Community services volunteers volunteer roles in braintree, essex

We are seeking new people to join our Board of Trustees to support the good governance of our charity. It is an exciting time to join us as we work to launch our new strategy from 2026; an important timeframe as we await a Government White Paper on SEND and consider how best to adapt our services to ensure we reach those who need us most.

Who we are

Founded in 1983, IPSEA is a leading national charity focussed on supporting families to ensure that children and young people with SEND receive the education they are legally entitled to. Since our formation, we have actively helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people with SEND. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.

Who are we looking for?

We wish to recruit a number of new trustees who are committed to our vision and values and who bring complementary skills to those of our current Board members.

Trustees are expected to gain an understanding of the organisation’s purpose, and to contribute their own expertise, ensuring IPSEA fulfils its objectives, and in accordance with our charitable objects and Articles of Association

Whether you’re an experienced trustee or wanting to take your first step at Board level, we are particularly interested in hearing from people with expertise and skills in one or more of the following areas:

• IT / Digital transformation / cyber security
• Volunteer management
• Local Authority / Education
• Disabilities

Please note: a lack of expertise in these areas does not mean that an application will not be considered.

Our Board should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.

What we can offer you

• an in-depth induction programme, training and reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
• the opportunity to be involved in making strategic decisions and developing new skills
• the opportunity to apply your knowledge and experience to an important cause
• a buddying system for new trustees as you settle into the role

The expected time commitment is six trustee meetings per year (meetings are held on weekdays in central London or at IPSEA’s office in Takeley, Essex with the option to join some meetings virtually), usually one strategic planning/training day and some other ad hoc time for occasional meetings and events.

To apply 

​Please visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form. 

Closing date for applications: 5pm on Friday 12 September 2025 
First-round interviews: Monday 29 September and Monday 6 October 2025

African Development Choices (ADC) is a UK-based Social Enterprise on a mission to reduce poverty by empowering communities to make more informed choices in the management of public resources.

ADC’s purpose is to enable communities to independently meet their needs for essential services, such as clean water and safe sanitation and improve lives in Africa.

At ADC we encourage a working culture of seeking and giving input, showing and taking initiative, and commitment to the organisation and its purpose.

We now have an exciting opportunity for a volunteer Senior Web Developer to join ADC.

Main purpose of job: Develop and maintain the ADC website

Division: Operations

Department: Marketing & Communications

Position reports to: Head of Marketing & Communications

Who reports to this position: N/A

Main Duties and Responsibilities
 

· Develop responsive and adaptive website, ensuring optimization for mobile devices and cross-browser compatibility

· Work closely with web designers to match visual design intent and to perfect site aesthetics

· Ensure website meets usability and accessibility web standards

· Test and improve website functionality and performance over time

· Put in place a robust backup and recovery procedure

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Essential
 

· 3+ years experience as a Senior Web Developer

· Excellent knowledge of WordPress, HTML, CSS and JavaScript

· A keen eye for design and detail, and passion for building modern and elegant websites powered by WordPress

· A strong understanding of optimisation for mobile devices, cross-browser compatibility, responsive web design, and general web functions and standards

· Good experience building website pages from scratch in WordPress

· Ability to work both with autonomy and as part of a team

· Available to volunteer at least 7-10 hours a week

· Ability to actively take initiative and help set things up in a start-up environment

· Ability to actively seek and give input in a collaborative team environment

· A committed team player with good communication skills.

Desirable
 

· Experience working in an early stage star-tup and gone through a scaling phase

· Passion for the start-up life and comfortable in a role with a little ambiguity

What ADC offers you:

• Free training and learning opportunities
• An opportunity to build your work experience within the field of web development
• An opportunity to be part of a team that is changing lives in Africa
• We provide work references

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Here at African Development Choices, we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our teams are made up of people from all over the world and we welcome all applications. If you are disabled or have a long-term health condition, and you require any reasonable adjustments for your application with us, please let us know by contacting recruitment(at)africandevelopmentchoices(dot)org.

We are Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking. Our mission is to achieve a better walking environment and inspire people to walk more.

We are looking for trustees to join our Board to support steering the charity forward. 

This is a pivotal time in our history: with a dynamic and experienced new Chief Executive, Catherine Woodhead; and a period of development, with a new strategy incoming that will take us towards our centenary in 2029. 

We are a charity which can influence anyone’s daily life.

With our thousands of members and supporters we run campaigns for positive change and influence policies that improve our streets such as encouraging families to walk to school, 20mph speed limits and controlling pavement parking. 

We manage innovative national projects, engaging schools, communities and workplaces to encourage more people to walk short journeys. Our year-round walk to school challenge captures the imagination of children in over 2000 schools. 

We work with local authorities and businesses to improve streets and public spaces. Our reports, such as The Pedestrian Pound, make a substantial contribution to the active travel agenda. 

 Our charity trustees play a key part in strategy development and bringing our strategy to life. We would welcome applicants with:

-Senior finance experience across the charity, government or private sectors.

-Legal experience in Charity Law or legal expertise relevant to the third sector.

We’re especially interested in candidates bringing diverse experience from the corporate sector. Additional digital skills are desirable. Whatever your background, a commitment to the values and objectives of the charity overall will be crucial.

We actively welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds generally and from all parts of the UK. 

Walk with us.

These roles are voluntary and unpaid, although appropriate expenses will be paid.

Closing date: 18/08/2025 (5pm)

Interviews: 03/09/2025 

This is an exciting opportunity to join a charity at the very start and to make a difference in shaping how we move forward.

Who are we looking for?

At present we are working towards being fully operational, over the next year Living Reasons will be looking to ensure that all of our operational activity, whether internally or with people who come in contact with the organisation, are having the best experience they can possibly have and that the work we are carrying out, the campaigns we are focusing on and where we are focusing our time and our money, is relevant and remains so moving forward.

That is where I lived experience board of volunteers comes in. In essence that lived experience board is the driver for all that we do as an organisation and will inform, guide and develop the organisation.

The board is broken in to separate lived experiences which hold focus groups, support groups and communicated with each other to talk about members lived experiences, support each other and feel part of a community, while also using the voice and power of that lived experience to bring about change. The board chooses what information is passed on to the organisation and what is not.

Additionally, to the community aspects of the role, you will also be sent specific materials to share your experiences or take part in research or in new policy discussions or campaign ideas as the organisation evolves.

Additionally, to the specific lived experience groups, the full board can communicate with each other and will have periodic full board meetings that will allow people to share their experiences from various viewpoints, so that cross overs and shared experiences can become strength but can also guide the overall operation of Living Reasons.

For this role, all you need is to have lived experience of autism, ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia, either from a personal viewpoint, or as a supporter/care giver/guardian/family member. There will be two separate groups (one for personal experience and people who are supporting someone – this allows for different conversations to happen).

This role will really drive change, not just in Living Reasons as an organisation, but in society as a whole.

What is the plan?

The person who is starting the charity up is autistic, has ADHD, CPTSD and also multiple physical conditions that effect daily life and is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has faced a lot of issues in life because of these things.

Living Reasons is being created to fix what we think is a challenging situation that is getting harder to achieve every week, month and year in the current economic, political, environmental and societal landscape. It is not easily defined but we hope the charity objects below will help put context to what we want to achieve, what we can say is that below are the issues we are trying to address, how we do this will change as quickly as society does, but the issues we want to tackle are these:

1) Outdated and damaging employment practices

2) Accessibility to services

3) Limited employment, training and education opportunities

4) Lack of support during times of crisis or need

5) Lack of equity and agency for many people in society

6) Institutional discrimination that is not challenged

7) Abuse of the legal system at all levels

8) Abuse of power in government bodies

9) Poor access to healthcare

10)  Unequal treatment of many people in society by large corporations

11)  Assumptions made by wider society based on incorrect, outdated or discriminatory rhetoric that is used in daily life

12)  Outdated company engagement with the public

13)  Lack of support that is not talked about and not being addressed

Our Living Values -

Creativity

1) Imaginative Development (Individual)

2) Instilled Collaboration (Internal)

3) Changing The Status Quo (External)

Prospectivity

1) What Can You Do (Individual)

2) What Can We Do (Internal)

3) What Can They Do (External)

Revolutionary 

1) Inspire With Confidence (Individual)

2) Boundaryless Innovation (Internal)

3) Challenge Traditions (External)

Attentivity

1) Analyse and Redesign (Individual)

2) Rebel and Reform (Internal)

3) Enquire and Reimagine (External)

• Location: UK-wide (Board meetings online, with occasional in-person events)
• Time Commitment: 8–12 hours per month
• Term: Initial 3-year term, renewable up to a maximum of 9 years
• Remuneration: Voluntary Role (expenses reimbursed)
• Start Date: October 2025
• Applications Open: July 2025
• Applications Close Date: 5 pm, Friday 5th September 2025
• Interview Dates: 15th September (PM) and 17th September (AM)

About DiMHN:

The Design in Mental Health Network (DiMHN) is a UK-based charity dedicated to transforming mental health environments through inclusive, evidence-based design. Our network brings together professionals from healthcare, design, policy, and lived experience to improve mental health outcomes and create spaces that promote dignity, safety, and healing.

Role Overview:

As a Trustee, you will help guide the strategic direction of DiMHN, ensure effective governance, and champion our values. Trustees are expected to provide strategic oversight and contribute expertise to subgroups or advisory functions.

Key Responsibilities:

• Shape and review DiMHN’s strategy, vision, and values.
• Ensure compliance with legal, financial, and governance requirements.
• Monitor performance and support the CEO and executive team.
• Act as an ambassador for DiMHN, promoting our vision, purpose, and values, as well as the work we do.
• Contribute to fundraising, research, and partnerships. 

Why Join Us

Joining the Board of DiMHN presents an opportunity to shape the future of mental health environments across the UK and beyond.

You’ll be part of a passionate, forward-thinking community working at the intersection of design, care, and lived experience. 

As a Trustee, you’ll:

• Shape strategic direction to drive meaningful change in mental health environments across the UK and beyond.
• Collaborate with a diverse network of leaders, experts, and lived experience advocates, influencing the future of mental health design.
• Provide governance and oversight that ensures the charity’s growth, sustainability, and impact.
• Champion inclusivity by elevating voices often excluded from design and decision-making processes
• Influence policy, standards, and innovation at national and international levels to embed evidence-based design in mental health care.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for people who believe in the power of design to change lives. Whether you come from healthcare, design, research, lived experience, or another walk of life, if you’re motivated by the idea of creating more inclusive, compassionate mental health environments, we want to hear from you.

We have two Trustee vacancies and warmly welcome applications from both first-time trustees and those with previous board experience. 

We value fresh perspectives and offer support to help you thrive in the role. We are especially interested in individuals who can bring insight in one or more of the following areas:

• Mental Health Services & Policy: Clinical, community, lived experience, commissioning, or estates, facilities and planning.
• Digital Health & Technology: Expertise in AI, immersive tech, digital platforms, or digital strategy in care settings.
• Finance & Commercial Strategy: Income generation, business development, or financial planning in health, social impact, or design sectors.
• Research & Evaluation: Academic or applied research, impact measurement, or policy analysis.

We’re also looking for Trustees who embody our values:

At DiMHN, our work is grounded in our core values. We’re looking for Trustees who reflect these values through both mindset and action:

Be Courageous – You’re willing to ask challenging questions, confront assumptions, and help push boundaries to make mental health spaces more inclusive and compassionate.

Empathy in Design – You understand that good design starts with empathy. Whether through lived experience or professional perspective, you value collaboration and co-production with those who access mental health care and support.

Evidence-Led, Impact-Driven – You’re curious, reflective, and motivated by real-world change. You use evidence to guide decisions and are focused on outcomes that make a difference.

Improve Together – You believe in learning together. You’re generous with your skills and committed to helping the DiMHN and the wider sector grow stronger through collective action.
 

Eligibility:

Applicants must be over 18 and eligible to serve as a charity trustee 

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

We are actively working to improve the diversity of our Board, recognising that inclusive leadership strengthens both our governance and our ability to achieve our purpose. Diverse perspectives lead to better decisions, richer insight, and more equitable outcomes for the communities we serve.

We know that some groups remain underrepresented in charity governance, including people from racialised communities, disabled people, LGBTQAI+ individuals, younger adults, and people with lived experience of mental health. We also value regional diversity and welcome applications from across the UK. We encourage applications from 

How to Apply:

Send your CV and a short written or video/audio statement (max two pages or five minutes), titled “[Your Name] Trustee Role.”

In your statement, tell us why you’re interested, what you’d bring, and any support you might need to thrive in the role.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a charity at the very start and to make a difference in shaping how we move forward.

Who are we looking for?

At present we are working towards being fully operational, over the next year Living Reasons will be looking to ensure that all of our operational activity, whether internally or with people who come in contact with the organisation, are having the best experience they can possibly have and that the work we are carrying out, the campaigns we are focusing on and where we are focusing our time and our money, is relevant and remains so moving forward.

That is where I lived experience board of volunteers comes in. In essence that lived experience board is the driver for all that we do as an organisation and will inform, guide and develop the organisation.

The board is broken in to separate lived experiences which hold focus groups, support groups and communicated with each other to talk about members lived experiences, support each other and feel part of a community, while also using the voice and power of that lived experience to bring about change. The board chooses what information is passed on to the organisation and what is not.

Additionally, to the community aspects of the role, you will also be sent specific materials to share your experiences or take part in research or in new policy discussions or campaign ideas as the organisation evolves.

Additionally, to the specific lived experience groups, the full board can communicate with each other and will have periodic full board meetings that will allow people to share their experiences from various viewpoints, so that cross overs and shared experiences can become strength but can also guide the overall operation of Living Reasons.

For this role, all you need is to have lived experience of mental health conditions, either from a personal viewpoint, or as a supporter/care giver/guardian/family member. There will be two separate groups (one for personal experience and people who are supporting someone – this allows for different conversations to happen).

This role will really drive change, not just in Living Reasons as an organisation, but in society as a whole.

What is the plan?

The person who is starting the charity up is autistic, has ADHD, CPTSD and also multiple physical conditions that effect daily life and is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has faced a lot of issues in life because of these things.

Living Reasons is being created to fix what we think is a challenging situation that is getting harder to achieve every week, month and year in the current economic, political, environmental and societal landscape. It is not easily defined but we hope the charity objects below will help put context to what we want to achieve, what we can say is that below are the issues we are trying to address, how we do this will change as quickly as society does, but the issues we want to tackle are these:

1) Outdated and damaging employment practices

2) Accessibility to services

3) Limited employment, training and education opportunities

4) Lack of support during times of crisis or need

5) Lack of equity and agency for many people in society

6) Institutional discrimination that is not challenged

7) Abuse of the legal system at all levels

8) Abuse of power in government bodies

9) Poor access to healthcare

10)  Unequal treatment of many people in society by large corporations

11)  Assumptions made by wider society based on incorrect, outdated or discriminatory rhetoric that is used in daily life

12)  Outdated company engagement with the public

13)  Lack of support that is not talked about and not being addressed

Our Living Values -

Creativity

1) Imaginative Development (Individual)

2) Instilled Collaboration (Internal)

3) Changing The Status Quo (External)

Prospectivity

1) What Can You Do (Individual)

2) What Can We Do (Internal)

3) What Can They Do (External)

Revolutionary 

1) Inspire With Confidence (Individual)

2) Boundaryless Innovation (Internal)

3) Challenge Traditions (External)

Attentivity

1) Analyse and Redesign (Individual)

2) Rebel and Reform (Internal)

3) Enquire and Reimagine (External)

This is an exciting opportunity to join a charity at the very start and to make a difference in shaping how we move forward.

Who are we looking for?

At present we are working to secure funding that will see us through our first year, and the role of the Social Media and Communications Co-ordinator will play a key role in this.

If you are well versed in social media, have experience or a passion for communicating with wide audiences across pretty much all social media platforms, this is a role for you.

Living Reasons, at the core of what we want to achieve, doesn't just value experience from employment but from personal experience and based on you as a person, everything else comes from the relationships built and trust given to each other and we want to learn from you, just as much as you will learn from us.

You will work with the volunteers and trustees to create engaging content that focuses on the current needs of the charity and in the first 3-6 months will be very much focused and 2 areas - fundraising and communicating the charity message and gaining support for the charity as we establish ourselves. We want to do things differently, so there are no boundaries other than legal requirements and ensuring we stick to the charity values, which, as you will see, are very much about making change and doing things differently.

Living Reasons – What we are planning, who we are and where we are now:

What is the plan?

The person who is starting the charity up is autistic, has ADHD, CPTSD and also multiple physical conditions that effect daily life and is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has faced a lot of issues in life because of these things.

Living Reasons is being created to fix what we think is a challenging situation that is getting harder to achieve every week, month and year in the current economic, political, environmental and societal landscape. It is not easily defined but we hope the charity objects below will help put context to what we want to achieve, what we can say is that below are the issues we are trying to address, how we do this will change as quickly as society does, but the issues we want to tackle are these:

1) Outdated and damaging employment practices

2) Accessibility to services

3) Limited employment, training and education opportunities

4) Lack of support during times of crisis or need

5) Lack of equity and agency for many people in society

6) Institutional discrimination that is not challenged

7) Abuse of the legal system at all levels

8) Abuse of power in government bodies

9) Poor access to healthcare

10)  Unequal treatment of many people in society by large corporations

11)  Assumptions made by wider society based on incorrect, outdated or discriminatory rhetoric that is used in daily life

12)  Outdated company engagement with the public

13)  Lack of support that is not talked about and not being addressed

Our Living Values -

Creativity

1) Imaginative Development (Individual)

2) Instilled Collaboration (Internal)

3) Changing The Status Quo (External)

Prospectivity

1) What Can You Do (Individual)

2) What Can We Do (Internal)

3) What Can They Do (External)

Revolutionary 

1) Inspire With Confidence (Individual)

2) Boundaryless Innovation (Internal)

3) Challenge Traditions (External)

Attentivity

1) Analyse and Redesign (Individual)

2) Rebel and Reform (Internal)

3) Enquire and Reimagine (External)

If you think you would enjoy this role, please apply, we want to hear from you!

Job Purpose

One Place London is a community interest company located in West London engaged in Acting for Film and Music Recording workshops for young people aged 14-25, unemployed or at risk of getting involved in crime. We are looking for an experienced HR Officer to join the team. The primary purpose of this role is to support the Managing Director facilitate the smooth running of our human resources function, including onboarding new employees, managing the HR systems and assisting with some aspects of payroll and employee benefits.

Whilst specific legal training is not required, solid HR legal knowledge will be advantageous.

This role would suit someone keen to develop their functional expertise in HR and gain exposure to the breadth of operational functions

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• recruiting new staff
• making sure that staff get paid correctly and on time
• managing pensions and benefits administration
• approving job descriptions and advertisements
• looking after the health, safety and welfare of all employees
• organising staff training 
• monitoring staff performance and attendance
• advising line managers and other employees on employment law and the employer's own employment policies and procedures
• ensuring candidates have the right to work at the organisation
• advising on disciplinary and employee performance problems
• negotiating salaries, contracts, working conditions and redundancy packages with staff and trade union representatives.

Person Specification & Key Competencies

Qualifications and Experience:

· Proven track record in a generalist HR role, no formal qualifications required

Essential Experience

• Experience working in the human resources function of a growing charitable

organisation necessary but not essential.

• Experience in building relationships internally and externally.

• Experience in coordinating targeted recruitment and selection campaigns aligned with

organisational objectives.

 Passion for life-long learning and dedication to employee health and wellbeing.

• Energy, enthusiasm and ability to manage a diverse workload.

• Supports and champions the vision, mission and values of One Place London CIC.

• Ability to work flexibly, according to role and service requirements.

• Sensitivity and discretion when dealing with sensitive and confidential data

• Be able to work accurately, with good attention to detail

Essential Skills & Knowledge

• Reliability and discretion: you will often learn of confidential matters

• Adaptability and pragmatism

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills

• Organisational & problem-solving skills

• IT skills

• Initiative and attention to detail.

• Right to work in the UK

• Commitment to the organisation's principles and willingness to work within policies

and guidelines.

Desirable Skills & Knowledge

• Knowledge of employment law including charity-specific requirements.

• Payroll and benefits knowledge.

• Working towards a CIPD qualification but not essential.

Benefits

• Career progression opportunities

• Flexible/Agile Working, Hourly pay rate during the workshops on a Contract/ Self-Employed basis.

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees.

Marie Curie is calling on local people to help us fundraise together. No cape needed - just a bit of time and good vibes.

Coordinate collections - pick and drop off dontation tins

Spread the word

Collect and bank donations

You just need to:

• Be 18+
• Know your area
• Enjoy meeting people

We’ll give you:

• Quick and easy training 
• Ongoing support and expense covered
• Discounts & loyalty perks
• Feel-good impact

Ready to make a difference?
Apply now or get in touch with us