Education support volunteer roles

Are you keen to move the arts forward? Are you passionate about the role the arts can play in building a better society? Do you think that diverse voices deserve to be heard through poetry? Do you want to be an empowering advocate for poetry’s transformative power? Forward Arts Foundation – the charity behind National Poetry Day and the Forward Prizes for Poetry – is looking for a new Chair and Trustees to join its board. We’re a small, ambitious team working nationally and online to celebrate poetry, support new voices, and widen accessibility. With a reach of over 2.4 million people each year, we’re looking for board members who can help us grow and govern well. We're particularly keen to hear from prospective Chairs and Trustees with experience in education, digital, fundraising and philanthropy, or governance and leadership. We’d also welcome the chance to support people under the age of 30 take their first step into trusteeship. Our meetings are flexible, online-friendly, and inclusive by design. Poetry is for everyone – and we want our board to reflect that.
 

Overview

This is a Senior Leadership team role.

The Base Camp Manager has responsibility for many of the logistical aspects of the expedition,
including equipment, food, and managing the environmental impact at base camp. You will need to be ready to turn your hand to a range of tasks, acting as the ‘fixer’ for the expedition and supporting the expedition team with all aspects of expedition life.

We are looking for applicants who are:

• Comfortable spending extended periods in remote and sometimes harsh environments.
• Able to commit to all pre-expedition training events. 

As a charity, all Leader positions are undertaken on a voluntary basis and Leaders join for the intrinsic value of adventure, education, and personal development of young people. You do not have to fundraise to lead on our expeditions.

About Us

We care about our community; we care about our people.  Derby County Community Trust has a clear mission.  We harness the power of Derby County Football Club to improve lives and communities through sport, physical activity, health and education.  We help more than 25,000 people per year and our work is recognised and respected at regional and national levels.  Since 2008 we have been dedicated to fostering participation in sports, enhancing health and wellbeing, providing quality education and promoting equality and diversity.

About the Role

We are looking for a new Board Safeguarding Lead to join our award-winning organisation. As the charitable arm of Derby County Football Club, we aim to improve lives and communities through physical activity, sport, health and education. 

Working with over 30,000 participants each year, we have been a registered charity since 2008 - encouraging participation and achievement in sport, improving health and wellbeing, providing and enhancing education and promoting equality and diversity.

The trustee responsible for Safeguarding has delegated responsibility from the Board of Trustees to support the Safeguarding and Compliance Manager to ensure the organisation maintains high standards of safeguarding practices for the welfare and protection of children, young people, and vulnerable adults involved in its activities. 

Duties of the Role

• Policy Oversight: Ensuring the organisation has appropriate safeguarding policies and procedures in place and that they are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect best practices and legal requirements.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Monitoring compliance with safeguarding laws, regulations, and guidelines, and helping manage any safeguarding-related risks that arise within the Trust’s operations.
• Training and Awareness: Supporting the Safeguarding and Compliance Manager to ensure staff and volunteers receive appropriate safeguarding training to understand their responsibilities in protecting individuals at risk.
• Reporting and Accountability: Supporting the Safeguarding and Compliance Manager where required on safeguarding concerns or allegations, ensuring that any issues are reported and addressed appropriately in line with the Trust’s policies.
• Board Oversight: Reporting on safeguarding matters to the board of trustees, ensuring that safeguarding is a key part of organisational governance and decision-making.

The Safeguarding Trustee plays a critical role in promoting a culture of safety and ensuring that DCCT provides a safe environment for all its participants, especially those who are vulnerable. 

Click on Apply

To send a CV and covering A4 letter indicating why you are interested in joining the board and what skills and experiences could make you suitable for the role of Board Safeguarding Lead, to Paul Newman (Head of Community). 

Excalibur Academies Trust, a dynamic and growing Academy Trust with schools spanning from Bristol to Reading, is looking to appoint a new Chair of Trustees, possessing extensive leadership, governance and chairing experience, to lead its Board. The Trust is based in Marlborough, Wiltshire, comprises 20 schools and has an annual budget of £140m.

Excalibur Academies Trust (EAT) is a dynamic and growing Multi-Academy Trust based in Marlborough, Wiltshire. The Trust comprises 20 schools across a broad geographical area, stretching from Bristol in the West to Reading in the East. It includes six secondary schools (four of which have post-16 provision) and 14 primary schools, some of which include nursery provision, enabling the Trust to deliver education across the full 2–19 age range.

EAT was established in 2012 and has grown steadily, expanding significantly in 2023 by welcoming a five-school Multi-Academy Trust into its fold. The Trust now operates a diverse portfolio of schools serving a wide range of communities, from small rural primaries with mixed-age classes to large urban secondaries with over 1,700 pupils. The Trust includes five Church of England schools linked to the Oxford and Salisbury Dioceses, making EAT a ‘mixed MAT’ with bespoke Articles of Association that accommodate both faith-designated and community schools. The diversity of the Trust is a key strength, underpinning its inclusive ethos and commitment to high standards across all settings.

Ofsted has judged the majority of EAT’s schools as ‘Good’, with one school rated ‘Outstanding’. The Trust has a dedicated School Improvement Team which works closely with schools to support them on their development journeys.

The Trust’s finances are managed prudently, with schools maintaining balanced budgets despite ongoing pressures in the education sector. EAT has an annual income of approximately £140 million and holds comfortable reserves. Some schools include specialist resource bases for pupils with additional needs such as hearing or visual impairments or autism spectrum conditions, and EAT’s provision for SEND and safeguarding has been consistently strong. EAT receives annual capital allocations to maintain and improve its estate. A central estates team supports individual schools, ensuring all buildings are safe and well-maintained.

Governance at EAT is well-established and effective. The Trust has four Members, including a representative of the Church of England, and 13 Trustees from diverse professional backgrounds. Several Trustees joined following the 2023 merger, bringing valuable insight and expertise. The Board is supported by a Head of Governance and has benefitted from an External Review of Governance (ERG), conducted by the Confederation of School Trusts (CST). The recommendations from the ERG have largely been implemented, and the Trust operates a stable and robust governance structure. EAT is a member of both the CST and the National Governance Association (NGA), giving Trustees access to extensive training and support.

The Trust’s Requirements

Excalibur Academies Trust is seeking a new Chair of Trustees to lead the Trust Board and support the Trust’s continued development. The current Chair, who has served since 2018, will step down in summer 2025 due to increasing work commitments. This role offers a rare opportunity to influence the strategic direction of one of the largest and most diverse MATs in the South of England.

The ideal candidate will have previous experience of chairing a Board or acting as vice-chair or committee chair in a complex organisation. They will be comfortable leading a board of significant scale and overseeing matters such as finance, education, risk, and governance. A background in executive leadership—particularly within education, public service, or corporate governance—would be advantageous.

The Chair will play an important strategic and leadership role, working closely with the CEO, Trustees, Members, and executive leaders. While current arrangements do not include a regular scheduled meeting between the Chair and CEO, the CEO is open to establishing a routine catch-up—initially more frequent, then settling to monthly or half-termly as appropriate.

Board meetings are held six times per year, typically on Friday mornings from 9am – 11am, and usually followed by a school tour to see the Board’s impact in action. Meetings take place across sites in the Trust but most commonly include:

• St John’s Marlborough, SN8 4AX
• Ashton Park School, Bristol, BS3 2JL
• John O’Gaunt School, Hungerford, RG17 0AN
• Fairfield High School, Bristol, BS7 9NL
• The Wren School, Reading, RG30 2BB

Occasionally, meetings are held at the National Self Build & Renovation Centre, Swindon, SN5 8UB.

Committee meetings are held online via MS Teams, usually on Friday mornings and lasting up to two hours. Trustees are expected to join one or two committees. The current committees include:

• Finance, Premises & IT (six meetings per year)
• Audit & Risk (three meetings per year)
• Education Scrutiny & Student Welfare (four meetings per year)
• Staffing (between four and five meetings per year)
• Academy Committee Chairs (six meetings per year)
• Christian Distinctiveness (one meeting per year)
• Admissions Panel (ad hoc as required)

While the Chair is not expected to lead all committees, the current view is that the incoming Chair will sit on the Finance, Premises & IT Committee (which will be chaired by another trustee, per DfE requirements) and attend Audit & Risk Committee meetings.

The successful candidate will be well-supported in their induction and transition into the role. Existing Trustees bring substantial experience and are committed to ensuring a smooth handover. EAT’s Head of Governance will provide detailed onboarding and compliance support, while the CEO and fellow Trustees will welcome the new Chair into a culture of collaboration, integrity, and shared purpose.

This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced leader to contribute to the strategic growth and educational excellence of a forward-thinking, values-driven trust. With a proven track record of school improvement and sound financial stewardship, EAT is poised for continued success – and the new Chair will be central to that journey.

Shannon Trust fulfils an unmet need around adult learning, supporting people who’ve fallen through the cracks in formal education.

We know a lot of people have had negative learning experiences in the past, so our programme is designed to be different, with no exams and no classrooms. Our unique, evidence-based Turning Pages reading manuals are used by thousands of learners in prisons and the community to improve reading skills. 

Prison volunteers live near to their local prison so that they can visit about once a month during the working week to nurture the growth of the Shannon Trust in their prison. They help unlock the power of reading by offering advice, guidance, training and support to prison staff and prisoner mentors who help other prisoners to improve their skills 1 to 1.

We are looking for volunteers who are able to work alone, able to give a regular, reliable commitment for ideally two years and able to deliver engaging training to groups of people in prisons.  Due to the nature of the role, prison security vetting will be required.

We provide training for the role via e-learning and 4 training sessions which are a mix of live, online and group training.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence and impact the educational experience and outcomes of children in east Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Hartlepool. At the heart of our trust is the aim to nurture, educate, achieve and transform the lives of all young people within the communities we serve across the North East.

We are a mixed Multi-Academy Trust, with eight schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) and a mix of community and Church of England schools. We are a fully inclusive, working with a range of stakeholders to ensure the best outcomes and destinations for our pupils. 

NEAT is looking for people to take a leadership role as Chairs/Vice Chairs of our Local Governing Committees (LGCs). We're open to hear from any candidates who are motivated to contribute to the enhancement of education in our schools, whether that be with years of education experience, or with new insights and innovative thinking about how schools and Academy Trusts can and should support learners and other stakeholders.We are looking for people who can work with a range of people to support our schools, leading the governors and coordinating with school and trust leaders and external stakeholders. 

Our LGC members (school governors) come from a wide range of backgrounds. What they have in common is that they want to help our schools be the best they can be and our pupils to succeed. People who know our local communities bring real insight to the LGC. 

We're especially keen to support people who may not have much opportunity or experience with governing bodies, and those from underrepresented groups. If you have a passion for supporting pupils and some relevant skills or experience, we're keen to hear from you.

As a governance volunteer, our LGC members have the opportunity to use and develop their skills in:

• building relationships and networks
• teamwork
• communication and influencing
• strategic thinking
• problem solving
• using data
• leadership and Board practice
• specialist areas such as Careers, Health & Safety, Special Educational Needs (SEND), or Safeguarding

Being a school governor is not only a great way to use your existing experience and expertise in your community, but is a great way to learn new skills, receive training in leadership and board skills, upskill and make a difference. There's a wealth of opportunities for personal and professional development, networking, and working with a range of people from different backgrounds, professions, and life experience.

Our governance volunteers (school governors) have direct impact in the community through:

• decision making in the best interests of pupils to improve their education, wellbeing and future prospects and raise community aspirations
• shaping school policies and aims, allowing teachers to focus on delivering high-quality educational experiences
• stakeholder engagement to ensure that the voices of staff, parents, pupils and other stakeholders are heard

Most LGC members have a four-year term of office, except for co-opted members who are appointed for one year. They attend around four meetings each year, which are usually held late afternoon/early evening during term-time. LGC members are also involved in scrutiny activities in school, which usually happen once or twice a term during the school day. LGC members also participate in decision-making panels (for admissions and exclusions) for schools in the Trust. The average time commitment for our LGC members is 8-12 hours per month.

For LGC Chairs, there is need to be involved in contact with a range of stakeholders within the school, the community, and across the trust. This will include more frequent meetings in school, possibly during the day, although many of these may be outside normal school hours. Depending upon school priorities, we would expect the typical Chair time commitment to be around 15-20hrs per month, although some of this can be done online and by phone around work and home commitments.

NEAT takes safeguarding seriously, and all governance volunteers are required to undertake a vetting process (including DBS check) during appointment to best safeguard our pupils and schools.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence and impact the educational experience and outcomes of children in east Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Hartlepool. At the heart of our trust is the aim to nurture, educate, achieve and transform the lives of all young people within the communities we serve across the North East.

We are a mixed Multi-Academy Trust, with eight schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) and a mix of community and Church of England schools. We are a fully inclusive, working with a range of stakeholders to ensure the best outcomes and destinations for our pupils. We also have a national research school, which aims to build and strengthen networks of schools throughout the region and help them access effective education research and implement it in everyday practice.

NEAT is looking for people to join our Trust Board of Directors. We're open to hear from any candidates who are motivated to contribute to the enhancement of education in our schools, whether that be with years of education experience, or with new insights and innovative thinking about how schools can and should support our learners.

We're especially keen to support people who may not have much experience on a Board, and those from underrepresented groups. If you have a passion for supporting pupils and some relevant skills or experience, we're keen to hear from you.

Our Directors work closely with our school governors and school leaders and have direct impact in the community through:

• decision making in the best interests of pupils to improve their education, wellbeing and future prospects and raise community aspirations
• shaping policies and strategic direction, allowing schools to focus on delivering high-quality educational experiences
• stakeholder engagement to ensure that the voices of staff, parents, pupils and other stakeholders are heard

Hardwick Trust is recruiting for charity Trustees

Hardwick Estate is a 900 acre organically-managed Estate and thriving rural community in the South Chilterns near Whitchurch-on-Thames, which is in the process of becoming England's first community-led Estate.

We have recently elected seven Interim Trustees from the Hardwick community and are now seeking three further external Trustees to co-opt onto the Interim board. This Board will steer Hardwick Estate through the transition and into the Charitable Company (Hardwick Trust) including setting up policies and procedures and doing due diligence on the Estate as a 'going concern' in order to receive the gift of land and assets.

We are seeking Trustees with good knowledge and experience in any of these areas:

• Setting up and/or running a complex charity.

• Legal, regulatory and policy issues affecting us as a Charitable Company.

• Good networks with relevant people and organisations that could support us.

• Financial auditing.

In addition it would be desirable if Co-opted Trustees also had any experience in:

• The main fields of the Trust’s charitable objectives: organic land management and environmental protection; public education; and/or delivering affordable housing

• Regulatory and/or policy issues in Estate Management.

The role entails attending 12 meetings per year, with a strong preference for in person attendance. There is no minimum or maximum term but we would expect co-opted Trustees to serve for at least a year.

Please contact us to request an application pack or further information. Applications to be received by 1st September 2025 for interviews in mid September.

Join South Gloucestershire & Stroud College and play an important role in the continued success and growth of an exceptionally good college with outstanding features.

Applications close: 9 a.m. Friday 5th September 2025

Location: Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and Bristol

Time commitment: c.15 hours per year

About South Gloucestershire & Stroud College

SGS has three main campuses, Stroud, Filton and WISE, as well as many local community venues. We also have venues in Berkeley, the centre of Bristol, at the West of England Academy of Art and Bristol Zoo Gardens. We welcome around 10,000 full-time and part-time students of all ages each year, with our largest cohort being almost 4,100 16–18-year-olds.

As a regional college, we offer a diverse range of vocational and academic courses in a broad spectrum of subjects, from business to sport, performing arts to media. Whatever our students want to study, there is bound to be a course that suits their needs. Furthermore, SGS has an excellent reputation for delivering work-based programmes, such as apprenticeships, higher apprenticeships, and professional training. If it is a practical course for a chosen career, it is likely that we have a solution.

We are committed to giving every one of our students the best possible education.

Our experienced and professional staff work hard to help our students achieve the right qualifications and develop the skills necessary to move into employment or further study, including into our own higher education provision delivered in partnership with the University of Gloucestershire. We are proud of SGS and committed to making the college the best it can be.

About the roles

South Gloucestershire & Stroud College is seeking to appoint additional Governors who will bring their experience and expertise to the Board, providing constructive challenge and support to help drive the college forward.

Being a Governor in the FE sector is like no other voluntary role. With South Gloucestershire & Stroud College (SGS), you will work as part of the Corporation, led by our experienced Chair, Matt Atkinson, in overseeing the strategic direction and pace of the college. Our Governors ensure effective oversight of a high-quality and economically focused curriculum offer, while ensuring organisational finances are well-planned and risk is well mitigated.

The role offers a fantastic opportunity to join an ambitious and committed Corporation and genuinely have an impact on the future success of the college, its students, and its communities.

Who we are looking for

We are looking to engage professional individuals who care about the role skills play in delivering economic growth and social cohesion, and who can demonstrate a track record of significant and impactful strategic leadership that should underpin this passion and commitment.

This experience can be drawn from a variety of sectors, with individuals bringing different areas of expertise. What matters most is the ability to proactively engage with the Board, contributing to its work through effective challenge, scrutiny, and support in all discussions.

Peridot Partners and South Gloucestershire & Stroud College are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

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 at 9 a.m. Friday 5th September 2025.

Trustee with Legal Expertise - Join Us in Transforming Children’s Lives! 

At School-Home Support, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to be in school and ready to learn – no matter the obstacles they face. Our mission is simple yet ambitious: to ensure that every child is in school, every day, by 2050. We are looking for a passionate and experienced Trustee with Legal Expertise to help us make this vision a reality and have a lasting impact on children and families across the country. 

We’re seeking an individual who shares our passion for improving children’s lives. If you have experience as a trustee and are ready to take the next step in your governance journey, we would love to hear from you. 

Who We're Looking For: 

We are looking to recruit a Trustee with Legal expertise who is passionate about the work of School-Home Support and brings energy, commitment and leadership combined with a willingness to advocate for the work we do and the cause we serve. 

As a Legal Expert Trustee, You Will: 

• Contribute to setting goals, targets, and overall policy for the organisation

• Share your expertise and networks to support the development and growth of the charity. 

• Help ensure compliance with our legal obligations and the organisation’s core purpose. 

• Provide oversight of the budget to guarantee School-Home Support’s financial sustainability. 

• Ensure measures are in place for safeguarding for the children and families we support and the staff team

• Act as a champion and ambassador for School-Home Support, enhancing our reputation, representing us at key events, and supporting fundraising efforts. 

What We Offer: 

• Impactful Role: By joining our Board of Trustees, you will play a key role in shaping our national impact and supporting our mission to transform the lives of children in need. 

• Training & Development: You will receive tailored training specific to your role and access to additional learning opportunities through our staff-led EDI networks. 

• Networking Opportunities: You’ll have the chance to expand your professional network and make valuable connections within the education and charity sectors.

• Support Throughout Your Journey: We will buddy you with a more experienced trustee or corporate volunteer to ensure you feel supported and confident throughout your time with us.

Expectations: 

• Commitment: A commitment of three years to this voluntary role

• Meetings: Attend four half-day board meetings and one AGM each year, which are typically held in Stratford, London, or remotely. 

• Sub-Committees: Participate in one of our sub-committees to help guide specific areas of our work. 

• External Events: Attend 2-3 fundraising events each year (usually evenings) and make at least one school visit annually. 

• Inclusion & Diversity: A strong commitment to inclusion, equal opportunities, and the promotion of diversity in all aspects of your work. 

If you’re ready to make a difference and contribute to creating brighter futures for children and their families, we want to hear from you! 

To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please review the Trustee Pack and submit your application today!

Join us as we turn bold ideas into real-world support for LGBTQIA+ people across Berkshire

About SupportU

We are a leading LGBTQ+ help and support service based in Reading, servicing the Thames Valley area. Our service is run by a dedicated team who are responsible for delivering the help and support available through our website, telephone helpline and face-to-face sessions.

What will you be doing?

Support U is seeking trustees to join our board at this pivotal moment following a period of change, as we strengthen our governance and work toward a more sustainable and impactful future. As a trustee, you’ll play a role in helping guide the charity’s direction, ensure good governance, and enable our small team to deliver high-impact services to the LGBTQIA+ community across Berkshire.

Key responsibilities include:

· Providing strategic leadership and oversight

· Ensuring good governance and compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

· Supporting financial management and safeguarding the charity’s resources

· Acting as an ambassador and advocate for the charity

· Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work

Estimate of time needed

Up to five hours per month.

What are we looking for?

We are looking to appoint new trustees who bring a mix of governance experience, strategic skills, as well as passion and commitment to our community and the aims of the charity. 

You might be a good fit if you:

· Align with our mission and values

· Understand the needs and experiences of LGBTQIA+ communities

· Can collaborate within a diverse team and contribute constructively

· Are willing to ask questions, challenge ideas, and help shape solutions

Living experience as part of the LGBTQIA+ community is encouraged, but not essential - we also welcome allies who bring a strong commitment to equity, inclusion, and our cause.

What difference will you make?

As a trustee at Support U, your voice will help shape how we respond to the real, evolving needs of LGBTQIA+ people across Berkshire. You’ll influence how we grow, how we include, and how we stay true to our values while adapting for the future.

You’ll be part of a small, committed team working to strengthen support, challenge exclusion, and ensure our community feels seen, supported, and proud.

Are you passionate about supporting young people and making a real difference in Sheffield? Golddigger Trust is seeking a new Treasurer, as our current Treasurer comes to the end of his final term.  With an annual turnover of circa £0.5M and supporting well over 1,000 young people in the city, we're looking for the right fit to take the lead with financial governance.

About Us:
Golddigger Trust is dedicated to unearthing value and empowering young people in Sheffield through education, support, and mentorship. Our Christian ethos drives everything we do, and we need a committed Treasurer to help guide our financial strategy.

Role Overview:
As a voluntary trustee, you will play a crucial role in the charity's governance and financial oversight. Your responsibilities will include:

• Financial Stewardship: Review financial statements, approve budgets, and ensure proper accounting practices.

• Strategic Input: Collaborate with trustees to set goals and strategies that support the charity’s mission.

• Risk Management: Identify financial risks and contribute to the charity’s broader risk management strategy.

• Compliance & Reporting: Ensure compliance with statutory accounting and reporting requirements.

• Advocacy: Represent the charity at events and promote its mission.

What We're Looking For:

• A strong understanding of financial management and governance, ideally within the Charity sector.

• Experience in budgeting, financial planning, and reporting.

• A passion for the charity’s mission and a desire to support young people in Sheffield.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a team of trustees.

Time Commitment:
This is a voluntary role with flexible hours, but you will be expected to attend trustee meetings and work with the wider staff team as needed. 

If you're looking to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young people, apply today to become our next Treasurer! 

Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable KS3 English tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with long-term illnesses. 

What will you be doing? 

• Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person. 
• Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to KS3 English curriculum. 
• Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions. 
• Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What are we looking for? 

• Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of KS2 and KS3 English concepts and specifications.
• Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
• Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
• Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
• You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.

What difference will you make? 

• Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
• Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
• Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. 

What will you gain?

• The opportunity to fight education inequities and make a difference in a young person's life
• Enhanced DBS Certificate
• Safeguarding level one training
• Skill development opportunities and practical experience

Location 

• Remote/Online

Time 

• 1 Hour per Week 
•  Duration: 14 Weeks minimum

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.

Position Overview
This is a superb opportunity for a development professional to be part of a team of national and international staff supporting the development, reporting and evaluation of SEED’s rural livelihoods programmes. 

Our Rural Livelihoods programme concentrates on livelihood development and support in local, national, and international markets, including fishery management, beekeeping, traditional reed weaving and embroidery. We use community-led, participatory approaches, working with local communities to identify and implement projects that meet their needs and priorities. 

This is an exciting position for someone who has two to four years’ experience working alongside national and international staff, supporting the development, funding, management, reporting and evaluation of our programmes.  You will be responsible for generating funds across the programmes to maximise impact. This post will partner our national implementation teams, managing donor compliance, ensuring proposals and reports are to a high standard and budgets are appropriately managed.

It is essential that the post holder has grant writing experience and is able to work in English to a high standard. Candidates who do not meet these criteria will not be considered.

Title: Programme Officer
Location: Fort Dauphin, Anosy Region, Madagascar
Timeframe: 2 years, extendable
Contract Type: Local salary, £1,200 contribution to flights and £650 towards insurance 

Duties and responsibilities:
Provision of advice and support in the development and management of projects including: preparation and editing of funding proposals; preparation and editing of reports for external stakeholders; monitoring and evaluation of current projects; developing and updating guidelines and templates for external-facing materials; liaison with the London project development team and local staff; and support and mentoring of interns and Junior Officers.

Core Duties

• Support Junior Programme Officers and interns in compiling funding proposals based on past evaluation, team discussion and international best practice in an engaging and professional manner

• Support Junior Programme Officers and interns in writing project reports that clearly demonstrate the successes and challenges of the projects, learning from the project and providing clear budgetary information

• Provide first-stage editing of all proposals and reports across the department to a high standard and providing detailed, constructive feedback to interns and Junior Officers

• Support in the management of donor compliance across several projects, working with the Head of Programmes and the implementation team to ensure that project milestones are being met 

• Work alongside the Head of Programmes and Head of Department in problem-solving and providing additional support in line with emerging issues from project implementation

• Manage pieces of long-term project work that require a higher level of expertise and experience across the department

• Support in the recruitment of new staff and provide support, management, review and professional development to your team of Project Development Interns, Officers and specialists

• Foster essential cross-cultural collaboration, providing support to both the national and international teams to bridge gaps in understanding and priorities for project development and implementation

• Provide pastoral care, guidance and act as a role model, both professionally and personally, for a team of early career professionals living in country

• Work alongside the Head of Department, Head of Programmes and Head of Finance in developing and managing the budgets relating to projects

• Develop and update resources to support project development processes, including proposal and budget templates and style guidelines

• Assist departmental MEL specialists in developing MEL tools and analysing data, including the writing of MEL reports when needed 

• Support the development of project development procedures, guidelines, and trainings and provide project-specific information to inform policy development across the organisation 

• Work with the Programme Officers and interns to ensure that statistics, research, funding trackers, photo database and handovers relating to the projects are accurate

• Oversee the project-specific website and social media content 

• Work with the national team and external partners in increasing their skills and capacity, providing mentoring or training where appropriate

• Take an active role in project management meetings, leading discussions and standing in for the Head of Programmes where appropriate

• Ensure all of SEED’s policies and procedures are evident throughout the work of the department, including those for safeguarding, whistleblowing and anti corruption, and undertake continual training to ensure these are promoted at all times

• Form part of the team representing projects or SEED when required

• Liaise closely with the UK team in London always ensuring clear communication

• Complete any other tasks required by the Head of Programmes or Director of Operations and Heads of Departments commensurate with this role.

Person specification

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in conservation or rural livelihoods 

• At least two years’ experience with market-based programming, rural livelihoods, or similar programmes

• Minimum of 2 years’ professional experience of securing funding, project management, donor compliance and donor reporting

• Familiarity with the use of project management tools including Logical Frameworks, Theory of Change models, Budgets, Activity Plans and Monitoring & Evaluation frameworks

• Fluency in written and spoken English with excellent written communication skills, to the level of editing English documents for publication to a very high standard

• Excellent proposal and report writing and editing skills, with previous experience compiling project proposals and reports and the ability to tailor written information to various audiences

• Demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to SEED’s ethos and approach, and be a good ambassador for the organisation at all times

• Have passion, curiosity and motivation for the job and the ability to enthuse others

• Experience of living and working in a developing country with the ability and desire to work with teams from different economic and cultural backgrounds and across multiple language barriers

• Demonstrate proven ability to recognise and appropriately deal with challenging situations and problem solve

• Demonstrate an awareness of and comfort with increased social and professional responsibility, working at all times with cultural sensitivity and respect

• Demonstrate the ability, social skills and confidence to give clear guidance and support to other members of the team in respect of the philosophy and procedures of SEED in order to protect both their safety and the reputation of the NGO

• Be able to work to and advocate for all of SEED’s policies and procedures, safeguarding those that SEED works with and reporting any concerns appropriately

• Be punctual and be able to work to tight deadlines in an organised manner and to a high standard

• Be able to work both independently and as part of a team

• Excellent listening and verbal communication skills and a flexible and patient attitude 

• Ability and desire to develop and support a team of volunteers and staff and to support the Project Development internship programme

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

About the Organisation

SEED Madagascar is a British Charity working in partnership with communities in the southeast of Madagascar. We integrate high quality community health, rural livelihoods; education infrastructure and conservation programmes to support long term, sustainable change and add to international best practice through research and publication across all our programmatic areas. We are now looking for entry level interns and officers to work alongside national staff and expand our team.