Food Bank Volunteer Roles in Chiswick, Greater London

GFB are seeking someone with experience of working in a financial role to join the Board as a Trustee, who will be able to advise on financial matters, ensure we meet our financial obligations and help us build a sound financial strategy as we move forward. As a Trustee you will share collective responsibility for the governance of GFB and all decisions made by the board, ensuring the organisation is well run, fulfils its mission, ensuring compliance with charity law and that the charity is open and accountable.

Responsibilities

All trustees are responsible for setting the strategic direction for GFB, ensuring alignment to our values, defining goals, setting organisational policies, agreeing financial plans, evaluating the charity’s performance and ensuring good relationships amongst the trustees and with the senior staff.

Key tasks

All Trustees:

• Embrace the organisation’s vision, mission and values.
• Ensure the charity complies with its governing document and charity law.
• Ensure focus on strategy, performance, risk and assurance rather than operational matters.
• Act with integrity, making objective decisions without undue influence by special or personal interests.
• Ensure openness and accountability, build public trust and confidence in GFB’s work and legitimacy in representing beneficiaries and stakeholders.
• Uphold collective responsibility of the board.
• Commit sufficient time and energy to the role of trustee and make reasonable use of own skills and experience to support the work of the board and GFB.
• Ensure the principles of equity, equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded in GFB and help deliver public benefit.

Specific to the Treasurer Trustee:

• Oversee the financial affairs of GFB ensuring that they are conducted with probity and transparency.
• Ensure the board receives sufficient information to carry out its financial responsibilities.
• Ensure that the charity has robust and effective financial controls.
• Ensure appropriate financial policies.
• Ensure an annual budget is provided for board approval.
• Review management and statutory accounts are produced on time.
• Ensure that organisation risks are reviewed by the board annually.

Trustees may also undertake additional work for the charity between meetings subject to their availability and skill set.

We are looking for people who want to help their local community and work towards the eradication of food poverty whilst support the food bank to continue to provide emergency food to people who find themselves in crisis. Our ideal candidates would demonstrate:

• Experience of working in a financial role such as a qualified & experienced accountant or banker. However, previous experience as a charity treasurer is not essential.
• Lived experience in Greenwich Borough 
• Passion for our vision and goals.
• Independent judgement and ability to think strategically.
• Able to work effectively as part of a trustee team, contributing and considering others views.
• Demonstrate the 7 principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
• Able to commit the time and effort required.
• Bring relevant capabilities that help the board perform its role effectively and achieve GFB’s vision.
• Understanding and commitment to principles of equality, equity, diversity and inclusion.

Harrow Food Bank is part of the Trussell Trust - a network of over 1300 food bank centres in the UK. Between April 2022 and March 2023, food banks provided almost 3 million food supplies to people in crisis. 

Harrow Food Bank requires two Trustees to support the Chair and current members who can support the existing Trustees:

Administrator / Secretary: to lead on all the administrative duties of the food bank and Trustee Board, ensure all meetings are conducted within the legal requirements and a record of all meetings maintained. Key roles & responsibilities:

1. Arrange and communicate dates for all Trustee Meetings, circulating papers in advance

2. Follow up on the agreed actions from meetings and keep an accurate ‘action log’

3. Ensure all stakeholders are informed of the AGM and that the AGM report is submitted to all relevant bodies

Treasurer: to lead on the financial affairs of the foodbank and to ensure that they are conducted within the required legal accounting and good practice conventions. Key roles & responsibilities:

1. Ensure that the Food Bank has proper systems for budgeting, financial controls, insurance and reporting

2. Produce and present regular finance reports for the Trustees Board Meetings

3. Maintain accurate financial records as report in a timely manner to all relevant bodies

We are looking for an enthusiastic and passionate person who could devote the time to volunteer with us as one of our Trustees. As a Trustee of the Branch, you will have the chance to influence how we care for and prevent cruelty to animals and drive the implementation of key initiatives. You will serve on the governing body of the charity and be instrumental in the running of the Branch and setting out both the short and long term aims.

You will be volunteering with a small, but passionate and fun team made up of two admin staff, five retail and online sales staff, and a dedicated trustee board of five, from a range of backgrounds. 

We are a highly proactive, progressive and approachable branch, with a clear vision for the future - aiming for charitable excellence, a strong community focus, and a passion to support, signpost and advocate for our pet-owning community.

Among our animal welfare activities are schemes such as assisted neutering and microchipping, welfare events such as free microchipping and clinic sessions, provision of a local pet food bank, family fun day events in aid of animal welfare, and the delivery of educational materials - created by the branch team, for our younger audiences.

We support RSPCA frontline teams within our local area, and we are always keen to take on new challenges and innovative ways to fundraise and work alongside those in our community who need our support. 

The insights and skills of our trustees are the key to the future direction of the branch. 

As a minimum, trustees would normally be expected to attend a monthly committee meeting lasting some 2 to 3 hours. However, the commitment may vary depending on whether or not the trustee takes on additional duties.

Primary responsibilities of the Branch Trustee

• Appreciate and support the aims and policies of the RSPCA.
• Work in conjunction with fellow trustees and branch officers and jointly act in making decisions for the best interest of the branch and the RSPCA.
• Work with national RSPCA staff to ensure that the branch meets all minimum animal welfare standards (MAWS).
• In conjunction with your fellow trustees and Branch Support Specialist write, adopt, monitor, and review a development plan setting out the short and long term aims of your branch.
• Actively participate in branch committee meetings and to attend the branch annual general meeting and regional conference.
• Be aware of the outcome of regional board meetings and support local initiatives.
• Actively promote and advertise the society in an ongoing programme to recruit new branch trustees and volunteers and welcome new members.
• In conjunction with your fellow trustees, ensure the proper management and control of all activities and decisions relating to any premises held or staff employed by the branch if applicable.

What we are looking for in a volunteer

We are looking for people from all social and cultural backgrounds, with experience and skills in any of the following areas:

• Marketing communication including social media, PR, website;
• Fundraising including corporate fundraising, trust fund and grant applications;
• Local community and supporter relationships;
• Hands-on experience in growing charities; and/or
• Are or have been part of the groups and communities we would like to attract.

Alongside the relevant experience, we are looking for someone who is committed to the RSPCA’s charitable objectives and shares our passion for animal welfare. You would be creative, innovative, bring a fresh perspective, and can put ideas into action.

What we can offer you as a volunteer Branch Trustee

• We will provide you with a comprehensive trustee training course which will provide you with everything you need to carry out the role.
• Ongoing support is also provided by local and national RSPCA staff in addition to any additional training provided by the relevant branch.
• The platform to utilise your skills and experience to oversee the charity and make decisions that have a direct impact on local animal welfare.
• The opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones, whilst making a real difference to the lives of animals.
• A way to expand your professional and personal network through working with like-minded people.

Ideally we would want a Trustee within the Sunderland, Hartlepool, South Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead or Durham area. However, the position can be done mostly via remote means - and so, you can be located anywhere in the country.

Background to the RJ4All Internships 

RJ4All was originally set up by volunteers, and it would not exist without their involvement and continued support. Therefore, RJ4All recognises their significant contribution. The vast majority of our interns are young people most of whom are faced with challenges let those be social, financial, migration or refugee status etc.

The RJ4All internships are not paid, but offered on a volunteering basis. This is because we believe that volunteering is an important way to make a positive contribution to our communities and is of particular benefit to young people who are often forgotten or marginalised. Nevertheless, volunteering with RJ4All does not mean standing outside of tube stations wearing bunny suits to raise funds! It involves high quality project activity, engaging with social project and policy issues, and making a real difference where it matters. It also means doing youth-led work, organising events and running user-led training workshops. All out of pocket expenses are paid (see Volunteer Policy for more detail).

Our principles 

We are established upon the FREDA underlying values of restorative justice. These stand for Freedom, Respect, Equality, Dignity and Autonomy. Our interns are expected to subscribe to these values as well as that of power sharing. 

RJ4ALL has the Quality Mark of the European Commission’s European Solidarity Corps and has adopted European Solidarity Corps Charter. All principles underlying this Volunteer and Intern Policy are fully aligned with the Mission and Principles of the European Solidarity Corps. Previously, RJ4All was using the EVS principles (European Voluntary Service). 

The role  

This is a supporting role working under the line management of the Community Centre Manager. It is an office-based position at our RJ4All Community Centre in Rotherhithe working across projects and RJ4All services. The post holder will support the organisation to ensure the effective administration of the RJ4All Centre and the delivery of RJ4All programmes through a combination of excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.

Initiative and innovation are attributes that are highly valued at RJ4All. Furthermore, the post holder will be involved in delivering project-related tasks as well as promoting projects, participate and create workshops. 

Volunteering hours under this role are between 9:30am-5:30pm and the placements are usually offered on a minimum of a 3-month engagement. 

Role description 

We want to offer a rounded experience to all our interns and therefore they are engaged in five different areas of work: 

1. Community Project Delivery on one or multiple of our community centre projects (incl. Youth Clubs, Food Bank, Community Fridge, Charity Shop, Sports classes for young people/for people with disabilities, Digital Inclusion workshops), art workshops, Mediation, wellbeing support, etc.).  

1. Research and policy support on our Restorative Justice postcode project.

1. Administrative work such as managing our organisation email account or project monitoring and evaluation

1. Social media such as leading on our Facebook page

1. Writing a blog for our members and our FRED campaign. 

Other tasks may include: 

• Engagement with Service Users, 

• Youth work, 

• Event planning, outreach, and management, 

• Report writing and proofreading, 

• Compiling, formatting, analysing qualitative and quantitative data,

• Conducting stakeholder mapping 

• Writing for the website, blogs and other newsletters, 

Helping with funding applications. 

What support will I be given?  

Interns will be given a full induction and will be supported through one-to-one meetings and daily support. The candidate will benefit from a range of training initiatives.

What benefits can I expect to gain from the experience?  

The position offers a rich and high-quality experience that will enhance future job prospects within the area of community engagement and project delivery within the charity sector as well as social policy and research. We also offer Youth Pass and CPD accreditation where relevant. 

What skills or experience do I need? 

• An interest in community engagement and project delivery within the charitable sector and/or social policy and research

• Excellent written and oral communication skills,

• Excellent organisational skills

• Ability to work as a member of a team and on your own initiative,

• A keen eye for spotting errors, 

• Organised and self-managing, 

• Commitment to the values of dialogue, transparency, non-adversarial methods of conflict resolution and restorative justice, 

• Sympathise with the aims, ethos and organisational culture of RJ4All including its vision, mission and values. 

Cooking Up is a small dynamic charity teaching people living in hardship to cook affordable, nutritious meals to take home to their families.

Our data to date shows that Cooking Up is having a positive impact on the lives of the clients we support who face challenging circumstances such as food poverty, disabilities. poor mental health and social isolation. After completing a 5-week course with us, clients report feeling more confident about cooking a meal from scratch and understand better how to eat healthily and shop on a budget. Our classes are fun and sociable and clients are supported on a 1:1 basis by our wonderful and growing team of local volunteers.

We are seeking a Finance Trustee to join our Board. The role involves all aspects of the charity's finances, including banking, preparing budgets, invoicing and payments, preparing annual accounts and reporting to the board. 

Cooking Up’s Board of Trustees shares ultimate responsibility for governing the charity and directing how it is managed and run. As a member of the Board of Trustees, you will help set the strategic aims, objectives and direction of the charity, ensure that the charity complies with charity law requirements and ensure the charity’s resources are responsibly managed.

In addition to fulfilling the duties of a Trustee, the Finance Trustee maintains an overview of Cooking Up’s financial affairs. The Finance Trustee ensures that effective and appropriate financial measures, controls and procedures are put in place and reports to the Board at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation.

Specific Responsibilities of the Finance Trustee

● Taking a lead in all aspects of the financial management of Cooking Up and providing financial advice as appropriate to the Board of Trustees on the financial implications of Cooking Up’s strategies and plans.

● Overseeing the presentation of budgets, internal management accounts and annual financial statements to the Board of Trustees

● Ensuring that proper accounting records are kept, and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place

● Ensuring that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being implemented, and supporting the development of policies covering financial reserves, and cost management

● Monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity

● Overseeing financial controls and adherence to systems, regularly liaising with the Board

● Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process

● Lead on the appointment of and liaison with external auditors

● Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by the Charity Commission

● Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities

People & Planet is looking for volunteers to assist with compiling its 2024/25 People & Planet University League; the only higher education ranking that classifies based on ethics and climate justice criteria.

Universities impart skills and knowledge, form life-long beliefs and behaviours, act as centres of communities, employ, house and feed large numbers of people and promote the creation and sharing of knowledge. We believe this makes them uniquely placed to lead on environmental and ethical issues. For this reason the People & Planet University League has been running since 2007 and has been published by high-profile media partners such as The Guardian and the Sunday Times Good University Guide eco-rating.

Volunteers will research publicly available university documents and assess universities against our marking criteria, which cover a wide range of climate and social justice issues including decarbonisation, fossil fuel divestment, ethical banking, workers’ rights and environmental management among others. This work will help to incentivise the university sector towards taking immediate and appropriate action on the climate crisis and upholding the rights and wellbeing of all people internationally.

The role will develop and improve the following areas:

● Qualitative research skills
● Attention to detail
● Use of data collection software
● Time management and keeping to deadlines
● Working independently and remotely
● Communication skills
● Knowledge of environmental management processes and sustainability reporting.

Training is provided for the role. We believe the skills and experience gained could be valuable for a number of career paths, including working in NGOs, corporate sustainability, estates management, higher education policy making, research and campaigning among many others. People & Planet would like to support volunteers in their future careers, so will give all volunteers an official reference letter on successful completion of their placement and will act as a referee for future positions for which you may apply.

From last year’s cohort, 100% said they would recommend this position to someone who wanted to add experience to their CV.

Feedback from some of last year’s volunteers

‘I think as someone looking for relevant experience to bolster a CV, this is a helpful and not-too-time consuming position. It had exactly the kind of flexibility that I required at this point in time.’

‘It's a really great opportunity to hone one's research skills, learn more about what our universities can do to improve their impact on the planet, and make a small but real difference.’

Person Specification -the following are essential:

● Access to a computer or laptop and internet connection.
● Familiarity with desk-based research.
● Ability to work accurately and efficiently to agreed standards.
● Reliability and commitment to completing work to deadlines.
● Able to communicate needs with staff at People & Planet and if needed, ask for appropriate support to complete tasks on time.
● Ability to search policy documents for specific information in English.
● Ability to assess information against standardised frameworks.
● Ability to work remotely and independently

The following are desirable:

● Awareness of current issues in sustainability and ethics.
● Experience of research and data collection.
● An interest in higher education policy.

You will need to commit to

● Three 25 hour weeks of remote work in July and August. Volunteers can manage their own
time flexibly and will receive support from People & Planet, but must meet task deadlines
on a weekly basis and attend two meetings per week in a mid-morning time slot.
● One day of remote training the week prior to your 3 week engagement.

Summer timetable

July 8th-July 26th- Ethical Investment and Banking, Staff and Student Engagement,
Education for Sustainable Development
July 22nd-9th August-Sustainable Food, Staff & HR, Environmental Policy and Strategy
5th August-23rd August- Managing Carbon, Workers’ Rights, Ethical Careers and
Recruitment, Environmental Management and Auditing

How to Apply

Click apply and fill in the screening questions and attach a C.V that has your full name in the filename. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis until positions are filled, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. The deadline for applications is June the 14th 2024 Candidates will need to attend an interview, which could be organised individually or as part of a group.

Please let us know if you have specific access needs and what we can do to make the interview, training and volunteer experience more accessible to you. We welcome people with hearing loss, deaf and or disabled people to apply for this volunteer opportunity -unfortunately we don't use BSL so would need to make alternative support provisions for the training, unless a BSL interpreter can join you. If you have specific needs where we might support you by making this volunteering opportunity more accessible, please contact

People & Planet welcome applications from BAME folks and people of colour, from disabled people, from LGBTQI*people, from people who speak English as a second language, from people who identify as non-binary gender, from women, from people of different ages, from people with caring responsibilities and from people with irregular migration status, people seeking asylum in the UK or with a migrant background, folks with a working class background, and everyone else.

GSTTKPA is going through an exciting period of change. Therefore, we are seeking to recruit a new Company Secretary to support our ambitious and innovative change programme, so we can continue to achieve the aims and objectives of the charity.

The role of Company Secretary is a key and important Trustee position on the Board. The Company Secretary will support the Chair and Vice Chair by ensuring the board functions smoothly. The Company Secretary will also have the opportunity to assist with activities and initiatives that are funded by GSTTKPA.

Trustees play a vital role in making sure that GSTTKPA achieves its core purpose. They also ensure that the charity has a clear strategy andthat our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as importantly, all the Trustees have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees always actas a group and not as individuals. 

As a Trustee, we also require the successful applicant to have a commitment to equality; celebrate diversity and be responsive to the needs of different groups and individuals within GSTTKPA and the wider community. In return, the successful applicant will join a warm and friendly team that works collaboratively to support each other as well as our kidney patients.

Role Summary

We are looking for a new Chair of Trustees who will offer strategic and supportive leadership to our highly effective, collaborative and committed Board.  The Chair leads the board, ensuring that it governs the charity effectively, in service of the charity's vision and mission.  The Chair leads in an inclusive way, supporting the Board to work together well, and providing support and challenge to the Chief Executive.  The Chair is also an ambassador for the charity.

Chair role & responsibilities 

Provide strategic leadership to the charity and the Board, ensuring that Glass Door achieves its mission with the interests of Glass Door's guests at its centre.

Work collaboratively with the CEO, staff and volunteers to achieve our mission and optimise the relationship between the Board and Glass Doors's staff and volunteers.

Provide leadership within the Board, ensuring that it fulfills its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation and promoting governance among fellow Trustees, providing clarity around boundaries between governance, management and operations.

Plan and chair the bi-monthly board meetings and the AGM, with colleagues as appropriate and liaise with the CEO, Company Secretary and Governance Trustee with regard to setting up meetings, agenda items and annual report content.

Facilitate meetings ensuring all have equal involvement in discussions, clarifying any uncertainties, confirming decisions made and actions to be taken and ensuring effective time management of meetings whilst providing appropriate periods of discussion and reflection.

Act as a spokesperson and figurehead for Glass Door when required.

Support Glass Door functions and events eg attendance at supporter events.

Support the Head of Fundraising & Major Donors with the cultivation of high-level donors, occassionally attending meetings where value can be added.

Represent the Board at staff Town Hall meetings.

Support the team liaising with partner churches and statutory authorities as required and be the public face of Glass Door in the local community.

Liaise with the CEO and he Board to keep an overview of the charity's affairs.

Provide supervision and support to the CEO as necessary in addition to planned monthly/bi-monthly 'catch up' meetings and, with the People Trustee, lead the CEO's annual performance review.

To act as final stage adjudicator for disciplinary and grievance procedures if required.

What we are looking for

Experience of being a Trustee, ideally in the third sector, and an understanding of the legal responsibilities and liabilities of a Trustee/Director.

A keen sense of strategic purpose.

Strong leadership skills, able to foster and promote a collaborative team environment and an inclusive and collaborative leadership style; able to inspire and support everyone to participate on an equal footing.

An ability to facilitate, mediate, influence and respect the confidences of colleagues.  The ability to listen and engage effectively.  You are comfortable with challenge and debate and are able to encourage that in others whilst fostering a collaborative board environment.

Excellent presentation and communication skills.

Advocate and ambassador - possess gravitas to lead the organisation and be able and willing to champion Glass Door.

Demonstrate a strong and visible passion and commitment to Glass Door's guests and ensure that the interests of our guests drive the decisions of the Board.

A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

A willingness to devote necessary time and effort to your duties as Chair and be available and responsive (e.g. when things sometimes 'come up' that require the Chair to advise, support or give consent to).

What's in it for the new Chair?

Our vision is a world where no one has to sleep on the streets of London and we're working every day to achieve this.  Your role as Chair will offer you an incredibly reqarding experience to use your skills and collaborate with the rest of the Board and staff members for the benefit of people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.

For more information please see the full role description and Glass Door information pack attached,