Finance manager volunteer roles in midsomer norton, bath and north east somerset
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are a small, friendly charity, run by four volunteer trustees and loads of volunteer fundraisers. We are a dynamic charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) based in Liverpool, dedicated to fundraising initiatives that create meaningful impact both locally and for baby and children’s hospitals in Sana’a, Yemen. Rooted in solidarity values, our work often aligns with principles of Islamic giving, including zakat, but is open to all who wish to give and support. On occasion, we co-fundraise with charities for Palestine.
We are seeking a volunteer treasurer to help us with financial management and reporting. Our turnover is less than £50,000 per year and we are therefore able to produce light touch accounts for the Charity Commission. We would like support with this, and with ensuring we remain financially compliant, as well as with ideas for sustainable fundraising. The trustees meet less than once a month and we anticipate a small time committment for this role.
We are particularly keen to see applications from people who have a specific interest in health and wellbeing for people living in war affected states, especially Yemen; or who have a connection with Liverpool. We're a real passionate 'family' and look forward to welcoming a new member who shares our goals.
The Role
As our Volunteer Treasurer, you will play a vital role in supporting the financial health of the charity. You’ll oversee our finances, ensure transparency, and provide guidance to trustees on managing funds responsibly and in accordance with both UK charity law and, where relevant, principles of Islamic giving.
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain clear and accurate financial records using simple bookkeeping tools (e.g., spreadsheets or accounting software).
- Prepare simplified annual accounts and financial reports suitable for a small CIO.
- Advise the Board of Trustees on financial matters, ensuring informed decision-making.
- Oversee bank reconciliations, expense tracking, and budget monitoring.
- Ensure compliance with Charity Commission regulations and reporting deadlines.
- Provide guidance on zakat-eligible projects and ensure funds are managed in accordance with Islamic charitable principles where applicable.
- Help develop and review financial policies and procedures.
- Attend trustee meetings (typically quarterly) and provide financial updates.
- Brainstorm and share experience of novel and sustainable fundraising ideas.
Skills & Experience
Essential:
- Experience with bookkeeping, accounting, or finance (qualified accountant or qualified by experience).
- Familiarity with charity finance and reporting requirements (especially for small charities/CIOs).
- Strong attention to detail and ability to present financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
- Understanding of Islamic giving, including zakat, and ability to advise appropriately.
- Commitment to the values and objectives of the charity.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of digital accounting tools (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero, Excel).
- Previous trustee or treasurer experience in a charity setting.
- Experience of fundraising.
- Based in or familiar with the Liverpool community.
- Special interest in aligned issues or geographies.
What You’ll Gain
- Opportunity to make a tangible difference through financial stewardship.
- Be part of a passionate and friendly team of trustees and volunteers.
- Gain experience in governance and charity finance.
- Flexibility and autonomy to manage your time and role.
To preserve and protect good health for the public benefit, in particular but not limited to providing equipment, medicine and financial support to pa
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Become our Trustee Tresurer and chair our Finance Committee.We need a Trustees with energy, enthusiasm and commitment to help accelerate our influcence on wildlife and nature recovery issues in the country and beyond.
With a refreshed 3-year strategy (23-26), “A Wilder Herefordshire, More Nature Everywhere” we’re working hard to recover nature at scale through deeper collaborations, working with local community organisations and networks to develop a clear plan for nature’s recovery. We are also working with neighbouring Wildlife Trusts, river partnerships and national partners such as the Woodland Trust, National Trust, and Duchy of Cornwall.
So, with lots happening, it’s an exciting if challenging time for the Trust. Urgent action is needed to address the decline of wildlife in our beautiful county – and we need to muster all the resources and skills we can to succeed.
We are a welcoming board who support and challenge each other to do better for wildlife.
We look to recruit trustees from a range of backgrounds, life stages and skills to join us.
At this time, we wish to recruit someone to take on the role of Treasurer, and chair our Finance Committee. You would need the following skills and qualities:
· A strong commitment to wildlife conservation and the Vision of the Trust;
· Demonstrable experience of financial management;
· The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences;
· A good understanding of governance, gained either as a Trustee of another charity, a director of a company, or as a manager who has worked with Boards;
· The ability to apply clear logical thinking and creativity to developing our strategy
If you are successful, you will be welcomed and supported by a talented and committed board of trustees, a strong and experienced staff team and an active and expanding band of volunteers and by the wider Wildlife Trust movement. We hope you are inspired to apply, and we look forward to hearing from you.
Alison McLean OBE, Chair, March 2025
This is a hands-on role within a small but ambitious team. The Treasurer will have oversight of Men Who Talk’s financial health, ensuring the charity operates in a financially responsible manner while providing the Board with accurate financial information to guide decision-making.
Our finances are in a strong position, and we entered the new financial year in April with a healthy cash flow and robust fundraising strategy. Over the last 3 years, we have seen yearly financial growth quadruple year on year, with the 2024/25 financial year bringing in over £40,000 of funding through various streams.
Having received grants from funders such as the National Lottery Community Fund, the Simon Rivett-Carnac Trust and the Caterham Round Table amongst others, we have an agreed budget to spend down our current balance over the 2025/26 financial year, with a focus on ambitious growth across all areas.
The Treasurer will work closely with Sam, our Founder and CEO and Martins, our Operations Manager to identify financial risks, ensure compliance with the Charity Commission and HMRC, and develop strategies to secure the charity's financial sustainability as we expand.
Key Responsibilities
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Attendance at Regular Board Meetings: The board meets four times a year, usually a combination of two online and two in-person meetings. Other ad hoc meetings and catch-ups may be required.
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Financial Oversight: Regular monitoring of the financial accounts, ensuring the charity adheres to sound financial practices and complies with UK charity regulations.
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Long-Term Financial Strategy: Provide guidance on the financial strategy, including planning and budgeting for future growth and expansion.
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Monthly Reporting: Present a top-level Treasurer’s Report to the Board each month, outlining the charity’s financial position, income, expenditure, and risks. Board meetings each quarter will also include more in-depth financial updates.
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Budgeting: Support the board and CEO in preparing the annual budget, taking into account the charity’s plans for growth, new services, and the expansion of activities.
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Financial Risk Management: Identify potential financial risks and recommend strategies to mitigate these risks.
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Compliance: Ensure that financial procedures are followed, including the maintenance of designated and undesignated funds.
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Reserves: As a priority for 2025/26, the Treasurer will take a lead on updating our reserves policy and ensuring this is adhered to going forward.
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Collaboration: Work closely with the CEO to ensure the charity’s finances align with its goals, particularly as we expand our services and charitable activities over the next three years.
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Annual Accounts: The Treasurer will take the lead on the preparation and submission of the annual accounts, working with an external auditor and accountant to ensure the charity’s accounts are transparent and well-maintained.
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Financial Procedures: Ensure effective financial controls are in place and help the team implement best practices for financial management.
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Advise the Board: Provide financial advice and insights to support the Board in making informed decisions regarding the charity’s operations and growth.
Application and Interview Process
To apply for the Treasurer role at Men Who Talk, applicants are invited to submit their CV along with a brief cover letter via charityjob. In your cover letter, please highlight your experience, why you're interested in this role, and how your skills align with the needs of the charity.
Closing date for applications will be Friday 4th of July.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra welcomes applications from any skilled professional with expert knowledge in their field and who has a passion for the role a major arts charity can play across a socially and geographically diverse region.
‘The cultural heartbeat of the South West.’
Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England
One of the UK’s best-loved orchestras, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is a professional ensemble known for championing the role of culture in people’s lives. Based at Lighthouse, Poole, it has residencies in Bournemouth, Bristol, Exeter, Portsmouth, Southampton and Yeovil — and is the largest cultural provider in the South West, serving one of the biggest and most diverse regions in the UK.
Whilst the BSO already benefits from a wide range of skills on the Board of Trustees, we are looking to strengthen the team further and provide long-term succession planning in its governance.
Given BSO’s unique remit covering 10,000 square miles of the South and South West of England, the Board is seeking to appoint two Trustees to help build BSO’s presence and connections regionally and nationally. We hope that our new Trustees will help develop the Company’s links across Corporate, Civic and Community life.
Through this recruitment, BSO are looking for two individuals. The BSO is seeking a trustee with Director of Finance experience who can lead on financial matters on behalf of the Board. Experience as a chief finance officer in the business, charity or education sectors would be preferable. They are also seeking someone who can help the company build resilience for the business in Bristol and across the South West, developing new supportive relationships centered around the fact we are currently Bristol Beacon’s Orchestra in Residence. It is hoped that at least one of the two new Trustees appointed will be Bristol based.
For further details, please download our briefing pack from our website.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We seek a Chairperson to head our Board at Evolve Counselling who will guide our strategic direction in the provision of lowest cost mental health counselling for individuals and businesses.
Location: Cambridgeshire area of operations. Chair can be fully remote.
Voluntary: Reasonable expenses paid
Commitment: Initial term of 1 -3 years. Flexible hours per month
Closing date: Wednesday 2nd July 2025
Overview
For over 40 years Evolve Counselling has provided lowest-cost professional mental health counselling for adults in Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Northamptonshire and beyond, through the skill and dedication of our team of 60+ BACP-registered counsellors.
The role
We are looking for a new Chair who understands the growing demand for our services and the challenges of competing as a medium sized charitable business at this time. We shall look to our new Chair to build trust and engagement with our CEO, the Trustee Board, our volunteers, and supporters, as we capitalise on great recent work to stabilise and find new opportunities for significant growth.
The new chairperson will ideally bring health and wellbeing experience and commercial skills, as well as a demonstrable empathy for charitable working and commitment to the Nolan Principles of public life.
The role of the Chair is hugely rewarding and the scope under the leadership of the current CEO for Evolve to grow and innovate is significant. You will have significant senior leadership experience to drawn upon as you take ultimate responsibility for directing and inspiring the Trustees, making sure we are financially sustainable, and well run for our clients. Our ethos is to look upwards and outwards as we strive for a leading position in mental health services for all, and your commercial acumen, professional contacts, and powers of persuasion in business will be a huge support for our ambitions.
Including quarterly board meetings, committee sessions (at present virtual), a face-to-face AGM event, plus away days, and regular meetings with our CEO and the trustees, we anticipate a flexible time commitment of around 2 - 5 days per month.
For further information or an informal discussion on the role, please contact Kevin Bottrell.
Application process: Expressions of interest in the first instance by email to our CEO Gordon Ackroyd.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Help children as Trustee of an innovative, enterprising Tees Valley Charity that is increasingly supporting children in care through fostering and a planned residential provision. Join an agency that transforms children's lives.
What will you be doing?
You will join us at an exciting time as we pursue growth of fostering and residential services, as well as growth of our early help offer.
You will work across the Charity and the subsidiary fostering company (which we will amalgamate back into the parent Charity).
You will have a particular focus on helping the fostering agency drive growth, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver excellent care for children and support for foster parents. You will provide support and challenge to the management team.
You’ll contribute 2 to 6 hours a month. The Charity board meets every 8 weeks (shifting to quarterly after September) and the fostering board meets every 8 weeks.
You’ll join a Charity that’s brought £millions of investment into Tees Valley and that helps over 1000 local people a year. We’ve been runners up at the national Charity Governance Awards and ‘community’ winners at the Hartlepool Business Awards.
We are looking for experienced professionals who share our values and want to help.
What are we looking for?
At this time we are specifically looking for Trustees with some of these areas of skills or experience:
Business development
Safeguarding management
Fostering or children's residential care or childrens social work management
Financial management
What difference will you make?
We want to help children and family members heal from trauma, primarily through helping them develop a network of nurturing, loving and appropriately challenging relationships with people in their close and wider communities. Any small surplus we make from helping children in care will be diverted into work to help families stay together and thrive. You will join a team that strives to make this difference. You will help ensure the Charity keeps a strong focus on children and young peoples needs whilst being sustainability and ensuring the agency manages the risks associated with growth and investment in new services.
Before you apply
After expressing an interest through the site, we'd welcome an initial conversation with our CEO and/or Chair. After that, we usually take applications to the Board for consideration. This is usually quite a quick process.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Academy trustees are volunteers. The Charity Commission defines trustees as the people responsible for governing a charity and directing how it is managed and run.
The purpose of the board of trustees is to provide:
- Strategic leadership of the academy trust
- Your role is to help set and embed your trust’s vision and strategy, and use these to monitor how the trust and its schools are progressing towards your strategic goals
- Accountability and assurance, meaning the board has robust oversight of the operations and performance of the trust, including education, pupil welfare and finance
- You'll monitor these areas and hold trust leaders to account for performance and compliance in them
- Engagement
- This means your board has strategic oversight of relationships with the trust's stakeholders: parents, pupils, staff, local communities
- You'll make sure your schools and your trust are communicating with and involving these groups, so that decision-making is supported by meaningful engagement
Responsibilities
- Develop the trust’s vision and strategy
- Establish a culture of high educational standards, which promotes staff and pupil wellbeing
- Set the trust’s strategic aims and objectives
- Make sure all pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum
- Monitor provision for pupils with SEND
- Monitor educational performance of the trust’s academies, using a range of data sources
- Ensure stakeholders (parents, pupils, staff and the local community) are informed and consulted as appropriate
- Approve the budget for the academy trust and, where relevant, for academies within the trust
- Monitor and evaluate the trust’s financial performance
- Approve and review trust policies, and hold staff to account for their implementation
- Ensure the trust is compliant with legal requirements, including that all statutory policies and documents are in place
- Make sure the trust complies with laws that apply to charities and companies, and with its funding agreement
- Carry out the appointment and performance management of the principal/chief executive
- Be a source of challenge and support to the principal/chief executive
- Monitor and evaluate the trust’s staffing structure(s)
- Monitor health and safety in the academy/across the trust
- In a multi-academy trust, work with those involved in local academy governance, supporting and holding them to account
Skills and experience
Essential:
- Critical listening and ability to ask effective questions
- Strategic thinking
- Excellent communication
- Problem-solving and analysis
Desirable:
- Understanding of data
- Information Technology expertise
- HR experience
- Knowledge of education
- Leadership and management skills
- Risk management skills
- Legal expertise, particularly knowledge of charity law
- Marketing and communications skills
Benefits to you
New skills you’ll gain:
- Strategic planning
- Experience on a board
- Holding senior leaders to account and ability to provide challenge
- Finance, and maintaining oversight of potentially multi-million pound budgets
- Analysing data
- Human resources and performance management
- Project management
- Marketing
- Communication and teamwork
- Decision making
- Problem solving
Time commitment
The time commitment for the trustee role will vary. However, all trustees must attend at least 3 meetings of the full board per year. The term of office is 4 years.
Usually trustees sit on a committee focused on an area they have knowledge of, or are particularly interested in – for example, the finance committee. Committees generally meet up to six times a year.
Preparation for meetings includes reading papers and preparing questions for senior leaders.
You will also be expected to undertake any training required to enable you to discharge your role effectively.
Additional information
Academies are both charities and companies limited by guarantee. Academy trustees are therefore both charity trustees and company directors, and must comply with company and charity law.
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 are looking for a highly motivated, values driven, senior professional strategist who is passionate about social justice for young people through arts, culture and creativity. Our Trustees bring specific skills and expertise, including in HR, finance, legal, fundraising, digital, capital development and artistic development. We are seeking a Vice-Chair with broad strategic skills along with a legal background to provide support to the Chair and additional leadership to the Board of Trustees.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Independent Director
Voluntary (reasonable expenses reimbursed)
Remote, with occasional in-person meetings (typically in London)
Time commitment: Around 1–2 days per month
Our client is a mission-led organisation dedicated to creating thriving futures for children and young people. They harness the power of evidence, experience and design to address complex challenges with and for children and young people.
They are currently seeking an Independent Director to join the Board of their trading subsidiary. This is a critical governance role, providing strategic insight, external perspective, and constructive challenge. The successful candidate will contribute to informed decision-making, robust risk management, and ensure that the client’s work remains closely aligned with their charitable mission and long-term objectives.
The client's vision is a world where people, communities, and services collaborate to shape effective systems that offer every child and young person a fair chance to grow up happy, safe, healthy and thriving. Their work spans a variety of vital areas, including early years support, mental health systems, child protection, and increasing opportunities for young people - driving systemic change where it’s needed most.
They’re particularly interested in hearing from individuals who bring:
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Board-level or senior leadership experience, ideally in a socially focused or purpose-led setting—this could include consultancy, social enterprise, or commercial organisations with strong values
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An independent and thoughtful mindset, comfortable asking critical questions, providing both support and challenge, and collaborating effectively
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Financial and strategic confidence, with a sound understanding of governance, organisational risk, and operating a business with a social impact mission
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A real commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people, and a belief in more equitable, inclusive systems
The client is especially keen to bring new and diverse perspectives to their Board. You might have experience in areas such as public service transformation, youth leadership, community organising, philanthropy, research and evaluation or you may bring insights from another relevant discipline.
Becoming an Independent Director with this client offers an opportunity to help steer an organisation that’s at the forefront of social change. You’ll be part of a thoughtful, inclusive, and committed team, playing an important role in building a fairer future for children and young people across the UK.
For further information, including how to apply, please refer to the appointment brief on the Prospectus website by clicking 'Redirect to recruiter'
Recruitment Timeline
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Deadline for applications: Wednesday 12th June 2025
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Interviews with Prospectus: w/c 16th June
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Interviews with the client: w/c 23rd June
We are seeking a new board member with strong financial experience to take on the role of Treasurer.
The ideal candidate will have experience of managing budgets and interpreting management accounts. While an accounting qualification is desirable, it is not essential.
This individual will initially join the Finance Sub-Committee and work closely with the current Treasurer, with the view to stepping into the Treasurer role in a few months when the current postholder retires.
Make a real difference to the student movement by joining NUS Charity as a Trustee.
We’re seeking two committed individuals to help provide strategic leadership, oversee our finances, and ensure we continue to support strong and sustainable students’ unions across the UK. As a Trustee, you’ll play a vital role in shaping our direction and championing the value of students’ unions at a national level.
Who We’re Looking For
We want to attract the widest possible pool of talent. Whether or not you’ve previously held a board or committee role, if you bring relevant expertise, lived experience, or a fresh perspective, we’d love to hear from you.
We’re particularly interested in candidates with backgrounds in:
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Financial oversight, audit, or risk management
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Human resources, recruitment, or EDI expertise
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Legal, strategic, or governance experience
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Communications, campaigning, or public affairs knowledge
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Experience in the charity, education, or membership sectors
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A collaborative and values-driven mindset
We are fully committed to equality of opportunity and especially welcome applications from black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates, who are currently under-represented as committee members and within the voluntary sector more broadly.
Why Volunteer With Us?
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Help shape the student movement and the future of education
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Influence decisions that impact millions of students
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Work alongside experienced, passionate, and values-led colleagues
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Develop your leadership and governance skills
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Make a meaningful contribution to social change
You’ll receive a full induction, ongoing support, and all reasonable expenses covered—including travel and accommodation when needed.
How to Apply
To apply, please send your CV (or a link to your LinkedIn profile) and a short covering letter (max 1 page) outlining your motivation and what you would bring to the role.
Apply by: Thursday 12 June 2025, 12 noon.
If you’d like an informal chat about the roles before applying, we’d love to hear from you.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Become a Trustee at Sunrise Multicultural Project
Are you passionate about making a difference in your community?
We are looking for dedicated, enthusiastic individuals to join our Board of Trustees and help guide the future of Sunrise Multicultural Project.
As a trustee, you will play a vital role in shaping our strategy, ensuring we stay true to our mission, and supporting the development of initiatives that promote inclusivity and integration. We are seeking individuals with a range of skills, backgrounds, and experiences – whether in community work, finance, governance, fundraising, or marketing – who share our commitment to empowering minority groups and fostering a more connected, diverse community.
If you are eager to contribute your time, expertise, and passion, we would love to hear from you!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
InterVol is a student volunteering charity in the United Kingdom that connects students with volunteering opportunities locally and overseas. InterVol supports students to develop their skills with community projects in the UK and then use those skills to support the work of charitable partners overseas on health, education, refugee support, and conservation placements. Our project placements and volunteering opportunities are designed by our local partners and with the long-term needs of beneficiaries and communities in mind. InterVol supports a network of five student societies at English universities with around one hundred volunteers annually.
InterVol is looking for new trustees to join our board. Trustees are responsible for ensuring that InterVol follows our guiding principles and acts within the law. This includes the timely submissions to the Charity Commission, ensuring that volunteering is safe and appropriate, and developing and maintaining a long-term strategy for InterVol. InterVol is a small charity with no staff, so trustees also play an important role in maintaining institutional memory for student committees which change annually.
We are recruiting for general trustee roles and for a treasurer. For the treasurer role, we are looking for applicants with a specialism in financial management to oversee our bank account, monitor our online donation platform, make grants, donations and payments, and report on our finances annually to the Charity Commission. Trustees in non-finance roles will be allocated roles most relevant to their own experience e.g. specific university group support, specific placements, or thematic areas such as training or research.
As a trustee you are expected to take on roles including:
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Attend termly meetings (three annually, online) and annual meetings, where possible.
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Provide advice to the trustee board and our committees. This is either by email, or through the Trustees WhatsApp group.
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Work on specific projects with other trustees and advisors, e.g. managing interns, setting up new placement partnerships, and conducting/reviewing risk assessments.
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Identify potential partnerships in both the United Kingdom and overseas to forward the goals of the charity and strengthen our existing university projects.
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Attend training and network events to represent InterVol, make new connections and bring new ideas into the charity.
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Commit to 2-3 years of supporting the charity before handing over or renewing your term.
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Be based in the United Kingdom to allow travel to meetings.
Person Specification:
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Significant experience of volunteering in either the UK or overseas
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Passionate about ethical volunteering practises
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Strong teamwork and collaboration skills
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Flexible and able to provide support on an ad hoc basis
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Understanding of international development issues (desirable)
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Accounting and finance experience (treasurer role)
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for a dynamic and innovative fundraising specialist individual with drive and passion that aligns with the purpose of The Iolanthe Midwifery Trust to join our Board of Trustees. As a proven fundraising specialist, you will work in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, The Executive Director and the Philanthropy Officer as we roll out our fundraising strategy.The Fundraising Trustee will sit on the Board as well as The Finance and Fundraising sub committees.
Iolanthe has an endowment fund which provides some of the income needed each year to fund awards. As part of our 3 year strategy we will diversity our income streams and focus on the following areas
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Individual
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Legacies
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Philanthropy/Corporates
We have recently appointed a Philanthropy Officer who is working to roll out our fundraising strategy and have a legacy consultant working with us to develop this area further.
Key responsibilities for fundraising lead trustee
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Oversight of Fundraising Strategy
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Digital fundraising
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Support with dealing with Donors
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Support with Fundraising Events/Event Management
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Identification and support with HNW/Philanthropic Fundraising
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CSR
Meetings:
The Board meets three times a year in March, June and October. All but 1 meeting (October combined AGM/Board meeting/Award event) are held remotely. Meetings generally last no longer than 2 hours and with the exception of the October meetings are held on a weekday evening.
The Finance sub committee meets remotely 3 times a year approximately 10 days ahead of the Board meetings.
The Fundraising sub committee will meet remotely and feed through to the main Board meetings.
Fundraising trustee - this is what we need from you
Proven experience of executing successful fundraising campaigns, who can provide support with the following key areas:
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Strategy development: Working with the Board of Trustees, Executive Director and Philanthropy Officer to help shape an effective fundraising strategy, fostering long-term sustainability and growth in line with our values
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Strategy execution: Support as necessary the process of fund identification
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Partnership Development: Targeted and strategic identification of partnerships to advance our goals and support to manage key stakeholders
Our mission is to increase the number of midwives and student midwives supported by our sustainably and ethically financed annual awards programme