Director volunteer roles in redbridge, london

Hackney Migrant Centre (HMC) is seeking to recruit a Vice-Chair to support our work and ensure financial and organisational stability as we implement our newly developed Strategic Plan for 2025-2028. 

HMC was established in 2007 to provide advice and support to migrants to help them overcome problems with their immigration status and in accessing services. We welcome all migrants, of any immigration status or nationality. As the environment facing migrants has become ever more challenging, we have expanded the scope of our work. Our staff team has increased from one part-time worker in 2007 to a team of eight people, some part-time, and we now have a budget just under £450,000 a year.

We provide legal advice and casework support on immigration, housing and welfare, working with visitors to resolve the problems forcing them into destitution and homelessness, such as insecure immigration status and lack of access the public funds. We also, in partnership with local organisations and a team of volunteers, provide wellbeing support and regular community building sessions, including advice and support on accessing a GP and dealing with charges for hospital care. 

This is an opportunity for someone with previous Board experience to support the Chair to coordinate and lead the Board of Trustees and make an important contribution to the work of this well-respected local charity at a crucial time in its development. We welcome applications from people from a range of backgrounds and experience who would be happy to take up this exciting challenge. We are particularly keen to recruit trustees from the Global Majority, those with lived experience of migration and/or the UK’s hostile immigration environment.

The role of Vice-Chair

The Vice-Chair of the trustee board supports the Chair in fulfilling their responsibilities and provides leadership to the board in the Chair’s absence. This is a developmental role for someone who is interested in transitioning into the Chair role in future, and who can provide additional capacity, insight, and leadership to the organisation as it navigates an increasingly challenging environment for migrants and the voluntary sector.

The Vice-Chair has the general responsibilities of a trustee to ensure the financial sustainability of HMC and that it is carrying out its work for the public benefit in line with its charitable objects. Decisions affecting the running of HMC and its finances will be taken by the board as a whole, either at the board meeting or if urgent via email. The Vice-Chair does not have individual decision-making responsibility or power (but does have a deciding vote at board meetings).

The specific duties of the Vice-Chair include the following:
Trustee meetings
• Support the Chair to agree the agenda (with the secretary and in consultation with the CEO) of trustee board meetings, sub-committees and other meetings where relevant.
• Attend and contribute to all trustee meetings and chair meetings in the absence of the Chair.
• Support the Chair in ensuring that key decisions are discussed and agreed, and that all trustees can participate fully. • Assist with the follow-up of actions and implementation of decisions as agreed with the Chair.
• Support the development and induction of new trustees, and help identify training and support needs.

Communication with staff
• Work closely with the Chair and be available as an additional point of contact for the CEO and staff, particularly when the Chair is unavailable.
• Support the Chair in providing supervision and pastoral support to the CEO, contributing to wellbeing check-ins and performance appraisal processes where appropriate.
• Contribute to the development and oversight of key organisational priorities, including equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), fundraising, and sustainability.
• Attend staff recruitment or disciplinary panels as needed.

Public role and organisational development
• Support the Chair in representing HMC externally at public events and meetings, and deputise where necessary.
• Assist in the preparation of public communications, statements, and events.
• Act as a signatory for bank accounts and contracts when appropriate, particularly when the Chair is unavailable.

Succession and transition
• The Vice-Chair will be supported to become familiar with the full breadth of the Chair’s responsibilities over time. • They may take on specific duties or projects in agreement with the Chair and board, as part of their development.
• In the event the Chair steps down, the Vice-Chair may act as interim Chair and will be encouraged to apply for the role if appropriate.

The specific duties attached to the Vice-Chair’s role may change and/or be taken on by another trustee by agreement of the board as a whole.

Being a Trustee of Hackney Migrant Centre
The trustees of Hackney Migrant Centre play a vital role in the organisation. They are responsible for ensuring that that its services are maintained and developed for the benefit of its visitors, in line with HMC’s ethos and objectives. HMC staff are responsible for the day-to day running of HMC’s services but trustees work closely with staff in discussing and deciding on policy issues, staffing developments and campaigning, overseeing finance and fundraising to ensure that the organisation is sustainable and in monitoring the impact of HMC’s services. Our trustees are recruited according to our Trustee Recruitment Policy. We welcome trustees from a variety of backgrounds to ensure that a broad range of skills and experience are represented. Trustees are encouraged to gain first-hand experience of the work of HMC but regular volunteering is not a requirement.

For more information, please refer to the Recruitment Pack 

As our Treasurer Trustee, you’ll bring your financial expertise to our dynamic international board working alongside trustees from member organisations, our leadership team and co-opted trustees bringing a range of specialist skills to our Board.

What will you be doing?

We are looking for a Treasurer with experience of working with not for profits in setting strategic financial direction,. It would be desirable to have experience in complying with the Charity Commission for England and Wales or similar bodies’ regulations. 

You would be joining our board at an exciting time, as we implement our new strategy, build on our campaigns, broaden our advocacy to mobilise greater support and achieve change. 

The Treasurer will maintain an overview of the organisation's affairs, ensuring its financial viability and that the organisation has policies and systems in place to ensure robust financial planning, implementation and reporting.

What are we looking for?

The Treasurer will maintain an overview of the organisation's affairs, ensuring its financial viability and that the organisation has policies and systems in place to ensure robust financial planning, implementation and reporting. This will involve :

• Reviewing budgets, accounts and financial statements, and recommending them to the Board for approval 
• Being assured that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs 
• Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate reserves policy 
• Ensuring that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place
• Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate investment policy 
• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies 
• Ensuring that the accounts are scrutinised through external audits and internal reviews and that any recommendations are implemented 
• Keeping the Board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities 
• Chairing the Resource Mobilisation and Communications Committee (formerly the Finance and Human Resources Committee), leading online meetings three times a year
• Ensuring that organisation has processes in place to meet any compliance requirements 
• Ensuring the organisation has a risk management process in place 
• Reviewing and signing financial transactions and other documentation requiring board approval 

What difference will you make?

This is a substantive role at the core of our organisation. We are a global alliance of 51 local organisations in 40 countries, working on the front line with children and families in need. Our vision is a world in which children and families everywhere have access to the support they need to survive and thrive. Our mission is to make that happen through research, knowledge exchange, campaigning and humanitarian responses. We are registered as a charity under the Charity Commission for England and Wales and have two subsidiaries registered in New Zealand and in the US

 Family values mutual accountability and has a Responsibility Framework which outlines responsibilities and rights for board trustees, members and staff. The Treasurer has a key role in ensuring that mutual accountability is upheld in areas of finance by identifying and highlighting potential conflicts of interest.

Through campaigning, we influence and inspire others to take action for children and families worldwide. For more information about our work and our members, please visit our website.

Before you apply

Please apply, or contact us if you have any questions,through Reach in the first instance. Please provide a cover letter detailing why you are interested in this role, your relevant experience and indicate your availability. Interviews will take place via Zoom. Deadline for applicaions is 06 Nov 2025.

Desirable, but not essential requirements: 

• experience of working with or on a board 
• a qualified member of a recognised accountancy body
• some experience of charity fundraising is desirable

Do you have fundraising, communications, HR, IT or other skills and wish to become a trustee of a pioneering and ambitious charity which funds and develops girls’ education in South Sudan?  Friends of Ibba Girls School (FIGS) works to support a girls’ boarding school which provides free high-quality education for over 300 primary and secondary school girls, providing both education and a source of inspiration for the country.  Boarding provides safety and security for girls in a country emerging from war. FIGS works closely with Windle Trust International, a highly experienced UK charity which provides the practical support on the ground in South Sudan. FIGS must raise £400-500k each year to keep the school thriving, while longer-term plans are put in place for greater self-sufficiency within the country. The trustees are both strategic and operational, as the charity only has 2 employees (1.5 FTE). Fundraising skills and experience are particularly sought and the trustee will need to be prepared to give about eight hours a week to the work. Communications is also important and needs about four hours a week.  HR and IT are both valuable skills but do not have particular time requirements. Applicants with other skills and experience relevant to FIGS are welcome to apply. 

Please download the recruitment pack below and visit out website for further information.

Do you want to make a difference and contribute to The Methodist Church?
Are you a keen and experienced individual who is interested in supporting the work we do to ensure that the Church is a safe place for all – children, young people, and adults?

About the role
The Methodist Church in Britain seeks to ensure that the Church is a safe place for all – children, young people, and adults. The Safeguarding Committee plays a critical role in ensuring good governance of safeguarding and provides scrutiny and oversight of safeguarding across the Church.

About You
We are looking for an experienced, committed person with deep expertise in safeguarding and the ability to support and challenge effectively, make good judgment and come to sound decisions.
We advise you to review the candidate pack, the role description and person specification ahead of completing and submitting your online expression of interest form. The candidate pack includes some useful information about our processes.

Please note that where appropriate, successful nominees will be asked to undertake further checks, including references and a DBS check.

If you have questions about the role or require reasonable adjustments to be made at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact HR - details available on our website.

We are aiming to have a breadth of experience and backgrounds among the members of the Connexional Council, and therefore we particularly welcome applications from minority ethnic members of the Church, women, those with disabilities, and those who are still developing their careers.

Indicative Recruitment Timetable:
Closing date: 26 June 2025
Interviews Date: 28 July 2025
Provisional appointment start date: 1 October 2025

This is a voluntary position which in non-remunerated, but expenses are paid.