8 Company secretary volunteer volunteer roles

Action for Refugees in Lewisham is looking for a trustee to act as secretary, supporting the board's governance role helping AFRIL deliver for refugees and vulnerable migrants in south-east London. Time commitment is flexible, and not onerous, and formal company secretary functions are supported by a member of staff.

AFRIL was founded in 2006 to support asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants and refugees in south-east London to lift themselves out of poverty and rebuild their lives in the heart of our community. Our support is holistic: both crisis support to meet immediate need, and longer-term, flexible programmes that tackle the underlying problems that lead to crisis, supporting people to integrate, contribute and thrive. We work in the community across south-east London, including in local asylum hotels.

We are a small charity, with mostly part-time staff, but we make a significant difference. Our client group is predominantly people in, or with experience of, the asylum system. We also support newly granted refugees, and migrants with no recourse to public funds who have complex and unmet protection needs.

AFRIL's board of trustees is collectively responsible for supporting and challenging the charity to oversee its good governance and proper financial control in line with its charitable aims and strategic plan, charity law, and all other relevant legislation. The time required of trustees is not onerous, and is flexible - although it is, of course, possible to take on more responsibility and expand your time commitment.

As a board member, you will be expected to be available for board meetings approximately every two months, which are generally an hour and a half long and take place in a weekday evening. These mostly take place online, with occasional hybrid meetings or meetings in-person.

As secretary to the board, you will be responsible for the timetabling of meetings, the agenda, and for taking and sharing a minute of board meetings – just main points and actions – to support the board in carrying out our remit. You may also assist with other areas of support to the governance for the charity, such as ensuring that we maintain regular review of the organisation’s policies, and providing some assistance from time to time to the member of staff leading on liaison with the Charity Commission and Companies House.

You will also need to be able to commit some ad hoc time to consider papers ahead of meetings, and occasionally to take part in email discussion on issues as they arise. You would also be expected to attend the charity’s AGM, which tends to take place on a Saturday afternoon in January/February.

We value diversity in our trustee team, as we do in the staff team. We particularly welcome applications from anyone who can bring lived experience of the immigration and asylum system, and are always keen to see applications from people with experience with fundraising, or with HR. We welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief.

To apply, please submit a short (no more than one side of A4) letter explaining why you would like to join AFRIL’s board, and what skills and experience you would bring to the role, along with your CV.

This is a chance to make a huge difference through volunteering as Trustee for a life-saving charity which has been having a positive impact in North Somerset since 1994.  We provide professional, low cost counselling and mental health support for people who cannot get the help they need through the NHS and cannot afford to pay for private therapy.  You will hear testimonies of adults and teenagers who have had their lives turned around because of Wellspring.  The Finance Trustee plays a vital role in keeping our organisation on track by ensuring accounts are kept up to date and accurately, having oversight of all our financial matters and providing forecasting to help keep the charity viable and sustainable.

The Finance Trustee should be or have been a finance professional preferably with experience in accounting.  You will keep in contact with the Director and Administrator regularly (1-2 times per month), and meet with the other friendly and caring Board of Trustees once every two months to report on our finances.

In detail the role inovles:

• Ensuring that proper accounting records are kept, and that appropriate accounting

procedures and controls are in place.

• Ensuring that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being

implemented, and supporting the development of policies covering financial

reserves, and cost management.

• Monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity.

• Overseeing financial controls and adherence to systems, regularly liaising with

Director and Senior Administrator.

• Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including

overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process

• Ensuring investments and assets are maximised.

• Lead on the appointment of and liaison with the Independent Examiner.

• Oversee the development and implementation of systems for appraising, mitigating

and reporting corporate risk.

• Acting as Company Secretary for the Charity.

• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by

relevant statutory bodies, for example, the Charity Commission and/or the Registrar

of Companies.

• Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities and

liaising with the Director to develop the financial understanding of the Board of

Trustees.

West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse providers of mental health, community and social care in the UK.

Our football for wellbeing hub provides a safe, inclusive and wellbeing space in the community to improve mental and physical health in collaboration with QPR FC, Everyone Active and FootyAddicts Company.

As Football Session Helper Volunteer you will help the facilitator/s with pre-session tasks and delivery of exciting football sessions while adhering to the FA code of conduct.  We are currently seeking applications to support our newly launched  football sessions and potentially coach/manage our Football Club’s (West London NHS Peer FC) team if an FA qualified coach or willing to get the qualification. 

In return we will offer you:

• A full induction including support to access the FA free training
• On-going support, guidance and supervision from a member of staff
• The opportunity to develop your personal, professional and football coaching skills
• The opportunity to get involved in other areas of The Trust’s work, including NHS careers
• Reimbursement of reasonable expenses
• The opportunity to contribute to our mission

Do you want to help guide and support a welcoming community centre in Calderdale

Do you want to help make Calderdale a more welcoming place for refugees and people seeking asylum?

Do you have experience in finance, accounting or company secretarial work?

We are looking for a Trustee Treasurer to join the Board of St Augustine’s Centre.

This is a voluntary role, but a vital one, helping to ensure our charity remains financially sustainable and well governed.

About St Augustine's Centre

St Augustine’s is a highly respected specialist charity working with people seeking asylum, and new refugees, who are rebuilding their lives in Calderdale. We help with advice on immigration and asylum and offer one-on-one support with welfare, housing, health, and access to wider services.

Renowned for our person-centered approach, we provide a welcoming, safe and inclusive space.  We offer English language classes, training, creative, social, sports and wellbeing activities, trips and volunteering opportunities. 

About the Trustee Treasurer role

Our current Trustee Treasurer is stepping down after more than seven years in the role. We are seeking someone with the right skills and experience to take on this important position.

Key responsibilities include:

• Acting as Company Secretary
• Filing accounts and annual returns to Companies House and the Charity Commission
• Maintaining bank accounts and mandates
• Authorising payments and overseeing movement of funds
• Ensuring compliance with our governing documents (Memorandum and Articles of Association)
• Supporting the preparation of annual accounts
• Working with the Director on budgets and forecasts
• Supporting financial systems (including QuickBooks)

Time commitment

• This is a voluntary role (reasonable expenses are paid, including travel and childcare where needed)
• 4 Board meetings per year, lasting around 2 hours each
• Meetings are usually held in person, with the option to join online
• Preparation time of around 1 hour per meeting
• Trustees also join at least one Board sub‑group, meeting 4 times a year

Overall, the commitment is approximately 8 hours per month, with flexibility depending on your availability.

Support is available for trustees whose first language is not English.

Come and join the magical Patchworking Garden Project, established in 2015. It is a volunteer run charity supporting volunteers with a wide variety of physical and mental health needs through gardening, crafting and friendship. We have a strong identity within the local community and are known for increasing the wellbeing of those we support by valuing everyone’s contribution unreservedly, enhancing self-confidence and encouraging, where appropriate, progression to other activities. The Charity is run entirely by volunteers and those whom we support are supported volunteers.

Under the charity we also run The Patchworking Academy which offers the opportunity to gain an internationally recognised City & Guilds qualification in Practical Horticulture Skills. The Academy seeks to address inclusion via employment-ready qualifications for adults facing challenging circumstances. With the guidance of experienced and highly qualified therapeutic horticulture tutors, learners work at their own pace with a small group of other interested learners.

We are looking for a chair with some charity and governance experience who is

● able to quickly grasp what our values are and how we operate

● used to managing change

● happy in a leadership role,

● committed to a collaborative way of working 

● comfortable dealing with finances (preferably in the charity sector)

It is a lovely role for the right person so do get in touch for a chat if you think you might be interested.  There is a full role description available.

Kiplin Hall and Gardens in North Yorkshire is recruiting Trustees to join the friendly and dedicated Board which oversees the management of this intriguing Jacobean house.  The house was built in the 1620s for George Calvert, Secretary of State to James I, and founder of the US state of Maryland. A member of the Historic Houses Association, the Hall and Gardens welcome 40,000 visitors a year. In 2025 we opened a new Welcome Centre at Kiplin with improved retail and catering for our visitors and with the support of MEND funding undertook major repairs of the Hall roof. The National Lottery Heritage Fund enabled us to create new galleries and improve our visitor access and services. There is a dedicated staff of 10 FTE supported by a team of 240 volunteers.

TRUSTEE - We are seeking a Trustee with skills and experience in finance/accountancy to join the Board. We are keen to recruit someone who can advise the Board on its financial responsibilities and has oversight of the Trust's finances. As a Trustee you will contribute to Kiplin's business strategy and forward plan, ensuring the organisation's financial stability and sustainability. Over the next 10 years we are planning further developments to enhance the visitor experience. We are keen to attract the right person to the Trust Board to help guide Kiplin through an exciting period of change and transition. 

INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR - We are also seeking a new Independent Director to join the Board of Kiplin Hall Trading CIC, our trading arm that looks after our retail and café. We are particularly looking for people with experience in cafés or other catering environments.

Our aim is to develop and broaden the diversity of our governance team, ensuring we have a variety of perspectives and backgrounds and are particularly interested in receiving local applications.

Children with Voices started over 20 years ago with one woman, a community hall and a belief that no child in Hackney should be forgotten. Our founder Michelle began with a Winter Wonderland for local children at London Fields School, covered by the Hackney Gazette, after being named Family Mosaic Inspirational Tenant of the Year.

Today we are a registered charity at Fawcett Estate Community Hall in Clapton, running a Community Food Hub, Jumping Beans, SEND support, alternative education and work in local schools. Over 100,000 children and families have come through our doors.

We are looking for a volunteer Secretary to support our Board of Trustees and help keep our governance organised and on track.

The right volunteer will be someone who is organised, reliable and comfortable working with confidential information. You might be a retired professional with experience in administration, governance or supporting a Board, or someone looking to build practical experience in charity governance. You do not need previous Board experience as we will support you.

Duties and responsibilities:

• Preparing agendas and sending board papers out ahead of meetings
• Taking accurate minutes and ensuring they are approved and properly filed
• Keeping track of actions between Board meetings so important tasks do not get forgotten
• Keeping our trustee and conflicts of interest registers up to date
• Helping make sure important Charity Commission and Companies House deadlines are met
• Handling confidential Board and governance information with appropriate discretion

We would be looking for the prospective volunteer to give approximately 4–6 hours a month. Board meetings take place quarterly, alongside the AGM. The role is based in Hackney with remote working available.

What you will need:

Clear and accurate writing, because good minutes and Board papers need to be understood by everyone. Strong organisation and reliability, because keeping a Board on track means following things through. Discretion, as you will sometimes be dealing with confidential matters. Governance or Board experience would be helpful but is not essential.

What you will get from us:

The chance to gain genuine Board-level and charity governance experience and see how a community charity is run from the inside. A full induction and proper support, so you are never left to figure things out alone. Direct experience working with our Board of Trustees and leadership team. A personal reference from our Founder and CEO, Michelle, and the knowledge that your work is helping our charity run properly for the children and families we support.