Design volunteer roles

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our prison volunteers. 

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented amongst FCW’s prison volunteers. This includes applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and male identifying applicants.

About Us

For three decades, Forward Arts Foundation (‘Forward’) has been at the forefront of new poetry and now reaches an estimated 131 million people each year.  We are a national charity working across the UK and online to widen poetry’s audience, honour achievement and support diverse talent. Through our two flagship programmes, Forward Prizes for Poetry and National Poetry Day, we work towards a better society where individuals and communities can develop their innate creativity, their agency and their understanding through the making and sharing of poetry. 

Leadership and Management

Forward is led by its board of eight Trustees, chaired by Jamie Andrews. Jamie is Director of Public Engagement at the British Library and brings extensive experience as a trustee of several charities, including Oxford House. Other trustees are Forward’s founder William Sieghart CBE, responsible for the 2013 Sieghart Report on libraries and e-books; Kim Evans, former senior executive at BBC and Arts Council; Aoife O’Connor, poet and producer; Amelia Richards, culture and communications leader; treasurer and CFO Latinka Pilipovic; marketing manager Maya Ophelia and data scientist Mary Amanuel.

The organisation is led by Mónica Parle and Lucy Macnab, Co-Executive Directors.   Both have experience as directors of writing organisations (First Story and Ministry of Stories). Mónica is an award winning writer and Lucy brings national policy and strategy design experience from Arts Council England. With joint accountability, they each work 0.5FTE. The team also includes Jay Bhadricha, Head of Programmes, and Annalise Peters, Finance and Operations Coordinator. 

The team is supported by freelance specialists in education, communications, finance and fundraising. 

We believe poetry is for everyone. Our approach to recruiting trustees is shaped by a commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion. We particularly welcome applications for vacancies from D/deaf and disabled and black and minority ethnic candidates, as well as candidates from lower socio-economic backgrounds, as they are under-represented in the arts, and we commit to review our processes to ensure that our organisation more closely reflects the society it serves.

Chair Role

The Chair leads the board, ensuring that it governs the charity effectively, in service of the charity’s vision and mission. The Chair leads in an inclusive way, supporting the board to work together well, and providing support and challenge to the Chief Executive. The Chair is also an ambassador for the charity.  

1. Provide strategic leadership to the charity and the Board.
2. Work in partnership with the Co-Executive Directors and Vice Chair.
3. Lead the board in ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation.
4. Plan and chair the board meetings with the Vice Chair and Co-Executive Directors.
5. Act as a spokesperson and figurehead for Forward.

What we are looking for 

1. Experience of being a trustee. You do not need to have been a Chair before.
2. A keen sense of strategic purpose. 
3. An inclusive leadership style: able to inspire and support everyone to participate on an equal footing. 
4. The ability to listen and engage effectively. You are comfortable with challenge and debate and are able to encourage that in others whilst fostering a collaborative board environment. 
5. Advocate - be able and willing to champion Forward’s work through personal networks, social media, and other channels.
6. A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 
7. Be responsive. At a small charity, things sometimes ‘come up’ that require the Chair to advise, support or give consent to. It is very helpful to have a Chair who is available and responsive.

Trustee roles 

We are also looking for trustees with expertise in any of the below and a belief that your skills will contribute to the strong and effective governance and growth of a small charity. We are especially looking for experience and networks in: 

• Fundraising or philanthropy
• Governance/institutional/policy leadership
• Digital/data/design
• Education
• We’re also interested in applications from those under 30 or those seeking their first trusteeship, and offer support and guidance from an experienced ‘buddy’ trustee.
• Ideally, applicants should show interest in or understanding of the literature/arts sector and/or literacy and education.

Responsibilities of all trustees 

• Support and provide advice on Forward’s purpose, vision, goals and activities. 
• Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Oversee Forward’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress. 
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
• Provide support and challenge to Forward’s Co-Executive Directors 
• Keep abreast of changes in Forward’s operating environment.
• Applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts to promote Forward’s work.

Essential qualities and attributes of all trustees 

• Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as  trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.
• Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion. 
• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.
• Willingness to lead according to our values of wonder, play and openness.
• Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership

Terms and Commitment 

Location: All board meetings may be attended online. We will try to meet face-to-face when we can. But trustees are welcome wherever they live.  

We estimate you’ll need to commit around 30 hours over the course of a year. The board meets quarterly and we have a strategy day one afternoon a year. Trustees are appointed for a 3-year term, with a maximum of 2 terms.

Salary: Unpaid, travel expenses will be reimbursed if needed and where necessary.

Deadline for applications: 21 July

Interviews beginning w/c 28 July

To apply or find out more, contact Co-Executive Director Lucy Macnab explaining why you would like to be a trustee. If you are interested in being Chair, please make this clear. You may want to tell us what your previous experience is, and what knowledge and skills you have and what you would like to gain from the experience. Also someone we can talk to as a referee. We will accept applications in any medium.

For those applying for the chair role, you are welcome to have a call with Jamie Andrews, current chair, to find out more.

Forward Arts Foundation is a registered charity (charity number: 1037939) and a company limited by guarantee (company no: 02902864), registered in England and Wales.

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.

We’re looking for volunteers with a keen interest in dementia to join our team of Trustees, contributing their experience and skills to help support, shape and develop the charity.

Who we are

Arts for Dementia uses the power of the arts to inspire people living with dementia to get creative, connect, learn new skills and most importantly, have fun.Our free workshops aim to challenge and boost confidence and wellbeing through a variety of art forms from visual arts to drama, sculpture, dance and more.

For people living with dementia and those who support them day to day, these are opportunities to make friends in a safe and friendly setting, to be part of the local community, to stay active and to enjoy the fulfilment that comes from creative activities. Our current priority locations are the London boroughs of Southwark and Camden.Our in-person workshops are all in London, while online activities are open to people across the UK.

Our regular one-day training courses provide creative facilitators across the UK with the knowledge and skills they need to support dementia-friendly activities.

The role of a trustee

Our team of trustees plays a key role in setting the strategy – the overall direction – of the charity. There are four formal board meetings each year where, together with the Chief Executive, our trustees oversee the delivery of the strategy and financial management, consider operational plans and explore what support they can provide to enable the staff team in their work.

Often this support is connected to a trustee’s expertise in a particular field, for example marketing, fundraising, I.T. or legal, or the networks they have access to such as local community groups, potential donors or arts organisations. 

Specific areas of activity such as finance and fundraising are also supported by small sub-committees that bring appropriate staff and trustees together so that work can be progressed between the quarterly meetings. These are arranged at times to suit those involved. 

Currently quarterly meetings of all Trustees are held in person and online alternately. Online meetings are early evening, and in-person meetings are in central London during the day. They each last for two hours. If it helps new trustees to be fully involved, we are happy to explore different timings for future meetings. 

What difference could you make?

If you are reading this, it is likely you care about the lives of people living with and affected by dementia, and you may well have some personal experience. You can make a real difference to those and others affected by bringing your additional experience into the charity.  This might be from involvement in your community or your understanding of dementia within a minoritized ethnic group. It might be from your work, leisure activities or your profession.

The important thing is that your experience should broaden our knowledge, help us reach a wide range of people and ensure our charity is far-sighted and well run. 

What you could gain from being a Trustee

We know that dementia and its effects have no barriers, so our approach to recruiting new trustees aims to have no barriers and to be supportive and open to ideas.  You may have never considered yourself as a potential trustee but feel that you do have something you could offer to a charity like ours. If so, do please contact us. 

As a Trustee, you would be working with a friendly and approachable board that brings together a range of experience, which is enhanced by the skills of the staff team. The role also comes with responsibilities that incorporate legislation and good governance practice and this Charity Commission document explains these. 

All new Trustees will benefit from an induction programme that allows them to get to know the staff and other trustees, meet some of the beneficiaries, learn how the charity works and understand the formal responsibilities.  We would also enable you to develop your skills and confidence through access to training and information on Trustee responsibilities and skills.

There are many opportunities to broaden your own experience and develop your confidence in new skills within a supportive environment. 

We also ensure no Trustee is out of pocket due to their responsibilities, so all reasonable expenses (e.g. travel to board meetings) are reimbursed. 

About volunteering with Rays of Sunshine
We brighten the lives of seriously ill young people by granting wishes and providing ongoing support in hospital and within the community, but we couldn't do it without our amazing volunteers.
It's more than volunteering with us, it's making magic happen. By joining us, you'll play a crucial role in turning the dreams of seriously ill children into reality. In whatever role you take on - from helping with fundraising, events, or wishes, you'll help create memories that last a lifetime for seriously ill children and for you too.

Purpose of role
We're on a mission to grant magical wishes and create lasting memories for seriously ill children and their families. Our team is best described as small but mighty. For us to have more impact, we need the help of volunteers who can give the gift of their time to help us achieve our goals.
Our wishes are as unique as children themselves. Whether a child wants to be a princess or a fireman for a day, go to Legoland, have a UK break with their family, own an iPad or meet their favourite pop star, Rays of Sunshine works hard to make that wish come true.
Wishes are important because they give a child the chance to forget their illness and do something they could only dream of. Wishes make a child feel extra-special and bring them joy, hope and happiness. They also provide families with treasured memories of happy times to look back on.

What does the role involve?
We are looking for a creative and organized individual to support our wish granting team. You will be responsible for assisting the team with daily tasks and creative projects that support the wish journey and our families.

Duties may include:
• Work with wish team to identify new suppliers that can support with granting wishes (including discounts and gifts in kind)
• Assist with creating bespoke itineraries for our wish children (each child is sent their own itinerary which creatively outlines every aspect of their wish experience)
• Helping to source wish enhancements items for wishes (these are small gifts/toys that are sent to each child ahead of their wish)
• Assist Wish Granters with chasing paperwork from families/medical teams (this could include disclaimers, medical forms, wish forms and form an important part of the wish process)
• Booking in initial calls with families and their wish granters to discuss wishes and start the planning process (these calls are designed to learn more about the child and what their wishes mean to them)

Types of wishes that may require your support include:
• To be wishes (princess for the day, policeman for the day, etc)
• Celebration parties (end of treatment party, birthdays, etc)
• To Go (trips to the theatre, musical venues, exhibitions, etc)
• To Have (to own a laptop, gaming pc, bedroom makeover, etc)
• UK Breaks (4 night/5 day holiday anywhere in the UK, i.e. Centerparcs, Butlins, etc)

What skills do I need to have?
• Friendly, you'll be an ambassador of Rays of Sunshine whilst volunteering with us
• Computer literacy (training will be given on our internal systems, but general knowledge of word, excel, pdf, powerpoint)
• Be comfortable working as part of a team and talking to our beneficiaries (wish families, medical teams, etc)
• Ability to problem solve and manage unexpected situations/last minute requests with a calm and professional manner
• Attention to detail and discretion
• A creative approach and passion for making the child’s experience as magical as possible

Why volunteer with us?
• Make a real difference: Witness the impact of your support firsthand as you spread joy and raise awareness.
• Join a supportive community: Be part of a friendly and passionate team, connecting with people who are driven to make         more wishes happen.
• Gain experience and a great way to see firsthand the impact of a wish
• Meet new people from different backgrounds and networking opportunities with like-minded people and organisations

What training and support will I receive?
• Learn about the work of Rays of Sunshine and the types of wishes you may be supporting•
• The impact of a wish and overview of the day in the life of a wish granter
• All Rays of Sunshine staff and wish volunteers must complete the charity’s Safeguarding Children training (mandatory)
• Only trained Rays of Sunshine team members and volunteers with a current DBS check can work with wish children (mandatory)
• Health and Safety Training (mandatory)
• The opportunity to shadow an experienced member of the Wish team to see a wish in progress.

Rays of Sunshine Values
Our values are at the heart of everything we do and help guide us in our mission to grant more magical wishes for seriously ill children.
• Kindness - We are kind to ourselves and others in everything we do.
• Joy - We work with fun, passion, and a sprinkle of magic
• Empowerment - We work to build confidence and nurture potential.
• Connection - We build strong connections with everyone in our wish community
• Integrity - We are honest and trusted to do the right thing.

Rays of Sunshine is committed to being an equal opportunities organisation; to promoting equal opportunities and preventing discrimination. Rays of Sunshine is also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all service users, volunteers and staff and expects all volunteers and staff to share this commitment.

Role: Head of Local Operations (Scotland & Northern Ireland)

Job Description:
Youth Advantage UK is seeking a volunteer Head of Local Operations to lead the launch and on-going delivery of its commissioned research projects in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The focus of these projects will be obtaining and analysing primary and secondary data in order to help smaller community organisations improve their ways of working and effectively report on their impact. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring their teams deliver these projects within the agreed time-scales and in line with the goals agreed with the commissioning organisations, growing Youth Advantage’s reputation and reach.

Working closely with the Departmental Director, the ideal candidate will use their prior experience to effectively contribute to the organisation’s ability to enable evidence-based, positive local change. They should have excellent leadership, writing and speaking skills, IT literacy, and the ability to work well independently and in a team.

This role reports directly to the Director of Local Operations.

We specialise in supporting people with visual impairment and complex needs in a range of services including Care Homes and Supported Living. Can you help support us in making a difference in the lives of the people we support?

What will you be doing?

We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our experienced Board of Trustees. As a member of the Board, you will play a vital role in steering and supporting the Group. The Board is responsible for providing strategic direction, ensuring we meet regulatory requirements, and overseeing the work of the staff team, ensuring the Group's efficient administration and financial stability.

What are we looking for?

Ideally, we are looking for a finance professional with experience in accounting or financial analysis, who possesses expertise in financial principles and practices. Having a good understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting that will help support our strategic goals and direction. 

What difference will you make?

We are constantly striving to make a difference to people’s lives through the provision of aspirational services for people with sensory and other specialist needs. We want to enable people to live fulfilled lives in excellent quality accommodation, and our whole philosophy is based around person-centred principles. Your contribution as an experienced finance professional will help us maintain a forward looking approach to establishing financial stability and governance. 

Before you apply

Please apply through Reach in the first instance and provide a covering letter detailing why you are interested in this role.

Amazing, giving, and inspiring are a few words we would use to describe our volunteers.

Our volunteers play an integral part in the services we provide and the people we support. If you are looking for a rewarding role where you will really make a difference whilst gaining experience along the way, then join us here at Rethink Mental Illness.

About the role

We are looking for Volunteer Befrienders to support our Brent Mental Health service in the London Borough of Brent. 

As a Volunteer Befriender, you will be required to travel across Brent to meet with service users and carry out your role. Ideally, you will be able to commit a minimum of 2 hours per week to volunteering. 

You will be supported by Befriending Volunteer Coordinators who will provide regular supervision to ensure you feel confident in your role. You can read more about the benefits of volunteering on the full advert on our website.

About the service

Our Brent Mental Health service provides support to people aged 18 and above who live in the Borough of Brent, and who have a mental illness and are known to the local NHS trust, Central and North West London (CNWL).

The aim of the Befriending Service is to;

• Reduce social isolation of service users
• Increase the confidence of service users in accessing community resources independently
• Provide meaningful activities and peer support for service users 
• Help service users to live happier, healthier, independent lives
• Provide volunteering opportunities for people with mental health issues
• Reduce stigma and raise mental health awareness

What you will be doing as a Volunteer Befriender:

• Meeting with service users in locations and times which meet their needs (including evenings and weekends)
• Provide befriending support to a maximum of 2 service users at any one time
• Provide emotional support based on your own lived experience
• Support service users to access and build social and community networks and activities
• Act as a community connector to local services

What will make you a great fit for this role?

• You will have good communication skills
• You will be flexible in order to meet the needs of the service users

If you would like to express an interest in this opportunity, please complete an application as soon as possible, as the advert may close early if we receive a high level of interest.

Who are we?

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”    

It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like its key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us.    

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion  

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.  

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation  

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.  

We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and (asexual) (LGBTQIA+), people with a disability, and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. 

Amazing, giving, and inspiring are a few of the words we would use to describe our volunteers.

Our volunteers play an integral part in the services we provide and the people we support. If you are looking for a rewarding role where you will really make a difference whilst gaining experience along the way, then join us here at Rethink Mental Illness.

About the role

We are looking for Volunteer Advocates to support our Advocacy Service in the Boroughs of Wandsworth and Richmond. You will be based at home, but this role could also involve some travel within the Wandsworth and Richmond boroughs. 

Ideally, you will be able to commit a minimum of 7 hours per week to volunteering. You will be able to confirm your availability on your application, and this will be discussed with you during your discussion with the volunteer manager.

You will receive training and regular supervision to ensure you feel confident in your role. You can read more about the benefits of volunteering in the full advert on our website.

About the service

Wandsworth & Richmond Advocacy Services offers a range of statutory and non-statutory advocacy services. As a volunteer, you will be supporting our delivery of community advocacy for people who are 18+ and live in Wandsworth & Richmond Boroughs. You will be supporting a range of people, including those with learning, physical, and sensory disabilities as well as mental illness, who need support with a health and social care issue and are not eligible for a statutory service. We do not support people with everyday decisions, but when important decisions are being made that could affect their quality of life, independence, or have long-term consequences.

What you will be doing as a Volunteer Advocate

• You will hold a small caseload supporting people to do a range of issues
• You will offer support on a short-term basis and focus on a specific issue. 
• You will support people by enabling them to find information, understand their rights and choices, have a voice, and make their own informed decisions. 
• You may be supporting people in making difficult or important decisions that may impact their quality of life and independence, and have long-term consequences.
• You will provide peer advocacy and help with the delivery of self-advocacy workshops.

What will make you a great fit for this role?

• You will have good communication skills
• You will possess the ability to empathise
• You will have the motivation to secure the rights of people from all backgrounds
• You will have knowledge of, or experience of working within, health and social care
• You will have a good knowledge of IT skills for recording information and using email
• You will be flexible and able to volunteer during the working week

Who are we? 

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”     

It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like its key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us.     

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion   

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.  We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.   

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation   

We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.   

We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and (asexual) (LGBTQIA+), people with a disability, and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

Join the board of the national charity dedicated to supporting disabled children, young people and their families.

Applications for this role close Monday 8th September.

Who we are

Kids is on a mission to create a world where all kinds of kids have all kinds of opportunities.

Founded in 1970, we have grown into a national organisation supporting over 22,000 children, young people and families each year across England.

We are on an ambitious journey to reach at least 120,000 disabled children, young people and their families each year by 2027. Our vision is bold yet achievable: a society where disabled children, young people and their families enjoy equal rights and opportunities.

When the world places barriers in the path of disabled children and young people, Kids speaks up. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to play, learn, grow and thrive. Our work spans from early years support to young adulthood through services such as:

• inclusive playschemes
• adventure playgrounds
• youth groups
• parent support
• mediation services
• emotional wellbeing programmes

We are currently in the fourth year of our ambitious five-year strategy focused on four bold goals: Support (delivering impactful, sustainable services), Innovate (designing new models to transform lives), Speak Up (empowering young people to be agents of change), and Sustain (building the financial and structural strength to grow). As we look toward creating a new five-year strategic plan, this is an exciting time to join our Board as Treasurer and work with our ambitious team.

About the role

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our committed Board of Trustees as we enter a pivotal phase of our strategy. This role offers the opportunity to shape the future of an organisation that changes lives every day.

The Treasurer will provide vital financial leadership and oversight, working closely with the Board, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive, to ensure Kids operates on a sustainable financial footing while maximising our impact for disabled children and families.

The Treasurer will chair our Finance and Audit Committee, working with external auditors and financial advisors to maintain the highest standards of financial accountability. You will play a key role in our sustainability strategy, helping to diversify income streams and build financial resilience.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a Treasurer with strong financial expertise and experience in senior financial roles, ideally with experience in the charitable or not for profit sectors.

Your understanding of charity governance will be essential. Knowledge of charity accounting standards and regulatory frameworks would be highly beneficial, particularly an understanding of regulated service environments with a clear grasp of compliance and governance requirements.

You will bring a collaborative approach to financial oversight, able to translate and interpret complex financial information in accessible formats that enable informed Board decision-making. Your strategic thinking will support our ambitious growth plans while maintaining financial awareness and accountability.

The ideal candidate should demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills with a natural ability to build relationships. We seek a leader committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, ensuring these principles guide all our work.

Most importantly, you will share our genuine passion for supporting disabled children, young people and their families, with a heartfelt commitment to creating a more inclusive society where all children can thrive.

Time Commitment:

The regular commitments include Board meetings, which are held four times a year in London in person, with an annual strategy away day every year. Our sub-committees typically meet online up to four times per year.

The overall time investment amounts to the equivalent of one to two days per month. Preparation time for meetings and decision-making is essential, with occasional visits to our services across England and representation at external events as appropriate.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to ensure this role is accessible.

If you are inspired to lead positive change for disabled children, young people and their families, we would love to hear from you. This role offers the opportunity to be part of something transformative, working alongside a dedicated team that believes in doing, not just discussing.

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of disability, those from underrepresented communities, and individuals who reflect the diversity of the families and children we serve. We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close Monday 8th September.

In a city grappling with the cost of living crisis, rising crime rates, and pervasive worry, the need for beacons of hope is more urgent than ever. Urban Youth is a bold new community, a startup youth work charity committed to illuminating London with joy, connection, and boundless possibility for young people. We're not just creating programmes; we're building a vibrant community where young Londoners don't just survive—they shine.

Why Urban Youth Needs YOU!

We've laid the foundation, and the energy is palpable. Now, we're searching for visionary young leaders to join our Young Leaders Programme or our Youth Advisory Board. This isn't just an advisory role; it's an opportunity to shape the very fabric of London's future, guiding a dynamic organisation dedicated to empowering the next generation.

We believe every young person deserves a place to belong, a chance to thrive, and memories that last a lifetime. As a Young Leader or Youth Advisor, you'll be instrumental in ensuring we deliver on this promise, helping us to:

• Expand our reach: Bring more young Londoners out of isolation and into inspiring, engaging experiences.

• Fuel our mission: Provide oversight to creative workshops, outdoor adventures, and initiatives that build real friendships and boost confidence.

• Champion our values: Uphold our commitment to providing a vibrant community powered by passionate, skilled youth workers who act as trusted role models.

• Navigate the landscape: Help us innovate and adapt to meet the evolving needs of young people in challenging times.

Who We're Looking For:

We're seeking individuals with a passion for youth work and empowerment and a desire to make a tangible difference.

You might be:

• 14 to 25 years old for the Young Leader role; supporting Urban Youth directly in the activities we run, helping us hands on with a number of areas.

• 16 to 25 year old for the Youth Advisory Board; supporting the decision making of Urban Youth, helping ensure we are run for young people by young people.

• An innovator with fresh ideas and a commitment to social change.

• Someone with a genuine belief in the power of young people to transform their lives and their city.

• A young person conserned about their city and community and seeking to give back to your community.

The Impact You'll Make:

As a Young Leader or Youth Advisor, you'll be at the heart of our decision-making, or hands on in directly influencing the lives of countless young Londoners. You'll help us build a brighter London, one young life at a time, ensuring that Urban Youth remains a beacon of hope and opportunity. This is your chance to contribute to something truly meaningful, to lend your skills and passion to a cause that genuinely changes lives.

Are you ready to lend your expertise and ignite the future with Urban Youth?

Join us in celebrating the journey and shaping the destiny of London's young people.

Express your interest today and help us write the next chapter of Urban Youth!

URBAN YOUTH

Forging Connections | Creating Memories | Building Futures 

MiMIAT Health

At MiMIAT Health, we are empowering heroes with chronic conditions. We offer a multilingual app (iOS & Android), already live across Europe and Kenya, that enables patients to track symptoms, diet, weight, and stool. Soon, they’ll also integrate wearables and upload clinical records, building a unified, patient-owned health timeline.

Chronic disease management today remains highly fragmented, inequitable, and provider-centric, leaving millions without continuous care, especially in low-resource or high-mobility settings. Patients often lose ownership of their own health data, resulting in reactive instead of proactive care, late interventions and detections of flare ups, and preventable hospitalizations. 89% of chronic patients fail to consistently track their condition due to fragmented, manual, or incomplete tools, and 71% of doctors report that disconnected apps and records create gaps in delivering personalized care. In many regions, patients without smartphones or stable internet access are further excluded from digital health innovation.

MiMIAT Health addresses these challenges by creating a unified, patient-driven platform for structured health data aggregation, with mobile and SMS-based accessibility. We tackle the systemic inequities of chronic care access, digital inclusion, and health data sovereignty, aligning with SDG 3: Good Health & Well-Being.

MiMIAT Health is a digital health platform offering a free mobile app (iOS and Android) available in five languages, enabling patients to self-track key health metrics, and soon connect medical devices, and upload clinical documents — building their own continuous health record. By Q4 2025, we are also set to launch SMS-based access to reach digitally underserved populations.

Healthcare providers, with patient consent — particularly in primary and secondary care — can access this real-time data through our web platform, allowing earlier interventions and more proactive care. We offer both our standalone platform and EHR integration, ensuring no provider is left behind and enabling faster, more personalized patient interventions.

We would like you to join our mission, and to see your impact on real people and their families, on real stories, and to feel equally part of MiMIAT's family!

Finance and Fundraising Lead

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

�� What are we looking for? We’re looking for a Finance & Fundraising Lead (volunteer, 4–5h/week, with potential for paid FTE based on performance and funding) to help us build the financial backbone of MiMIAT Health as we scale. This is a hands-on, high-trust role for someone who believes numbers can drive impact, not just profit. Based purely on performance and commitment, this role has the potential to evolve into a paid part-time or full-time position as the organization grows and funding permits. You’ll work directly with our Founder/CEO and our COO, shaping how we budget, forecast, raise capital, and build confidence with funders. As we close our pre-seed round and enter the next phase, your contribution will directly influence how we grow, and how many patients we reach. You’ll be joining a committed, purpose-driven team spread across three continents and five countries, all working remotely, all led by mission.

�� What you’ll do? Co-develop MiMIAT’s financial planning, budgeting processes, and 3–5 year financial models to support strategic growth, capital forecasting, and upcoming fundraising milestones. – Create clear, funder-facing materials (budgets, burn rates, strategic use of funds). – Support with fundraising strategy and active pipeline management. – Help structure and track our runway, budgeting, and internal financial processes. – Collaborate on shaping our investor narrative and data room, alongside CEO.

Your 4–5 hours per week won’t just shape a spreadsheet. They’ll shape how fast we reach millions of patients, and how confidently we do it.

�� Who are you? – You’re comfortable building financial models from scratch (projections, P&L, cash flow). – You’ve worked with early-stage startups (pre-seed to Series A), ideally helping raise capital. – You understand what investors need to see, and how to balance strategy with real-world constraints. – You can translate financial complexity into clarity, for funders, partners, and the team. – You’re excited by purpose, not perks. You want your work to mean something. – Bonus if you’ve worked in healthcare or social impact settings.

�� Benefits: – This is a volunteer-based role (4–5h/week), ideal for someone who wants to contribute meaningfully without overextending themselves, designed for someone who believes in the mission and can offer targeted guidance during a pivotal growth phase, but also for someone who understands our current stage and is excited to join at this foundational moment. – MiMIAT has already secured part of its pre-seed round, with additional funding expected to close in Q3 2025. – This role may evolve into a paid part-time or full-time leadership position as funding and scale allow. – You’ll be part of a mission-first team operating across Europe and Africa, and more, and contribute to a product rooted in dignity, equity, and real-world impact. – Gain visibility across top-tier innovation ecosystems including Norrsken Barcelona, ESADE, Google Startups for Sustainable Development, and NVIDIA Inception, all of whom have already backed MiMIAT Health.

Weekly Time Commitment

4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

6+ months

Here at Youth4Youth, we have grown a strong, tight-knit community of individuals who are passionate about making a difference and improving the lives of young people across the UK. Our growing team of volunteers all contribute, significantly, to the impact that we have as a charity on our direct beneficiaries, regardless of the department that they work in of the level of time that they are able to commit. Our services primarily offer a peer-support network to young people right across the UK, allowing them to access a peer mentor who is of a similar age to them and somebody that they feel more comfortable speaking with.

If successful, you will be joining a growing team of diverse, but likeminded individuals, collaborating to increase the reach of the Charity and improve support provisions available to young people. All of our volunteers and employees are remote workers, but that doesn't stop us keeping in touch and maintaining a strong positive culture amongst our whole team. 

About the role

Our Peer Mentors are at the forefront of our Youth Services delivery, tackling head on the issues that young people are facing everyday. As a Peer Mentor, you will engage with young people who reach out to Youth4Youth for support, taking time to coach and guide them through the difficulties that they are facing. This exciting opportunity, targeted at individuals who are between the ages of 16 and 25, provides young people with the space to directly impact and transform the lives of young people, significantly improving their overall wellbeing.

Ideal candidates are those who are able to commit to regular volunteering activity of at least 2 hours per week (on average) and who are able to comfortably communicate via written e-mail and other remote chat functionalities.

Responsibilities:

Your core responsibilities as a Peer Mentor at Youth4Youth include:

• Building strong, professional relationships with young people seeking mentoring support.
• Demonstrating commitment to the charity by regular volunteer engagement to maintain ongoing communication with young people (which includes responding to young people within an agreed and reasonable time frame).
• Providing light support, advice and guidance to young people in relation to the troubles that they are facing, in line with the resources provided to you by the charity.
• Maintaining professional boundaries with young people and not seeking to offer support beyond your capability that may put a young person at risk.
• Maintaining regular contact with your Youth4Youth supervisor, with the expectation that you will meet at least once per month for a supervision session that involves reflective practice and a focus on your development as a mentor.
• Providing support as part of our Peer Mentor network to colleagues across the Charity who are also directly supporting young people.
• Maintaining compliance with all policies. Most importantly this means maintaining the right level of confidentiality around your conversations with young people and recognising your safeguarding responsibilities in raising concerns as they arise to keep young people safe.

Peer Mentors are also actively encouraged to get involved in fundraising, outreach and social media activities where they feel comfortable and able to.

Skills 

• Strong written communication skills, such as being able to effectively compose a written e-mail in response to a young person.
• Ability to build strong, professional relationships and maintain trust between yourself and a young person, such as through active listening and adapting to the individual needs of different young people.
• Ability to demonstrate empathy to others.
• Ability to work in a challenging environment and recognise when you may need support yourself.
• Proficient in the use of IT tools, such as Microsoft Outlook.

Our mission is to continue to grow towards becoming one of the best charities in the UK. Our aim is to do this by building a diverse team, rich with different backgrounds and perspectives. Therefore, even if you feel you only are a 75% match, we would still love to hear from you. Skills can be learned, but diversity cannot.

Skills development for you:

As a Peer Mentor at Youth4Youth, you will be required to take part and graduate our Youth Services Academy. This program requires an upfront commitment of 10 - 13 hours of training prior to taking on the role of communicating with young people. This investment in you not only equips you with the understanding of what it takes to be a successful peer mentor, and the skills that you will need, but also is an investment in you. This training will provide you with core soft skills that are transferrable to many opportunities, whether that's in everyday life for you, your education setting or your place of work. All Mentors graduating from the Youth Services Academy will be provided with an electronic certificate to demonstrate your successful completion of the program, which can be shared with potential employers.

Benefits of volunteering with Youth4Youth

We recognise that you will be joining us and giving your time as an 'in-kind' donation, but there must be benefits for you too. When joining our team, you will be open to the following benefits:

• Professional and personal development opportunities in a variety of skill areas through volunteering in real roles. This may be general development or tailored to your specific needs or ambitions
• Becoming a member of a strong network of likeminded individuals, spread across the UK, who you can connect with and collaborate with both within and outside of the Charity
• Access to bespoke discounts, specifically designed for non-profit workers and Youth4Youth volunteers
• Opportunities to truly shape the future of the Charity, having a direct influence over the impact that Youth4Youth has on its direct beneficiaries

The hiring process:

Unlike other roles at Youth4Youth, the hiring process has been simplified for peer mentors, recognising the demographic of individuals that we are seeking to fill these positions. To put you at ease, the hiring process includes:

• An initial application, stating your reasons for wishing to become a Peer Mentor
• A remote interview conducted via Microsoft Teams

Successful candidates at this stage will be invited into the final stage of the recruitment process which includes:

• Satisfactory references being received (these do not need to be employment references)
• A satisfactory DBS check being received
• Successful completion of the Youth Services Academy

Become a Trustee of The Whiteley Homes Trust — Champion Community, Governance, and Legacy

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in later life housing and care?

The Whiteley Homes Trust is seeking a committed individual to join our Board of Trustees and help shape the future of Whiteley Village. As a Trustee, you’ll play a central role in guiding the charity’s strategy, governance, and community impact.

Whiteley Village in Surrey is a pioneering retirement community, home to over 350 residents. As we look ahead, we’re focused on sustaining our legacy, enhancing services, and providing homes that empower people to live independently and with dignity.

PURPOSE OF ROLE
The Board of Trustees are entrusted to further the work of the Trust in accordance with its charitable objectives and to act as champions for the charity in the public arena.

The Board is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, its financial health, the probity of its activities and developing the organisation’s aims, objectives and goals in accordance with the governing document, legal and regulatory guidelines, and its funding bodies, including lenders and investors’ covenants.

Trustees are Directors of The Whiteley Homes Trust, a Company limited by guarantee and governed by company law. Ultimately the Board is responsible for ensuring that the Trust is an effective business – efficient, making best use of its resources and treating all with whom it engages fairly.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Working with other Trustees, ensure that The Whiteley Homes Trust has a clear strategic direction, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating outcomes against agreed targets.
• Provide constructive challenge to facilitate the achievement of strategic objectives, holding the Leadership Team to account for the delivery of The Whiteley Homes Trust’s goals and strategy.
• Establish a constructive and working relationship with, and provide support to, the Trust’s Chief Executive and the broader Leadership Team (LT).
• Ensure the sound financial health of the charity, and that systems are in place to ensure financial accountability and control.
• Ensure that The Whiteley Homes Trust’s finances, assets and reputation are maintained and protected and not placed at undue risk.
• Ensure that The Whiteley Homes Trust complies with its Memorandum and Articles of Association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Ensure that The Whiteley Homes Trust applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives, and for the greatest benefit of the people it serves.
• Support the LT and employees to develop positive and productive relationships with other partners.

TRUSTEE QUALITIES:

In addition to the above statutory duties, Trustees should use the specific skills, knowledge and experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve leading discussions, focussing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, evaluation, taking a close interest in one of the Trust’s activities to which their expertise and/or experience is particularly relevant or other contributions arising from Trustees’ special expertise. Qualities we are looking for include:

• Shares the vision and commitment of The Whiteley Homes Trust and its aims and values to provide excellent services within a framework of sound financial discipline.
• Has the time and energy to fulfil the responsibilities of the role in an appropriate way.
• Committed to equality of opportunity.
• A strong leader with credibility and enthusiasm; a decisive and effective decision-maker who leads by example.
• An ability to think laterally and creatively.
• Able to work as a member of a team acting and thinking organisationally with a collaborative style that engages at all levels and promotes positive relationships throughout The Whiteley Homes Trust and its partners.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, liabilities and responsibilities of trusteeship.

TRUSTEES ARE REQUIRED TO:

• Spend time before each Board and relevant Committee meeting reading and considering papers.
• Be contactable by e-mail and telephone.
• Be available for occasional meetings, visits, fundraising events or discussions between full Board meetings.
• Declare any relevant personal interests and avoid conflicts of interest.
• Respect confidentiality of information.

Person Specification

CORE COMPETENCES

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, able to liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and audiences.
• Strategic thinking, able to analyse complex information, demonstrate clear analytical intellect and take part in evidence-based decision making.
• The ability to work as a strong team member, building confidence in the Trust’s governance and supports the values, ethos and social housing objectives of Whiteley Homes Trust.
• The ability to assess risk and promote risk awareness without being risk averse and understand and evaluate business risks and opportunities in a manner that allows
• The Trust to fully embrace opportunities as they arise.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Experience of operating at a senior level (either executive or non-executive) within a customer focused service organisation.
• Comprehensive knowledge of commercial issues, with strong business acumen.
• Knowledge of the not-for-profit housing environment including regulation is desirable but not essential.
• A track record at a strategic level of applying technology and data to the design of good customer service.
• The Trust has a skills-based Board, and each Board Member is appointed for their professional skills and experience. The Board is currently looking for community engagement and housing development skills and experience. Alongside these skillsets, experience of working in the housing sector or related regulation is desirable.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong strategic planning skills, able to develop strategic vision.
• Able to challenge appropriately and hold the Board and senior leaders to account; with a wider vision to raise standards across the organisation.
• Able to work collaboratively, building consensus and participating in ‘cabinet style’ decision making.
• Ability to make balanced judgements on issues taking all aspects into account, considering the quantity and quality of information provided, and evaluating the consequences.
• Able to express views succinctly and effectively in a formal meeting making reasoned and thought- through contributions which stick to discussing the matter at hand.

PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR AND STYLE

• Actively role models the professional conduct expected of the Board and is a champion and advocate of our values.
• Proactively demonstrates strong commitment to equality and diversity.
• Passionate about service improvements; strongly champions the right of Whiteley Homes Trust residents and service users to have access to excellent services.
• Listens to others and is decisive when it is required.
• Demonstrates credibility and integrity.

Committee Members support Age UK by using their skills and expertise in a particular subject area to provide strategic leadership in, and oversight of, relevant areas of Age UK’s work. Committee Members sit on one or more of Age UK’s committees which meet on a quarterly basis and report to the Board of Trustees on their discussions, recommendations and decisions.

Committee Members are volunteers who are not Trustees or Directors of the charity but make a vital contribution to the effective running of the organisation.

We currently have vacancies on three committees, and we welcome applications from people who have the skills, knowledge or experience that will enable them to contribute to one of these areas of our work. We aim to select the successful Committee Members individually over the coming months.

Given the Committees’ role and Committee Members’ responsibilities you will need to have significant senior level experience as well as the relevant functional knowledge and experience described below.

Trading Committee

Trading is an integral part of Age UK’s approach to transforming our income generation and generating sustainable income levels so we can support more older people more effectively. Age UK operates a retail estate across England, including 275 shops. It also provides oversight of all trading activities delivered by retail and exercises Age UK’s oversight of Age Co - our trading subsidiary which is 100% owned by Age UK, and gifts its profits to the charity, provides products and services to people over 50 including insurance products and Independent Living Solutions. 

We are seeking a Committee member who has the strategic vision to help us explore how our retail offering (both in-store and online) could extend across our mission to drive the charity’s cut-through and competitive advantage.  You will bring your own significant experience of large-scale multi-channel retail as well as a sound understanding of the current retail landscape, including both challenges that exist and strategic opportunities that can be explored.

Technology, Digital and Cyber Sub-Committee

The Technology, Digital and Cyber sub-committee supports the Age UK Finance, Risk and Audit Committee.  It has oversight of matters relating to our work in the technology and digital space, both in the way technology supports our internal processes and in how it co-delivers our charitable work and income generating activity. The subcommittee also has a significant focus on cyber-security. 

We are looking for a sub-committee Member with strong experience in the delivery of data and digital strategy and transformation. In this oversight role we are looking for someone who can see the bigger picture and has the vision to challenge and steer Age UK on the capability of data and digital to deliver Age UK’s strategy now and into the future. If you’re passionate about the power of data to transform lives, please come and share your skills and expertise with us.

Investment Sub-Committee

The Investment sub-committee supports the Age UK Finance, Risk and Audit Committee by providing primary oversight of the charity’s investments, defined benefit pension scheme position and the charity’s investment property assets. 

We are looking for Committee Members with senior level experience of Defined Benefit Pension Schemes, to oversee the interests of Age UK (the employer), including setting the long-term strategy for the scheme to move to self-sufficiency and ideally a buy out in due course.

Commitment Required 

The initial commitment would be for a two-year term. Membership can be renewed for two further terms of three years, subject to approval. The maximum tenure is for three terms totalling eight years. The overall time commitment is on average 1-2 days per quarter for each committee.

Application Process 

To apply for the role of Committee Member, please submit a Word version of your CV and a covering letter via the apply button, outlining your skills and experience demonstrating your suitability for and interest in the role. Please clearly indicate which Committee you are interested in. 

Please see the Committee Member recruitment pack for full details of duties and responsibilities.

Closing date for applications – Thursday 7th August, 2025

Additional information

Age UK is committed to safeguarding everyone we work with and expect all Committee Members to share this commitment. We take safeguarding very seriously and where appropriate candidates may be asked to undergo checks. 

Candidates with a disability can access reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Reasonable adjustments are changes made to remove or reduce a disadvantage related to a person’s disability. During recruitment, this might mean accessing the job pack in large print, changing the time, location or format of an interview etc. All requests for reasonable adjustments are considered on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the candidate with disabilities to best meet their needs.

If you require reasonable adjustments, at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact the Recruitment Team. Disability disclosures will be kept confidential and only shared on a need-to-know basis to support the implementation of adjustments. Disclosures will not be used to inform appointments.