have held leadership roles such as Head of Department, Assistant Head, Deputy Head, Headteacher, Chief Executive, or Director of Education. Appointees will also join the Education Safeguarding Consultation Group (meets three times per year).

Above all, successful candidates will be motivated by the mission of Schoolreaders and committed to supporting children’s literacy and life chances.

This is a voluntary role, though reasonable pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed. The commitment includes six virtual Board meetings per year, one in-person annual meeting, and an annual strategy day. The initial term is three years, with the possibility of renewal.

The deadline to apply is Midnight on 29th October 2025. The recruitment process is being administered in partnership with Nurole.

Family Friends carefully recruit, train, and match volunteers with families in Central-West London. Our volunteer befrienders offer practical and emotional support based on each family's unique needs and potential. We offer two volunteer opportunities - Big Buddies and Parent Buddies.

Volunteers will aim to help parents to discover their strengths, build confidence, and resolve difficulties. Volunteers meet with their match weekly for a period of 6 -12 months.

Activities might include:

• Supporting a parent to take their children on days out.
• Helping to strengthen family relationships.
• Providing a listening ear.
• Helping parents to build confidence in themselves.

Essential Criteria:

• You must be able to commit to the Parent Buddy programme for a minimum of 6 months.
• 18+
• Must have lived in the UK for the last 2 years

What we provide in return:

• Full induction training and ongoing training
• DBS check
• Weekly supervision and support
• The chance to learn new skills
• References provided after 6 months' commitment
• Reimbursement of travel and session expenses

We are an equal opportunities charity and value the principles of diversity and inclusion, which is central in providing successful support to our families. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, including people from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTQI+ and individuals from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds.

In the first instance, please register your interest in becoming a volunteer with us - you can do that by contacting us here for an application form.

Once we've reviewed your application, a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

Family Friends carefully recruits, trains, and matches volunteers with families in Central-West London. Our befriending volunteers offer long-term practical and emotional support based on each family's unique needs and potential. We offer two befriending volunteer opportunities with us-, Big Buddies and Parent Buddies.

Our Big Buddies support young people, aged 10-18, for a few hours each week over a period of 6 -12 months. With encouragement and support, volunteers will aim to help young people to discover their strengths and build confidence.

Support may look like:

• Helping to strengthen family relationships.
• Providing a listening ear 
• Taking young person to the cinema, museums, libraries - broadening their horizons!

Essential Criteria:

• Can commit to the Big Buddies programme for a minimum of 6 months
• 18+
• Must have lived in the UK for the last 2 years

What we provide in return:

• Full induction training and ongoing training
• Full DBS check
• Support and supervision
• The chance to learn new skills
• References provided after 6 months' commitment
• Reimbursement of travel and session expenses

We are an equal opportunities charity and we value the principles of diversity and inclusion, which is central in providing successful support to our families. We welcome and would like to encourage applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, including people from Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people who identify as LGBTQI+ and individuals from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds.

In the first instance, please register your interest in becoming a volunteer with us by contacting us here for an online application form.

Once we've reviewed your application, a member of our team will be in touch with next steps.

CAFOD Advisor 

Finance, Legal, Audit and Risk Committee

Role

Committee member, providing expert financial input to this Committee of the Board, alongside Trustees and other advisors.  The Committee is collectively responsible for reviewing in detail a wide range of matters relating to finance, legal compliance, audit and risk management before making recommendations to the Board of Trustees

Person

• Total alignment with goals, ethos and culture of CAFOD, including its Catholic values
• Qualified member of recognised accountancy body
• Demonstrable skills and experience in financial and corporate/ charity governance, commercial decision-making, budgeting and financial planning, internal and external statutory reporting, revenue and cost management, procurement, internal control, compliance, financial management and commercial or charity management generally
• Strong strategic and analytical skills
• Familiar with policy development (including financial and accounting policies) and maintenance
• Grasp of detail, ability to focus on key issues
• Corporate and/ or charity experience as director (possibly finance director) and/ or trustee
• Good committee skills - team player, independent thinker, listening and contributing constructively
• Good communicator
• Commitment to the role (serious reading of committee papers and engagement with issues)
• Strong commitment to personal and professional ethics

Time commitment

• Four half-day meetings a year, currently two at Romero House, London and two online
• As required, exceptionally, ad hoc meetings and meetings with other committee members, Trustees or staff as required
• No specific term, but expectation of 4 years minimum