Community group volunteer volunteer volunteer roles in Openshaw, greater manchester

Plateful Café works to relieve poverty and isolation amongst refugees, asylum seekers and ethnic minorities in Lewisham. Our commitment is to reach the most vulnerable people in our community and open a pathway to employment for people who have asylum here. Refugees will benefit from workshops, training skills and knowledge relevant for the catering industry. Plateful Cafe are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all volunteers and team members. We are an equal opportunities provider and actively encourage applications from people with a refugee background.

What will the role involve?

• Looking for partnership opportunities with the private sector.
• Assisting with the development and ongoing work of Businesses Fundraising Action Group.
• Assisting in planning fundraising strategies with local businesses.
• Reporting on businesses partnerships and recent developments at Plateful Café.
• Working in partnership with the Plateful Café fundraising team.

Essential:

• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience of working with corporates.
• Expertise in new project creation and developing business links.

Desirable:

• Previous experience in fundraising and/or marketing.

What difference will you make?

• Helping to establish a new Business support group and a sustainable long-term funding structure.
• Developing and maintaining a funding mix, not relying on only one stream of funding.
• Helping local refugees find employment and enter the workforce much sooner than they otherwise might.

The Deputy Chair of Hidayah provides essential support to the Chair, helps ensure the effective governance of the organisation, and stands ready to act in the Chair’s absence. This role helps maintain the smooth functioning of the Board and the organisation overall.

What are the key responsibilities of this role?

This role will have the following duties, but are not limited to:

· Support the Chair in providing strategic leadership and overseeing Trustee meetings, stepping in as Chair when needed

· Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of Hidayah’s Strategic Plan, Annual Report, and key governance policies

· Help manage volunteers and support fellow Trustees to ensure shared responsibility, accountability, and active engagement across the Board

· Assist in planning and delivering core governance activities, such as the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Trustee votes

· Act as a signatory on financial matters, supporting the smooth running of Hidayah’s operations.

· Lead or support outreach activities, including identifying and engaging new partners, drafting proposals, and maintaining outreach records

· Help plan and promote events and campaigns, and contribute to the development of inclusive outreach strategies

· Represent Hidayah at external events, building relationships with individuals and organisations aligned with our mission

What do we expect from the Deputy Chair?

Please note that you must agree with and fit the criteria below to be eligible to volunteer in this role:

Essential:

· A strong commitment to Hidayah’s mission and values, particularly around LGBTQ+ Muslim inclusion

· Reliable, organised, and able to manage tasks independently

· Good written and verbal communication skills

· Basic digital literacy – including use of email, Google Drive, and Microsoft Office tools

· Ability to maintain confidentiality and act with integrity

· Respectful, inclusive, and collaborative working style

· Willingness to take initiative, contribute ideas, and stay engaged with wider organisational activity

Desirable:

· Experience in community outreach, project support, or partnership building – particularly in a grassroots, voluntary, or equalities-focused setting

· Familiarity with governance, quality assurance, or safeguarding in the charity or community sector

· Experience facilitating or supporting meetings and group discussions

· Ability to resolve conflict or challenges with empathy and professionalism

· Knowledge or lived experience of LGBTQ+ Muslim identities or the intersection of faith, gender, and sexuality

· Awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices

How much commitment is required?

This is a voluntary role with flexible hours, and can be carried out around your existing commitments. The role will take approximately 2 - 4 hours per week (flexible depending on needs and availability). You are also required to attend monthly board meetings. There is also an expectation of willingness to commit to the role for at least 3 months.

Would you like to help end food poverty and tackle climate change and CO2 emissions in Greater Manchester, whilst at the same time gaining valuable CV-enhancing experience and skills?

What we offer you

Induction, training and support from the staff of FareShare and its parent charity, EMERGE 3Rs.

Practical experience and transferable skills in warehousing and food redistribution.

A reference after 2 months with us.

An understanding of warehousing and logistics, and the importance of food surplus and recycling initiatives.

Expenses:
We reimburse travel expenses up to £6 for car drivers, and up to £5 for public transport costs.
Up to £3 is given towards the cost of lunch if a volunteer has special dietary requirements. (We provide lunch for our volunteers, so will contribute towards the cost of a volunteer's meal, should they bring their own, if what we are offering in the canteen isn't considered suitable; for example, a diet that's restricted for reasons of health, religion, or ethics).

As a sustainability charity, we take surplus food that's donated to us and redistribute it to people in need. The front line initiatives we support include food banks, schools, community groups and charities who, in turn, help people who are disadvantaged by poverty.

Our vital work supports people experiencing extreme hardship and prevents perfectly good food going to landfill, where it would otherwise contribute to climate warming. 

We need helping hands in our busy warehouse to receive and catalogue supplies, to load and unload vans, and to prepare orders for delivery. In return we offer training and support to help you obtain skills and experience to boost your CV if you are seeking work. If you're not looking for employment, volunteering with us is rewarding in many other ways; offering an opportunity to make friends, keep physically active and support your community.

This role is vital to the work of FareShare, ensuring that the food in our warehouse is correctly sorted, labelled and organised into orders placed by our charities and community groups.

It is perfect for someone who is:

a) Looking for a practical activity.

b) Looking for experience and skills to gain employment in the food industry, warehousing and customer service.

c) Wanting to help their community and/or help tackle global warming.

d) Wanting to make new friends.

e) Wanting to keep busy and/or physically fit.

Our volunteer opportunities are available Monday to Friday, for a whole or half day, with shifts between 8:30-am - 12:30pm and 12:30 - 4:30pm. Volunteers are typically involved for one day a week.

What will I be doing?

Receiving, sorting, cataloguing and storing chilled and ambient surplus food in a warehouse, and preparing orders for delivery. You may also be assisting customers when they pick up their orders.

Ensuring food quality and safety by checking ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates.

Sorting and unpacking deliveries, categorising and recording food.

Assembling food orders placed by charities and community groups.

Assisting our Community Food Members with their food order collections. 

Maintaining health and safety and food hygiene standards. 

Helping with cleaning and other tasks identified by warehouse staff.

Person Specification: 

Must be reasonably physically fit to carry out tasks, including lifting and loading.

Have a good command of English in order to understand and follow instructions and health and safety rules. 

Have basic literacy and numeracy skills to record quantities and types of food donated.

Able to work in a manner that respects Health and Safety standards.

Be happy to complete tasks independently according to instruction.

Be positive, friendly and enthusiastic about tackling food waste and food poverty.

Must be reliable and able to commit to an agreed session/day.

We are located in our brand new depot at Maynard House, New Smithfield Market, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2WJ.

​IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be resident in the UK and living in Greater Manchester, or within easy commuting distance of our base, in order to volunteer with us.
This is because we require volunteers to be able to reliably commit to regular shifts for some of our roles.
We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

Know someone else who might be interested in volunteering with us?
Please pass our details on to them as we always welcome new people on our teams. :)

Founded in 1997, the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants provides a place for refugees, migrants, and people seeking asylum to rebuild their life with support and community. From classes to casework to financial assistance, the Centre has a wide offering available for our community of over 200 people. Our approach is compassionate and human and the support we offer is long term - on average people stay with us around four years.

The current Board brings a wide range of charity and public body experience including strategy and fundraising and we are looking for skills to both enhance and complement these strengths.

The Centre has a dedicated and talented staff team led by our CEO, Andy Ruiz Palma, who joined in 2000 as an English teacher. In addition to this staff resource we have around 40 volunteers who provide direct support through activities. We also have in place accountancy support to the executive and a dedicated fundraising team.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate a strong empathy with our client group and who understand how to work with organisations rooted in a local community. You will bring excellent people and communication skills and demonstrate good team-working.

We are open to applications from people looking for their first Trustee role or who may not have considered being a Trustee before and will provide mentoring to help trustees find their feet.

We are looking to recruit a deputy treasurer with:

A good understanding of financial management and reporting

A recognised accounting, finance or similar qualification

Ability to analyse and communicate financial information to the wider Board

Willingness to provide financial advice and support to the management team as needed

Knowledge and experience of fundraising finance practice in voluntary and community organisations (desirable)

Join Our Mission. Bring Your Joy. Transform Lives.

At Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil C.I.C., we are building a global movement rooted in truth-telling, healing, family, and the transformation of generations. Our mission is to confront childhood trauma, intergenerational trauma, and systemic injustices — and help people return to their true selves through community, knowledge, and love.

We work like a family: connected, supportive, purpose-driven… and full of laughter.

We are now expanding our team and looking for a Corporate Entertainer & Culture Animator — a warm, creative spirit who will bring joy, connection, and positive energy to our remote community.

This is a unique role and may be the first of its kind in the UK charity/CIC space.
If you are an entertainer with a heart for people, culture, and community — this could be the perfect home for your gifts.

 Role: Corporate Entertainer & Culture Animator

Location: Remote (UK Time Zone Preferred)
Commitment: (flexible)
Pay: Volunteer role (paid opportunities to apply as the CIC scales)
Start Date: Immediately (after interview)

About The Role

We are looking for someone who naturally lights up a room — even a virtual one.

Your purpose is to help keep our volunteers, creatives, future ambassadors, and leadership team motivated, connected, and full of joy while we build something historic together.
Laughter is medicine — and you will be one of the healers.

You will bring creativity, humour, and fun to our organisation through:

• Games & icebreakers at meetings
• WhatsApp riddles, jokes, challenges & positive energy
• Weekly/monthly fun activities
• Virtual team bonding sessions
• Celebrations, awards & cultural themes
• Future in-person events, trips & gatherings

This role is about building joyful company culture for a mission that deals with serious topics — and reminding all of us that healing also includes play, community, and connection.

Who We’re Looking For

Someone who is:

• Naturally funny, joyful, charismatic, or expressive
• Loves entertaining people
• Creative with games, riddles, challenges, themes, and fun ideas
• Empathetic and sensitive to emotional topics
• Confident online and comfortable speaking in groups
• Culturally aware, especially within the Black and diaspora community
• Passionate about uplifting others
• Excited to help build a future global organisation

Ideal backgrounds include (but are not limited to):

• Comedians
• Actors
• Hosts/MCs
• Spoken word artists
• Content creators
• Team-building facilitators
• Corporate entertainers
• Youth workers with creative flair
• Performers
• Creative arts professionals

If you can bring joy, creativity, and community spirit, we want to meet you.

What You’ll Do

• Add light, energy, culture, and laughter to our team environment
• Create fun moments during Zoom meetings
• Run occasional virtual game nights or mini-events
• Share riddles, humour, and engagement in our WhatsApp groups
• Help team members bond and feel valued
• Celebrate wins, birthdays, and achievements
• Bring creative ideas to improve morale and connection
• Work alongside leadership to shape a positive, family-focused culture
• Support future in-person events such as team days, retreats, and awards nights

Why Join Us?

You will:

• Become part of a beautiful, movement-driven family
• Play a central role in shaping a loving, joyful global collective organisation
• Use your gifts to uplift volunteers, survivors and fundraisers
• Help restore emotional wellness through creativity and laughter
• Create a legacy of culture, joy, and belonging
• Grow with us as we scale towards reaching 1 billion people worldwide throughout the lifetime of the movement

We are building something bigger than all of us — and we want someone who brings light to join this journey.

How to Apply

Please send ONE of the following:

• A short email
• A WhatsApp voice note
• A short video (optional)

Tell us:

1. Who you are
2. What makes you a great fit for this role
3. What creative talents you can bring
4. A sample — joke, riddle, poem, short skit, or anything showcasing your energy

FareShare Greater Manchester is looking for volunteer Driver's Assistants to join our busy friendly delivery team with redistributing tonnes of surplus food a month to charities and community initiatives across Greater Manchester.

FareShare is a national charity fighting food poverty and global warming by tackling food surplus. We source overstocked food from retailers and manufacturers and engage many volunteers to help re-distribute it to over 220 frontline charities and community groups across Greater Manchester. These groups, in turn, provide meals to vulnerable people experiencing food poverty, individuals who are homeless, families, and people who are unemployed or socially isolated. This food would otherwise have gone to waste, so we are simultaneously supporting people in need and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Key responsibilities

Working closely with the driver of a temperature-controlled 3.5 tonne Mercedes Sprinter van to deliver surplus food orders to the premises of the benevolent projects we support. 

Loading and unloading the vehicle and carrying out a range of tasks, from basic vehicle checks to delivery administration.

The required skills and attributes are:

• Reliability and ability to commit to pre-agreed volunteer shifts (ESSENTIAL)

• Physical fitness, to take on moving and handling of food orders

• Ability to follow procedures and instructions

• Good verbal communication skills

• Interest in the work of FareShare Greater Manchester and our values

• High respect for Health & Safety procedures and standards

In return you will gain:

Career and CV advice and support

A reference for future employers

Reimbursement of travel and lunch expenses 

The opportunity to give practical help to fight food poverty and reduce food waste (and associated CO2 emissions)

The opportunity to meet like-minded people and make new friends

Our operating hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. 

Driver and Driver’s Assistant shifts begin at 8:30am. 

We welcome volunteers who can commit to one day a week. 

The days and rota hours of volunteering are agreed around your availability.

​IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be resident in the UK and living in Greater Manchester, or within easy commuting distance of our base, in order to volunteer with us. There are no exceptions to this rule. This is because we require volunteers to be able to reliably commit to regular shifts for some of our roles. We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

Know someone else who might be interested in volunteering with us?
Please pass our details on to them as we always welcome new people on our teams. :)

Our Friends Ageing Better (FAB) project is looking for volunteer hosts for our weekly FAB Phone Cafe. In this role you'll be helping to create a friendly, welcoming space and community connections with a group of older people facing isolation.

At Age UK Bristol, we want to change the way we age. We aim to keep people aged 55+ well and active, encouraging Bristol to be an Age Friendly city. We do this in 3 ways - through providing practical help and supporting people’s emotional and physical wellbeing in a range of ways depending on their needs.  In addition, we want to prevent people from needing our help wherever possible.  We do this in our strategic work, where we aim to create the conditions for older adults to remain healthy and independent.

We are currently looking for volunteers for our Phone Cafes on

Tuesdays 11:00-12:00 and 2:00-3:00pm

This role involves

• Welcoming older people who are new to the telephone group.
• Facilitating conversation in the group
• Keeping attendance sheets for group participants.
• Providing information about events and activities happening in the local area with the support of the FAB team

The qualities and skills required for this role are

• A friendly disposition, with the ability to create a welcoming atmosphere and include people so as to encourage an enjoyable experience.
• Ability to be assertive and intervene if necessary, for instance manage group members who may dominate the conversation
• Reliability and punctuality – calls need to run on time.
• Access to a reliable internet connection and a computer or tablet.
• Confidence in using new software so that calls run on time and everyone connects with the group (training provided; the platform we use is quite straightforward and easy to learn).
• Good verbal communication skills to make everyone feel as comfortable as possible and encourage shyer callers.
• An understanding of the needs of older people.
• Ability to respond to any Safeguarding concerns and keep the environment safe.
• Willingness to follow Age UK Bristol’s policies, such as Confidentiality, Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Equal Opportunities, and to complete any training and admin needed to perform the role.

We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our

volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.

We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might

vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:

· Asking people you know who might be willing to have a collection box in their business

· Approaching local businesses to display the boxes and collect loose change from their customers

· Building and maintaining relationships with your box holders to inspire loyalty and encourage people to continue giving year after year

· Collecting the boxes in your area as and when required and taking to your YBTC contact

We are looking for people who are:

· Have a warm, friendly and confident outlook

· Willing to learn about the work of YBTC

· Able to communicate with a range of different groups

· Are creative and imaginative – spotting opportunities to boost your distribution

· Are well organised and enjoy meeting new people

· Reliable and able to commit to agreed requirements

We can offer you:

· Induction and ongoing training

· Ongoing support and supervision in your role

· The opportunity to learn new skills

· YBTC commitment to health and safety

Founded in 2003 and originally named Andrea’s Gift and later Brain Tumour Research and Support

Across Yorkshire, Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is Yorkshire and Humber’s leading

brain tumour charity. Offering practical, financial and emotional support to both adult and child

brain tumour patients, together with their families.

We fund brain tumour research in Yorkshire; we hope this research, dedicated to identifying new

approaches to the discovery and treatment of brain tumours, will improve outcomes for patients.

At YBTC we are a small team who are growing to meet the needs of those affected by a brain

tumour in Yorkshire. Around 15 new cases of primary brain tumour are diagnosed in the region

every week.

Our charity values are Integrity, Compassion, Community, & Ambition.

Our Vision/Mission

To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and

research.

We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our

volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.

We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might

vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:

· Asking people you know who might be willing to have a collection box in their business

· Approaching local businesses to display the boxes and collect loose change from their customers

· Building and maintaining relationships with your box holders to inspire loyalty and encourage people to continue giving year after year

· Collecting the boxes in your area as and when required and taking to your YBTC contact

We are looking for people who are:

· Have a warm, friendly and confident outlook

· Willing to learn about the work of YBTC

· Able to communicate with a range of different groups

· Are creative and imaginative – spotting opportunities to boost your distribution

· Are well organised and enjoy meeting new people

· Reliable and able to commit to agreed requirements

We can offer you:

· Induction and ongoing training

· Ongoing support and supervision in your role

· The opportunity to learn new skills

· YBTC commitment to health and safety

Founded in 2003 and originally named Andrea’s Gift and later Brain Tumour Research and Support

Across Yorkshire, Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is Yorkshire and Humber’s leading

brain tumour charity. Offering practical, financial and emotional support to both adult and child

brain tumour patients, together with their families.

We fund brain tumour research in Yorkshire; we hope this research, dedicated to identifying new

approaches to the discovery and treatment of brain tumours, will improve outcomes for patients.

At YBTC we are a small team who are growing to meet the needs of those affected by a brain

tumour in Yorkshire. Around 15 new cases of primary brain tumour are diagnosed in the region

every week.

Our charity values are Integrity, Compassion, Community, & Ambition.

Our Vision/Mission

To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and

research.

The Plateful Café works to relieve poverty and isolation amongst refugees, asylum seekers and ethnic minorities in Lewisham. Our commitment is to reach the most vulnerable people in our community and help them access the support they are entitled to. The refugees training or employed by the Plateful Cafe will benefit from workshops, training skills and knowledge relevant for the catering industry. 

As a small charity, it is important to share information and updates through our communications and social media content, to help us fundraise and grow. We are looking for someone to assist us on creating copy for our blog as well as help with creating content for our newsletters, social media, print media and other promotional material over time.

With the launch of the physical Plateful Cafe taking place soon, this summer is an exciting time to join us.

Requirements: 

• Excellent communication skills in fluent English

• Has 1+ years experience of social media, copywriting, journalism, blog content creation, interviewing or similar skills (this does not have to include published work)

• Able to create interesting and engaging content

• Good computer skills

• Good time management skills

• Engaging and friendly

• Good team player

Desirable:

• Basic digital photography and editing skills

• An interest in supporting refugees and contributing to the work of Plateful Cafe

• Experience of working with refugees, people seeking asylum, vulnerable groups or lived experience

• Lives in London with ability to attend events and markets

Are you passionate about helping people from Afghanistan feel welcome and supported in the UK? Do you have the language skills and cultural understanding to assist Afghan refugees as they navigate the challenges of building a new life? If you’re adaptable, resilient, and dedicated to making a difference, we’d love to hear from you!

About us

Gulab Sorkh Foundation (GSF) is an independent charity supporting Afghan nationals resettled in the UK under the ARAP scheme. We are a small but impactful organisation, dedicated to helping those who worked closely with British forces in Afghanistan and their families integrate successfully into British life.

Job description

We are looking for two volunteer interpreters—one fluent in Dari and one fluent in Pashto — to join our team at the Gulab Sorkh Foundation (GSF). You will play a key role in supporting Afghan refugees who have resettled in the UK, assisting them in accessing essential services and communicating effectively in their daily lives.  This is an influential volunteer opportunity where you will make a real difference by helping Afghan refugees integrate into British society, providing crucial interpretation during interactions with service providers such as healthcare professionals, housing officers, and legal advisors.

As a Volunteer Interpreter, you will:

• Provide interpretation services (Dari or Pashto) to Afghan refugees, ensuring clear 
• communication between them and various UK service providers.
• Assist refugees in understanding key information related to housing, healthcare, 
• education, and other public services.
• Facilitate communication during meetings, appointments, and community events to 
• support their integration journey.
• Offer support and cultural understanding to ensure refugees feel comfortable and 
• respected throughout their resettlement process.

Key responsibilities:

• Interpret accurately and sensitively between Dari/Pashto and English during one-on-one 
• and group interactions.
• Help beneficiaries understand and complete necessary paperwork or official forms in 
• both languages.
• Collaborate with case managers and external partners to ensure the refugees’ needs are 
• effectively communicated.
• Be aware of and sensitive to the needs of individuals who may have experienced trauma 
• and displacement.
• Follow data protection laws and policies

Essential skills:

• Fluency (written and verbal) in Dari and/or Pashto and in English.
• A high level of cultural sensitivity and empathy towards Afghan refugees.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to translate complex information clearly 
• and accurately.
• Ability to remain neutral and impartial in all interactions.
• Commitment to safeguarding vulnerable individuals and confidentiality.

Desirable skills:

• Level 3 in Interpretation.
• Previous experience working with refugees or vulnerable communities.
• Knowledge of UK systems such as healthcare, housing, and immigration.
• Understanding of the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Please note:

This is an unpaid voluntary position, offering flexibility to fit around your other commitments.

This is a completely remote role, and as such you will need to ensure that you have access to a confidential, quite space during your working hours.

To apply please upload your CV and covering letter (max. 2 A4 pages each) 
In your application, please explain how you meet every point on the essential criteria with examples. If you meet any of the desired criteria, please do the same for these.  We actively encourage applications from individuals with lived experiences of migration or refugee resettlement.

Please get in touch with us if you have any queries.

We look forward to hearing from you

Our County Representatives (CR) will support our Fundraising Team by being the public face of Combat Stress in their local county, and will help build support from individuals and groups by raising awareness and funds. Income generation is key to our continued success and the support of volunteers enables us to raise more funds to support former servicemen and women, so that when a veteran is having a tough time, we’re there to help tackle the past and to help them take on the future.

Hours:The role is flexible. You can give as much or as little time as you are able. However, we do ask you ideally commit enough time to build meaningful awareness and support on your base.

What are the benefits of volunteering for Combat Stress?

• A full induction to Combat Stress and its work, including training and appropriate materials to support you in the role such as t-shirts, banners and cheer sticks. 
• Ongoing support, advice and guidance from the Senior Challenge Officer. • Learn and develop fundraising skills.
• Meet new people and be actively engaged in your local community.
• Helping our fundraisers to feel great and keeping them motivated throughout their challenge.
• Receive reimbursement for out of pocket expenses 
• Be part of the UK’s leading Charity for veterans’ mental health.
• Have the reward of knowing you will be making a positive contribution to the lives of UK Veterans and their families.

Three Board Member vacancies at Freedom from Torture

Freedom from Torture is dedicated to healing and protecting people who have survived torture. We provide therapies to improve physical and mental health, we medically document torture, we provide health assessments and liaise with GPs, and we provide legal and welfare help. We expose torture globally, we fight to hold torturing states to account, and we advocate for fairer treatment of torture survivors in the UK.

We campaign for national and global change, using evidence from our services and survivor voices to protect and promote survivors' rights and hold torturing states to account. We are proud to play a significant role in the global anti-torture movement. Survivors, active and empowered, are at the centre of all of our work.

We are seeking to recruit three new Board members to join our committed Board of Trustees. We are looking for candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

▪ Clinical Leadership with substantial leadership experience in NHS or charity trauma services;

▪ Transformation expertise at senior level, whether in a service context or a broader organisational setting;

▪ Digital/ data expertise, strong experience in digital platforms and data analytics, with awareness of emerging technologies to help deliver services and increase organisational effectiveness;

▪ People leadership expertise having led strategic HR and organisational culture change initiatives.

We are committed to achieving a diverse Board and would be particularly interested to hear from those with experience in one or more of these areas who also have direct experience of torture, the asylum system or overcoming personal adversity and/or who come from Black, Asian, ethnic minority and/or other under-represented groups.

We provide an extensive induction for all new Trustees and gladly offer training and capacity-building opportunities, as required.

These are volunteer roles appointed for 3 years and renewable for an additional 2 terms. While the roles are unpaid, travel expenses and childcare costs will be reimbursed.

Freedom from Torture is committed to exemplary safeguarding practice, and we require an enhanced DBS check for these roles.

For more details of these opportunities, including how to apply, please see our candidate pack.

Our vision for volunteering

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

The difference you will make to cats and people

We have a huge breadth of volunteer roles at Cats Protection, including caring for cats, fundraising, in our shops and many more! We also need volunteers to help us be more efficient, effective and to ensure we comply with charity law and governance.  

The purpose of the Audit & Risk Committee is to assist the Board of Trustees in fulfilling its obligations in respect of financial and governance reporting, internal control and risk. Our Audit & Risk Committee volunteers contribute to a well-run organisation, and their time and expertise help our Committee work in the best, most effective way possible.

The Board of Trustees delegates authority to the Committee to oversee the Cats Protection financial reporting process. This ensures the balance, transparency and integrity of published financial information to:

• ensure that there is a framework for accountability
• examine systems and methods of control, with particular emphasis on risk management and the effective use of risk-based outsourced internal audit receive reports from external auditors and consider rotation of audit partners
• ensure that Cats Protection is complying with statutory and regulatory requirements and good practice
• ensure implementation of recommendations from internal and external auditors
• ensure ongoing objectivity and independence

Your role will also include:

• attending Committee meetings
• reading papers
• preparing for meetings
• raising appropriate challenge or concerns undertaking any actions required in the agreed timescales
• supporting the Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee
• keeping informed about the activities of the charity and wider issues affecting the charity and the Audit & Risk Committee in particular

If you have strategic vision and an appreciation that there is much more to helping cats than meets the eye, then this is the role for you.

You can expect us to

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

What we need from you

• a commitment to Cats Protection and empathy with our vision, mission and values
• a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
• strategic vision
• sound independent judgement
• relevant financial, assurance or risk management experience
• willingness to be part of a team
• the ability to express views clearly
• willingness to respectfully challenge and bring the best out in others
• an understanding of the role, duties and responsibilities of the Audit & Risk Committee

Time expectation

Our Audit & Risk Committee meets three times a year (twice in person in London and once virtually) and our volunteers normally spend a total of three years in this role.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

More information on the role is available through a candidate pack for applicants. 

To apply, please submit a cover letter of no more than 500 words and a CV. Please include your motivation for applying for the role and details of any relevant experience - whether paid or voluntary. 

The deadline for applications is Friday 19 December at 23:59.

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.