Charity shop volunteer volunteer roles in gants hill, greater london

Branch Trustees

RSPCA Stort Valley Branch – multiple opportunities

Help us make the world a better place for animals

RSPCA Branches rescue, rehabilitate and rehome those animals most at risk through clinics, animal centres, boarding and fostering facilities; offer advice and education on animal welfare; and support with microchipping, neutering and subsidised animal treatments for animals owned by people in financial difficulty.

Each RSPCA branch (of which there are approx. 150) is a separately registered charity, operating at a local level across England and Wales. Branches did 78% of the rehoming activity across the RSPCA network in 2020 and took more than 31,000 animals into their care. There are also over 300 RSPCA charity shops, all of which are run by RSPCA branches. The RSPCA has been at the forefront of animal welfare since 1824 when we were founded in a London coffee shop, and we’re proud to be the oldest animal welfare charity around.

What does RSPCA Stort Valley Branch do?

We cover an area either side of the M11 from Saffron Walden in the north to Harlow in the south and fundraise and offer welfare services within this area.

The animal welfare services that we offer are centred around our busy clinic in Harlow and include:

•  Subsidised routine veterinary treatment and microchipping for owned animals - in 2024, we made over 2,200 consultations at our Harlow clinic and administered more than 500 vaccinations and 250 microchips.
•  Advice and education
• Community outreach

We operate a charity shop in Bishops Stortford town centre, selling clothes, books, games and other items to help with our fundraising.

In addition to our Harlow clinic, we work closely with RSPCA animal centres and inspectors to support their work and to look after and re-home animals rescued in our branch area. We also support neighbouring branches by seeing some owned animals from their nearby towns at our clinic. We are working to improve our fostering network to help with rehoming, and are keen to step up our fundraising work to enable us to provide additional welfare support to the community.

What do RSPCA branch trustees do?

RSPCA branch trustees are volunteers who shape the work that the branch does, and are collectively responsible for governing and managing the affairs of the branch. “Trustees have overall control of a charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do.” “Trustees are the people who lead the charity and decide how it is run.” “They may be known by other titles, such as: directors, board members, governors, committee members” - Charity Commission. At Stort Valley, we have a lovely team of staff and volunteers with experienced, capable people managing our shop and clinic day-to-day. Trustees will set the strategy, make the big decisions and lead on new initiatives.

To find out more about being a Trustee, visit the Goverment Trustee - What's involved which explains what trustees do. There is some information on the RSPCA website about Branch Trustees, and we have an online session about becoming a Branch Trustee, which should hopefully give you more of an idea of what the RSPCA Branch Trustee role will involve.

Stort Valley Branch is presently in the process of converting to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (‘CIO’), the modern legal form for many charities - loosely equivalent to a Limited Company. We expect to complete the change in the second half of this year (2025).

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for applications from people from all social and cultural backgrounds, who are passionate about improving animal welfare. It doesn’t matter whether you are an experienced trustee or not, as trustee training and induction will be provided. If you can bring relevant skills and experience from other aspects of your life, that’s great, and we’re pretty sure you’ll learn some new ones here!

Right now, we would like to recruit several additional Trustees. We’ll define and re-balance the roles of all the Trustees once our new Trustees have settled in, so we’re not necessarily looking for you to select a specific role at this stage. The opportunities could include taking the lead on fundraising, overseeing our clinic or shop, increasing our local outreach and education activities, enhancing our online presence and recognition, and more. Ideally, for some of the roles, you’ll be relatively local to the branch area; others can be done remotely.

We hold monthly Trustees’ meetings, which last 1.5~2 hours. We ask for Trustees to join as many of these meetings as possible. You’ll also need to allow time to prepare for meetings - creating or reading through any relevant documents in advance – and of course, for the specific activities you take on. We normally meet in the evening, online (Google Meet), at times chosen to suit Trustees’ availability.

Trustees are elected or re-elected for a 12-month term at the branch’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). Between AGMs, branches have the ability to co-opt an additional three trustees who serve until the next AGM and can then be elected.

What’s in it for you?

There are lots of benefits to becoming an RSPCA Branch Trustee, including:

•  induction and trustee training
•  the chance to meet like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for animal welfare
•  the opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones
• the ability to use your skills to improve the wellbeing of animals in your local area, and make a real difference to the lives of animals
•  the capacity to shape innovative projects, and be part of the RSPCA’s ten-year strategy - “Together for animal welfare”
•  access to our learning hub, which contains training materials and courses on a variety of subjects
•  the chance to shape the services in your local area
•  volunteering is good for your wellbeing.

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.

Our amazing team of vibrant & diverse volunteers helps us run over 600 shops. Our stores sell lots of great donated & new goods to help raise vital funds to make a real difference to disadvantaged children, young people and families across the UK.

Our retail stores are the face of our charity on the high-street and in local communities. We have loads of amazing stock donated to us every week, and this all needs to be sorted, tagged and put on the shop-floor for sale!

Making sure our shops look fantastic is another task you can get involved with. You may also be required to help out on the till too, but we will show you how that works during your time volunteering with us. We value the contribution of everyone who supports Barnardo’s.

You will be a friendly face of Barnardo’s by volunteering in one of our shops. It would be great if you could volunteer one shift a week (or even more if you want) but we’re always happy to be flexible to work around your availability.

Why we want you

Our amazing team of vibrant & diverse volunteers helps us run over 700 stores. Our stores sell lots of great donated and new goods to help raise vital funds to make a real difference to disadvantaged children, young people and families across the UK.

What you will be doing

• Work on the till processing sales and returns
• Prepare stock, including sorting, steaming and pricing
• Create stylish window displays
• Replenish stock on the shop floor
• Stock-take and other administrative tasks

The skills you need

• Friendly and helpful
• Happy to be part of an amazing team of staff and volunteers
• Enthusiastic about the work of Barnardo’s
• Flexible and willing to do a variety of the shop tasks

What's in it for you

• Have fun and meet new people
• Develop skills for your CV including confidence, teamwork and problem solving
• Make a difference to the lives of children, young people and their families
• Learning and development opportunities through our Volunteer Academy which includes access to Level 2 Qualifications and other accredited courses
• Full training and experience of working in retail as a volunteer

Location:

2 Broadway Parade, Crouch End, Greater London, N8 9DE, United Kingdom

Minimum age: 14 years

Please note: we only accept applications from those residing in the UK

This is an opportunity to become Chair of a Charity which has recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. If you are someone who is looking to make a “real difference” for mothers/birthing people and their families facing one of the most challenging and unexpected periods of their lives, then we would like to hear from you.  We are also looking for a Chair who can lead and “harness” the range of skills present within our existing Board members, who come with a range of experience.

Now into our second decade as a charity, it is exciting time to join Mummy’s Star as the Chairperson. We have broadened the conversation about cancer and pregnancy nationwide, and internationally too despite our small stature. We now must sustain what we have built and help take the charity to that next level where we can elevate the voices of those we support, so that their needs are not only understood, but are also prioritised and used to inform policy and planning.

Breadwinners Finance Trustee & Vice Chair Role - Aug 2025

Job title: Finance and Vice Chair Trustee  - London & Brighton

Reporting to: Board of Trustees and Managing Director

Remuneration: £0 (Pro-Bono, Volunteering role)

Duration: 3 years, with a potential further 3 terms extension as per the board of Trustees Decision.

Location: Remote mainly, London coworking Office Space in Brixton, Brighton coworking space  in future expanding reach.

Commitment and Work Style: 3 years, approx 8 hrs per Quarter, 5 meetings per year. Both F2F and online meetings.

Start: Aug 2025 / Apply ASAP as we interview and recruit as applications come, no more applications will be taken after 15th July 2025

We are looking for the next Finance and Vice Chair Trustee to join our board and help lead the strategy, developing the core team to continue growing our support for young refugees across the UK.

About Breadwinners

Breadwinners is set up to tackle unemployment and poor well-being by providing young refugees and people seeking asylum with their first work experience in the UK, training and personal mentors so that they can start and progress in their careers. We achieve this goal through three consecutive programmes, using our award-winning bread stalls in markets across London and Brighton and wholesale for socially-minded cafes and restaurants

1. Risers programme: A two-month early intervention programme designed to provide structured work experience, training, and mentorship to newly arrived young people seeking asylum through our 18 stalls.

2. Breadwinners programme: The follow-up programme for refugees with the right to work, which involves working as a market stall manager for six months and earning the UK living wage.

3. Proofers programme: A progression programme that entails working remotely as part-time online sales representatives for six months, managing our wholesale delivery model.

Our programmes, delivered across London and Brighton, and over the last 7 years we have made a significant impact in supporting over 744+ programme participants, with an impressive 93% reporting notable improvements in their overall well-being, 76% of our Breadwinners programme progress into work, further education or volunteering, and all this while minimising our Carbon Footprint by 20.5% through the sale of organic goods. This year, we are planning to double our impact with young refugees, with recently secured funding, new markets, and focusing on our wholesale model.

You will be working directly with the Managing Director, Core team and Board of Trustees and volunteers to improve Finance Processes, set up and review Budgets, and lead board meetings structure and discussions, delivering the best strategy for the Breadwinners community. You will have the chance to see the impact your work has, meet and support amazing young people who deserve better opportunities, and work together on the strategy of Breadwinners. Please apply as soon as possible, by submitting your cover letter and CV accroding instructions. Please use “BW - Finance Trustee and Vice Chair” as the email subject. We will arrange interviews for great applications as they come in. No more applications will be taken after the 15th of July 2025.

We are an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourage applications from those with lived experience of migration, and from diverse applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy/maternity leave status.

We welcome informal chats about the role - please contact Martin Cosarinsky Campos.

Ideal candidates attributes

• Passionate about supporting refugees and young people seeking asylum.

• Knowledge and experience of finance best  practices for Charities and Social Enterprises.

• Knowledge of bookkeeping and financial management.(Xero, Quickbooks)

• Strong financial analysis.

• Ability to communicate clearly, setting agendas, and driving strategic conversations.

• Self starter with commitment, motivation and drive to upskill as needed to support the charity.

• Capacity to plan and drive the board meetings agenda liaising with the Managing Director and Chair, managing the appropriate regulatory documentation.  .

Your role 

Alongside the general responsibilities of a Trustee, you will: 

• Liaise with the Managing Director to obtain an overview of the ongoing financial affairs of the organisation to ensure its financial viability and that all processes are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice.

• Support the Managing Director in the production of an annual budget and propose its adoption at the last meeting of the previous financial year.

• Support the Director to ensure proper records are kept and that effective financial procedures are in place.

• Support the Director to monitor and report on the financial health of the organisation at board meetings, making fellow committee members aware of their financial obligations and taking a lead in interpreting financial data to them

• Oversee the production of necessary financial reports/returns, accounts and audits together with auditors.

• Support and Guidance: The vice chair provides support and guidance to the chair, helping them to effectively manage the board and the charity's operations. They may also act as a "sounding board" for the chair and other trustees, offering alternative perspectives and insights. 

• Subcommittee Leadership: The vice chair may lead or be involved in subcommittees of the board, such as a finance committee or a fundraising committee. 

• Strategic Direction: The vice chair helps ensure that the charity operates within its charitable objectives and has a clear strategic direction. 

• Effective Governance: They contribute to the overall governance of the charity by ensuring that meetings are effective and that trustees fulfill their duties. 

Requirements

• Available to dedicate at least 8 hrs per quarter to Breadwinner's work. 

• Available to attend Trustee board meetings on weekday afternoons 5 times a year.

• Available to support Quarterly Team Wellbeing sessions.

• Committed to a 3-year term on the Board. 

The Brompton Fountain is a children's charity working with those impacted by heart and lung conditions in Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals. Our charity provides a wide range of vital resources, services, parent/carer amenities, and accommodation. We also fund medical equipment, facilities improvements and projects outside of the NHS remit. We are currently looking for a voluntary Stock and Merchandise Coordinator to help our organisation create a bigger and smoother impact to our patients. 

We would like the volunteer to help with:

• Taking inventory of our current stock that is being used for both in-patients and out patients. 

• Organising stock and adding to a system that makes it accessible.

• Creating and packing resources for different services we provide in hospital.

• Packing orders from our online charity shop to send out to customers.

• Tracking resources we need on the wards and accommodation units.

• Processing deliveries e.g unboxing and sorting.

• Ad-hoc requests that may arise in the office.

You will be supporting our Community Engagement Lead and our Children and Families Service Lead who will provide an overview of our existing processes and be there to help you every step of the way. The Brompton Fountain has a strong team of staff and volunteers who you will be working collaboratively with as a team to support the families we are in contact with.

Your input will greatly affect how smoothly our operations run, and how we are able to interact and support our service users. With your help we will be able to have a more organised process in allocating our resources, be able to support the children and their families in the ward, and have a clearer set of operations with distribution off-site.

Criteria

We are looking for a volunteer who has:

• Strong organisational skills.

• Accuracy and attention to detail. 

• Ability to work well with others.

• Flexible and adaptive.

• Understands the resource constraints of a small charity and is able to work with these.

• Willing to have an enhanced DBS check.

• Willing to partake in safeguarding training.

• Willing to partake in onboarding training to understand our charity and the mission in more detail.

• Must be over 18.

Time

Due to our mission, we would greatly appreciate at least 6 weeks of your time, preferably more; working 3-7 hours one day a week. We are an understanding and flexible organisation, and would be happy to discuss options with you. Some weekend work would be desirable.

We urgently need volunteers who can provide a friendly face, shop for and deliver groceries to our clients.

The Age Connects shopping service is an invaluable lifeline to so many older, vulnerable members of our local communities, particularly those with no family or friends to offer shopping support. We know that older people can become frail, and those who have mobility problems, who no longer drive or don’t have access to the internet, may find it difficult to do their weekly shop.

As a shopper you will be providing a shop and deliver service for the client either on a weekly or fortnightly basis. You will collect their shopping list, carry out the shopping and deliver it back to them. It could be that you’re the only person they see or speak to that day or even that week and it can be an opportunity to have a chat with the client, provide them with information about other services they may need or to offer practical help.

This is a fee paying service, the client will pay £5 per shop to the charity. If you are a friendly, reliable and trustworthy, you can help. You need to be aged 18+, and to be able to make a commitment for a minimum of 6 months: we will also require two character references, and will carry out a DBS check before you can start. It is best if you have access to your own transport, as some clients do not live centrally, or require large shops.

We are looking for volunteers who can spend time with our clients  in and around Central London.  Meetings are  regular over a period of 6 months; weekly or fortnightly.  Many volunteers stay involved for much longer but only because they enjoy what they do! 

Befriending is a simple way to make a positive difference to someone who is lonely or socially isolated and your gift of time, will give them, and you, something to look forward to. As one of our volunteers once told us, “this is an easy, very meaningful way to help someone and is immensely rewarding and fun!”  

Your meetings could be in the local community, having chats in a coffee shop, visiting places of interest, or in our client’s home; all activities are risk assessed so what you do together will depend on the results of this, and / orour clients abilities and interests. Most of our clients are older 1st and 2nd generation Scots living in London who simply want to do the activities that most of us take for granted but have no-one to do them with.

ScotsCare works across London and beyond so we're looking for volunteers who live in the area or can travel to the following areas; Lambeth, Islington, Camden, central London and Broxbourne EN10. We may have clients in more locations so please contact us to learn more if you want to be involved in this rewarding and impactful activity. 

We provide training before you start, ongoing support once you are matched, out of pocket expenses, references, social events and newsletters to keep you informed.

This could be the ideal opportunity to gain practical experience of working with adults in a health and social care setting, or for anyone who enjoys meeting new people and making their lives a little brighter. 

Please note, this is an unpaid voluntary role and applicants must be living in or around the London area. 

Please contact us for more information, and a very warm welcome!

Skills & Characteristics Required for Befriending are:

• English spoken, good communication skills for listening and talking 
• Friendly, warm, non-judgemental 
• Honesty, reliable and committment to helping others
• Empathy and patience
• An ability to follow policies and procedures

We will process a DBS check for all successful applicants and request two references.

Become our Trustee Tresurer and chair our Finance Committee.We need a Trustees with energy, enthusiasm and commitment to help accelerate our influcence on wildlife and nature recovery issues in the country and beyond.

With a refreshed 3-year strategy (23-26), “A Wilder Herefordshire, More Nature Everywhere” we’re working hard to recover nature at scale through deeper collaborations, working with local community organisations and networks to develop a clear plan for nature’s recovery. We are also working with neighbouring Wildlife Trusts, river partnerships and national partners such as the Woodland Trust, National Trust, and Duchy of Cornwall.

So, with lots happening, it’s an exciting if challenging time for the Trust.  Urgent action is needed to address the decline of wildlife in our beautiful county – and we need to muster all the resources and skills we can to succeed.

We are a welcoming board who support and challenge each other to do better for wildlife.

We look to recruit trustees from a range of backgrounds, life stages and skills to join us.

At this time, we wish to recruit someone to take on the role of Treasurer, and chair our Finance Committee. You would need the following skills and qualities:

· A strong commitment to wildlife conservation and the Vision of the Trust;

· Demonstrable experience of financial management;

· The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences;

· A good understanding of governance, gained either as a Trustee of another charity, a director of a company, or as a manager who has worked with Boards;

· The ability to apply clear logical thinking and creativity to developing our strategy

If you are successful, you will be welcomed and supported by a talented and committed board of trustees, a strong and experienced staff team and an active and expanding band of volunteers and by the wider Wildlife Trust movement. We hope you are inspired to apply, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Alison McLean OBE, Chair, March 2025

Womankind is recruiting reliable and resilient women, who are able to commit to 1-2 daytime hours each week for six months, to join our Volunteer Befriending Service. Befrienders encourage and support vulnerable women who have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse, empowering them to make their own decisions and improve their mental health and wellbeing so that they can lead more fulfilling lives. 

Training: 

Befrienders attend an initial online meet & greet session and then receive 4 taught sessions of comprehensive training over Zoom. These sessions will take place over 4 weeks, starting in Autumn 2025 (DATES AND TIMES TBC). Befrienders will be expected to complete homestudy in between sessions. You will be part of a team of trainees and benefit from peer support as well as help and guidance from the Volunteer Coordinator. Our training comes with over 30 years of experience working in women’s mental health, giving volunteers the very best preparation for the role, and a support network of like-minded women. 

The Role: 

Upon the completion of training, each volunteer is matched with one woman who has experienced childhood abuse, trauma, sexual violence and/or domestic abuse, and will be experiencing mental ill health and social isolation. 

As a befriender you would be expected to commit 1-2 hours on a weekly basis for 6 months and attend monthly group and individual supervision. Many of our volunteers decide they would like to be matched with another woman after the completion of their first match and continue volunteering with us for another 6 months. 

You and your befriendee would start by getting to know each other gradually. Once you have built up your relationship, you would support her emotionally, using active listening skills and providing her with a space to express her feelings and feel heard. You would help her to believe that she can achieve her goals and have safer relationships. Part of your role would be demonstrating what a healthy and boundaried relationship looks like. 

You: 

You will be enthusiastic and interested in helping another woman improve her mental health and wellbeing so that she can lead a more fulfilling life. You will be friendly and non-judgemental, have good communication skills and be a reliable and patient listener. 

The befriending role can be challenging and emotionally overwhelming at times. Therefore, we need befrienders who have adequate life experience and feel emotionally robust and resilient enough to take on the role. We welcome volunteers with personal experience of mental health and other relevant issues but will require you to have at least a one-year period of stability and ideally to have received professional help like counselling in your recovery. 

As this is a remote service, we welcome applications from women who are based across the UK. 

Please note, there is very limited availability for women who can only volunteer during the evenings and weekends. 

Because of the nature of this role, it is only open to women applicants and is exempt under Schedule 9 Part 1 Equalities Act 2010. 

At Womankind we recognise that while women share many characteristics and experiences as a result of living within a patriarchal society, women belonging to marginalised groups experience discrimination on multiple fronts. It is really important to us that the women who use our services feel represented amongst our volunteers. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life, especially from groups which are marginalised and underrepresented in our organisation, such as working-class women and Black and Minoritised women. 

 What Past Befrienders Say: 

“I loved the training, that was possibly one of my favourite things about this whole experience...it was really thorough. I loved being in a space with like-minded women – and it was also challenging, which I liked.” 

“In terms of supervision and knowledge, how to prepare the role – it was much more prepared, much more in depth than other places I’ve volunteered.” 

“It’s been a pleasure, I love volunteering with you guys. It’s special being part of this – in a world where are so few spaces where you can have a direct impact on someone’s life, doing this role is really special.” 

Closing Date: 31/08/2025 

Job Type: Volunteer 

Work Location: Remote, must be UK-based 

Our vision is to enable people in Kew to remain independent for as long as possible.  Our volunteers offer driving, companionship, shopping, and light gardening. We do not provide intensive support or specialised help.We work closely with individuals and organisations to support people in Kew who have difficulty getting out and about, or who would appreciate a little regular company, by providing access to reliable, neighbourly help.

KNA has a committee of Trustees, including a Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer.  It is administered by a part-time salaried Director (24hrs/wk), Companionship Manager (16hrs/wk), Operations Manager (20 hours/wk) and a Communications & Marketing Assistant(3hrs/wk)  from a small office in St Luke’s House, Sandycombe Road, Kew TW9.

KNA is funded via legacies and donations, Richmond Parish Lands Charity (RPLC) as a Regularly Funded Organisation, Richmond Council's Community Independent Living Service (CILS) and by donations and fundraising events.

KNA’s current activities are:

• the provision of lifts by volunteer drivers in their own cars to those needing transport to medical appointments (e.g., GP or hospital) and to the Avenue Club in Kew

• providing volunteer companionship to isolated residents by regular visits in their homes for a chat or to play games such as chess, phone calls, accompanying them for local walks and to local cafes, cinema, theatre, cricket, etc

• assisting those in need of help with shopping and some light gardening;

• providing moments of joy to celebrate client birthdays with a card each year and a gift in milestone years

• an annual tea party for clients and thank you party for KNA's Volunteers.

Statistics

KNA has some 230 clients, and has around 50 active volunteer drivers and 30 companionship volunteers.  KNA carries out 3000- 3,500 driving, shopping, prescription pick up, gardening and companionship visits and jobs per year by KNA volunteers. 

KNA had income of £61,536 in its last reported financial year (to August 2023) and expenditure of £72,117.  It had assets of £130,926 at that date.

Purpose: 

KNA’s Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, developing the organisation’s objectives in accordance with its constitution, legal and regulatory guidelines.

Key Skills

We welcome applications from individuals with an interest in helping those needing support in our community to maintain their independence,  and are in particular looking for those with experience in:-

• Treasurer 

• Healthcare

• Older people

• Marketing & Communication

• Individual Giving and Legacies

• Experience or contacts in the voluntary sector (in Richmond), and in relevant parts of Richmond Council

Commitment

• We are looking for trustees who are prepared to do more than simply attend committee meetings (four evening meetings per year,) and our AGM

• The term of office for each Trustee is an initial two years, with annual re-election up to a maximum of six;

• Trustees receive no remuneration for their trustee duties; we can reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the course of carrying out duties in line with our Volunteer Expenses Policy. 

Trustee Responsibilities

• Oversee the charity’s mission statement and review the four part time members of staff performance in achieving it;

• Review and approve the charity’s financial condition and goals;

• Annually review and approve the charity’s budget;

• Approve major policies;

• Ensure management succession is properly provided;

• Ensure organisational strength and staffing are equal to the requirements of the long-range goals;

• Approve appropriate salaries, terms and conditions of service for staff;

• Put forward names of prospective trustees and fill vacancies as needed;

• Provide candid and constructive criticism and advice;

• Approve major actions of the organisation, such as expenditure on all items over authorised limits and changes in activities and services;

• Appoint independent auditors subject to approval by members;

• Review compliance with relevant laws and policies affecting the organisation

Enabling KNA's over 140 volunteers continue to make a practical difference to Kew, TW9's local community  by providing thorough trustee management.  Feeling good about providing a small amount of time that ensures KNA's legacy of the last 45 years is sustainable for future generations of people who need the kind of support a good neighbour would provide. 

FUNDRAISING VOLUNTEER

Fundraising Volunteer (RSPCA Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon & District Branch)

Do you have bags of enthusiasm and are good at organising events? If yes, volunteer for the RSPCA as a Fundraiser and have fun and meet new people whilst raising vital funds for animals in need in your area!

Overview of opportunity

As a Fundraising Volunteer, you will play a vital part in organising and assisting with our fundraising activities. All the proceeds from these activities go directly towards the essential animal welfare work that we do at branch level.

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.

Through our numerous campaigns, we seek to raise standards of care, and awareness of issues affecting animals today. We rely heavily on our volunteers who play a significant role in enabling us to carry out this important animal welfare work every day!

The RSPCA Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon & District Branch

The RSPCA Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon & District Branch is one of the branches of RSPCA, but we are also a separately registered charity looking after animals in our local area. Much of the animal welfare work of RSPCA is carried out through local branches, which is run by volunteers who have the support of the National Society of RSPCA.

The main activity of our branch is local animal welfare. We take in neglected, abandoned & vulnerable animals locally, via our own animal welfare officer, as well as the national RSPCA Inspectorate officers. Our funds are mostly raised through our 2 charity shops.

Fundraising Volunteer responsibilities

• Organise, advertise, and promote fundraising activities to raise vital funds to improve animal welfare.
• Plan and participate in organised events for fundraising over an agreed period.
• Communicate all planned activities with staff and other volunteers.
•  Work alongside other volunteers, staff, and members of the public, ensuring excellent customer service at all times.
• Ensure best practice in fundraising and that it is legally compliant.

What we are looking for in a Fundraising Volunteer

•  Someone who is flexible and can offer an ongoing commitment.
•  Lots of enthusiasm to help us raise much needed funds
•  Good communication and organisational skills
• Friendly and approachable
• Ability to work on own initiative

What we can offer you as a Fundraising Volunteer

• You will be making a massive difference to the welfare of the animals in your area.
• Join a community which will enable you to meet new people and make new friends.
•  Learning new skills through our comprehensive induction and training programme.
• Enhance your CV by adding your volunteering experience and newly acquired skills.

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

NEW CHAIR WANTED FOR AGE UK MERTON’S BOARD OF TRUSTEES

We are looking for a new Chair of Trustees who shares our values and passion for supporting older adults in Merton. The new Chair will formally take up the role at the AGM in November 2025.

About Age UK Merton

We are an independent charity operating within the national Age UK network providing services for older adults in the London Borough of Merton. Our role is to ensure older adults can access the support, services and care they need to help them to live active and fulfilling lives.

Our vision: Supporting our communities with opportunities to love later life.

Our mission: To provide quality advice and services that meet the needs of older adults in Merton.

Our values: quality, integrity, kindness, inclusivity and collaboration.

Our priorities

We are passionate about making a difference to the lives of older adults in Merton. Our Strategic Plan 2023-2026 outlines our three key priorities in support of our mission:

1. Providing high quality advice and practical support.

2. Building social connection.

3. Creating opportunities for lifelong active ageing.

Our services

Living Well: we deliver holistic person-centered home assessments creating a motivational action plan and supporting older adults to access services and improve their health and wellbeing.

At Home: we provide practical help to enable people to feel comfortable, safe and secure at home with domestic support, shopping and respite for carers.

Activity programme: our weekly-programme of activities includes chair-based exercise, Zumba, Tai Chi, social club with board games, craft club, quiz sessions, walking group, monthly special lunches and aqua fitness. We also run a wide range of out and about trips annually.

Information and advice: our trained advisers offer free accredited information and advice to older adults on benefits, health and end of life, housing, social care, local services and more.

Befriending and volunteering: we provide a high-quality, free, face-to-face and telephone befriending service, helping to reduce social isolation and promote independence.

Foot health service: we offer a low-cost paid-for foot health service for our clients.

Role description

As Chair, you will provide leadership and strategic direction to the Board of Trustees. Your regular responsibilities will include liaising with the CEO to set the agenda and agree the papers for Board meetings, chairing Board meetings, holding regular catch-ups with Trustees, and leading on Trustee recruitment and retention and Board development. In addition, you will also be the line manager to the CEO, holding regular meetings and undertaking the annual appraisal and objective setting. You will also sit on the Finance Committee (chaired by the Treasurer) and be responsible for determining complaints and grievances where a decision is appealed.

As a Trustee, you will have a number of core duties, including ensuring the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law, and relevant legislation; ensuring it pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document; ensuring the financial stability of the organisation; and ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.

Person specification

Essential

· Previous Board-level experience, either as a Trustee or in another non-executive capacity

· Experience of chairing (either a Trustee Board or other professional experience)

· Strong leadership and interpersonal skills

· Willingness and capacity to devote the necessary time

· Good independent judgment

· A commitment to Age UK Merton and its vision, mission and values

· An understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship

Desirable

· Some experience or understanding of the adult social care or health sectors

· An understanding of Merton as a place

To find out more and to apply

We welcome applications from all sections of the community. While we would especially welcome applications from people who live in our local area, this is not essential to success in the role.

If you are interested in applying, please send a CV (maximum 2-sides of A4) and cover letter (maximum 1-side of A4) to our current chair. Please also contact our chair if you would like to have an informal discussion about the role. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 25th July 2025. Interviews will be held in August/September 2025 and the successful candidate will formally take up the role at the AGM in November 2025.

Acting as the link between food donations coming in and reaching those in crisis, you’ll support the smooth running of your local food bank. You’ll be part of a team overseeing and running the replenishment order, with large volumes of stock moving from the warehouse to the Foodbank distribution centre. This is a physical role as you’ll be on your feet a lot and you must be comfortable with some heavy lifting and maintaining a clean and safe warehouse.

Why we want you

Food banks provide essential community services to people in crisis. By volunteering as a warehouse assistant, you can make a real difference to people’s lives providing vital help and support locally. This role is an essential part of how Brent foodbank operates and without it we would not be able to run all of our weekly sessions.

What you will be doing

• Fulfilling the replenishment requests from our Foodbank shop
• Lifting cardboard and plastic crates in and out of the van in line with current manual handling guidelines
• Keeping warehouse area clean and tidy at all times, ensuring relevant materials are recycled
• Following Health and Safety guidance, manual handling training and the other policies and procedures related to the running of the warehouse
• Undertaking any other duties that may be reasonably expected to fulfil the role
• If applicable, and interested, becoming one of our van drivers (optional)

The skills you need

• Punctuality and reliability
• Good communication skills
• Good sense of humour
• Strong team player
• Ability to undertake heavy lifting (in line with manual handling guidelines)

What's in it for you

• Knowledge that you a vital part of the Foodbank
• Being part of a dynamic and fun team
• Meet new people who share your passion to eradicate poverty in the community