Fundraising and events support volunteer volunteer roles in bagshot, surrey

About Us

Home-Start Guildford is an independent charity based in Guildford committed to promoting the welfare of local families and children. We are part of Home-Start UK, one of the UK’s leading family support charities, benefiting from their policy framework and quality assurance, but not funding. Staff and volunteers offer regular support, including providing emotional and practical help to families in the families’ own homes and connecting families with specialist services within the community.

Job Title: Chair of Trustees

Location: Guildford, Surrey

Organisation: Home-Start Guildford

Role Overview

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join our Board of Trustees as the Chair. The Chair will lead the Board in ensuring the effective governance of the charity, providing strategic direction, and supporting the Manager and staff team. This is a pivotal role that requires a strong leader with a passion for making a difference in the lives of families.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership: Lead the Board of Trustees in setting the strategic direction of the charity, ensuring that our mission and values are at the forefront of all decisions.
• Governance: Ensure the charity is effectively governed and complies with all legal and regulatory requirements, safeguarding the integrity and reputation of Home-Start Guildford.
• Support: Provide guidance and oversight to the Manager, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment that enables the staff team to thrive.
• Representation: Act as an ambassador for Home-Start Guildford, representing the charity at external events and meetings, and building relationships with key stakeholders.
• Communication: Facilitate effective communication and collaboration among Trustees, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.
• Financial Oversight: Oversee the financial health and sustainability of the charity, working closely with the Treasurer to monitor budgets and financial planning.

Person Specification:

• Leadership Experience: Proven leadership experience, ideally within the charity sector, with a track record of strategic planning and governance.
• Governance Knowledge: Strong understanding of governance and the ability to navigate complex regulatory environments.
• Communication Skills: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Commitment: A deep commitment to the values and mission of Home-Start Guildford, with a genuine passion for supporting families.
• Financial Acumen: Experience in financial oversight and fundraising is desirable, with the ability to ensure the charity's financial stability.

Time Commitment:

The Chair is expected to commit approximately 2-4 days per month, including attendance at Board meetings and occasional events. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of families in Guildford.

What does becoming a trustee involve?

As part of the trustee role, you will be expected to:

• Attend, and prepare for, a minimum of six meetings per year.
• Undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
• Undergo a selection process as outlined by Home-Start Guildford.
• Commit to the legal and financial responsibilities of the role, as outlined in the charity's Constitution (‘Foundation’ model constitution).
• Visit and engage with the office and staff to enhance your understanding of how Home-Start Guildford works.

Training and Support:

Trustees are fully inducted into Home-Start at the start of their new role; they will receive:

• An online welcome event and e-learning, introducing Home-Start’s service and your responsibilities.
• Training in key areas including safeguarding.
• Reimbursement of paid expenses.
• Access to Home-Start’s online community via HSUK intranet – full of information and guidance on running a local Home-Start.
• Tailored support by other trustees and staff.

What do you get as a volunteer trustee with our organisation?

• An opportunity to exercise your strategic planning skills, probably in a different environment or context.
• An opportunity to influence and collectively lead an organisation supporting families of young children.
• A chance to expand and implement your understanding of our work.
• A chance to augment your experience of charities.
• A boost to your career and CV, if needed.
• Satisfaction of helping an organisation that supports families, thus giving something back to your community.
• Induction training from us; training, support, and assistance from local charity-support & advice agencies; reimbursement of reasonable expenses, if needed.

What do we get?

• Your strategic skills, knowledge, understanding, or experience.
• Your abilities to influence plans for our charity’s future, especially in this cost-of-living crisis.
• Enhancement to our overall governance and the Board of trustees; improvement in our operational growth.
• Your participation in our collective decision-making, contributing to all areas of our charity work.
• Your enthusiasm.

Contact Information:

For more information about the role, please contact Sarah Black or Louisa Tompkins in the first instance at the Home-Start Guildford office. We are happy to answer any questions and provide further details about this exciting opportunity.

How to Apply:

Please send your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role to our office email. We look forward to hearing from candidates who share our vision and are eager to contribute to our mission.

All prospective volunteers must have the legal right to stay in the United Kingdom and you will be asked to produce evidence of this as part of the induction process.

Home-Start is committed to equality of opportunity and diversity.

Home-Start Guildford is committed to safer recruitment practice as an

important part of safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults

Registered Charity No. 1154609

Do you believe in a future where no animal suffers for science? 

Do you have spare time you can volunteer to make a difference to the lives of animals and humans? 

If so, we would love you to consider being one of our new trustees.

At Replacing Animal Research, we’ve been working for over half a century to replace the use of animals in research. We have significantly contributed to the development, and uptake, of non-animal methods by:

• Empowering scientists with our educational opportunities.
• Funding exciting research aimed at replacing animals and improving human healthcare.
• Collaborating with policymakers to ensure more rigorous policy on the use of animals in science. 

Our mission is to ensure scientists use non-animal approaches in biomedical research and testing. It’s a better future for animals and humans. For us to achieve this, we need to ensure that Replacing Animal Research is a resilient organisation with sufficient skills, support, and income to continue its work in the long term. Our trustees are critical to the future of the organisation. 

We are currently seeking more trustees to strengthen our board by providing strategic and governance support. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with an interest or experience in scientific and medical research and testing and the development of non-animal methods. We’d also be interested in hearing from anyone passionate about eliminating animal use in research. We encourage applications from all people regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race. We are looking for trustees who can demonstrate:

A commitment to our purpose and aims and the strategic vision to support the Replacing Animal Research's future development.

• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to support the charity. (Please see below for more details on the time commitment).
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• Sound, independent judgement and the ability to challenge constructively.
• The ability to work effectively as a member of a team and make decisions for the good of the charity.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

A full induction is provided for new trustees as well as ongoing CPD opportunities and support. The role of trustee requires an annual time commitment of around 8 working days which works out around 5 hours per month. This includes:

• Preparation for and attendance at 6 general board meetings, which are held remotely.
• Preparation for and attendance at sub-committee meetings as appropriate.
• Between meetings, trustees may be asked to contribute to discussions via email or ad hoc telephone conferences on specific issues.
• Trustees may be asked to sit on or contribute to other project groups or activities from time to time.
• Attendance at 1 or 2 in-person board away days.

For more detailed information on being a trustee for Replacing Animal Research please take a look at our Trustee Role Description.

To apply for this opportunity please do so via Charity Job and submit your CV and a supporting cover letter. Please detail why you are interested in the role and how you can fulfil the role requirements and be an ambassador for Replacing Animal Research. Please ensure you read our Trustee Role Description and refer to this in your application.

Thank you for your interest in working with Replacing Animal Research and we look forward to hearing from you.

Benefits

The role of trustee is voluntary but travel and subsistence expenses are covered as required.

Notes

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview in the week of 23/06/2025 and successful candidates will be invited to attend the next Replacing Animal Research board meeting as an observer on 17/07/2025. Full details will be given to candidates nearer the time.

What does a Trustee look like? 

Look in the mirror!  

Right now, less than 3% of charity Trustees are under 30, 8% are people of colour and 36% are women. We are looking for people from across the UK and are keen to recruit trustees from all nations in the UK.

We value the many skills and experiences that you can bring to the Marine Conservation Society. We are committed to a Board culture that enables everyone to be their authentic selves and to enjoy the Trustee experience.

It’s a critical time for our ocean. There is not a moment to waste. Our goal is to recover the health of our ocean so it can help with healing our climate; to make seas protected in law to be protected in practice; and to stop the tide of plastic that’s getting into our waters. By joining as a Trustee, you will help navigate us through the risks and opportunities that we meet.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are essential to achieving ocean recovery so everyone can expect to be treated with consideration and respect in an atmosphere without prejudice, discrimination, harassment or violence. 

What we’re looking for 

We’re looking for people to join our Board with expertise in one or more of the following areas – click on the links for a fuller description:

• Governance/Legal – expected to be a legal professional with experience in charity, company or regulatory law. 

• Marine Conservation – knowledge of the marine environment, with policy and/or practical experience of conservation. A network of contacts across the marine sector, particularly with business or government, would be an advantage.

What you can bring to our Board can be just as interesting as where you’ve been working. Ideally, you will have the relevant skills and experience set out in the profile but you should not feel prevented from applying if you do not have experience across all criteria. You do not need to have previous charity trustee experience, but you will need to be comfortable participating at a senior level with complex discussions and the need to be comfortable making pragmatic but key decisions. 

Sembeza Africa

Sembeza Africa provides Quality Physical Education (QPE) programs that empower youth and communities in Uganda, integrating sports with education, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.

Uganda’s youth face significant barriers, including limited access to quality education, early pregnancies, and a lack of inclusive opportunities for physical and personal development. With over 75% of the population under the age of 30, Uganda needs initiatives that address these challenges holistically. Physical education in many schools remains underdeveloped, leaving children without the critical skills for leadership, teamwork, and resilience. Furthermore, environmental degradation threatens the communities we serve, and gender inequality continues to limit opportunities for girls to participate in sports and education.

Sembeza Africa focuses on delivering Quality Physical Education (QPE) programs that promote physical activity as a foundation for learning and life skills. By integrating sports into education, we empower youth to build confidence, develop leadership abilities, and foster inclusivity. Our programs also incorporate elements of Traditional African Sports and Games (TASG) to preserve cultural heritage while making physical education more engaging. Through structured QPE initiatives, we address critical issues such as gender equality, environmental stewardship, and access to education, aligning our work with Uganda’s national development priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Thank you for considering joining our team! At Sembeza Africa, we are a small group of passionate individuals who dedicate our time to creating meaningful change in Uganda. Each of us is either working full-time or studying full-time, but our shared commitment to empowering youth through Quality Physical Education and sustainable development drives everything we do.

We know we can’t do this alone. That’s why your support means so much to us. Whether it’s helping with planning, fundraising, outreach, or any other task, every bit of assistance makes a huge difference. Together, we can accomplish so much more than we ever could alone.

Each year, we travel to Uganda to host the Ubuntu Sports Festival, an inspiring event that brings communities together through sports, education, and cultural celebration. As part of our team, you’ll not only be contributing to this life-changing work but also be invited to join us in Uganda for the festival. It’s an unforgettable experience and a chance to see the impact of our work firsthand.

We deeply appreciate your time, energy, and willingness to be part of this journey with us. Together, we can create lasting change and empower the next generation in Uganda.

Copywriter

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

Sembeza Africa uses the power of sports to improve health, education, community development, and environmental sustainability across Uganda. As a Volunteer Copywriter, you’ll create clear, engaging blog posts, social media updates, newsletters, and impact stories that show exactly how our programs change lives. This remote, flexible role demands a proactive, can-do attitude—you’ll spot opportunities for fresh content, tackle challenges head-on, and keep projects moving forward. Strong problem-solving skills are a must, as you’ll adapt messaging to different audiences and find creative ways to highlight our work. Your creative writing talents will bring our success stories and grant proposals to life, helping us connect with donors and secure vital funding. You’ll collaborate closely with our communications team to maintain a consistent, authentic brand voice and optimize every piece of content for maximum reach. Excellent writing and editing skills, plus keen attention to detail, will ensure every sentence is polished and persuasive. If you’re passionate about nonprofits, love crafting stories, and thrive in a self-motivated environment, this role is for you.

Weekly Time Commitment

4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

6+ months

Help shape the future of mental health support in your community. Become a Trustee at Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind and make a meaningful impact in just a few hours a month.

Swindon and Gloucestershire Mind is looking for compassionate, values-led individuals to join our Board of Trustees. This is a unique opportunity to play a vital role in guiding one of the region’s leading mental health charities at a time of growth and transformation.

As a Trustee, you’ll support strategic decision-making, champion inclusive and community-based mental health services, and help ensure strong governance and financial sustainability. You don’t need prior board experience—we’re looking for people with diverse backgrounds, fresh perspectives, and a shared commitment to improving mental health for all.

We’re especially interested in hearing from people with lived experience of mental health challenges, as well as those with expertise in finance, safeguarding, digital strategy, income generation, clinical services, or HR.

Our board meets around 8–10 times a year, usually in the evenings. The average time commitment is 2–4 hours per month, and we provide a full induction, training, and reasonable expenses.

By joining us, you’ll be part of a passionate, forward-thinking team helping to create a future where everyone facing a mental health challenge is recognised, valued, and supported.

Join us as Dog A.I.D.'s new Honorary Secretary and you would be joining the Board at an exciting time as we have launched the charity’s Strategic Plan with a new CEO supported by a small but strong team, which we will be building further this year. As Honorary Secretary you would be using your skills and experience to support the leadership and strategic direction of our charity as we look to achieve ambitious strategic growth targets over the coming years, becoming a larger, more robust charity with increased profile and reach.

Dog A.I.D. empowers physically disabled people by coaching them to train their own pet dog to become an accredited Assistance Dog. By focusing on the existing pet/owner bond, outcomes for our clients include:

 · increased independence and self-confidence

· improved mental well-being

· reduction in social isolation

· reduced reliance on family members and/or carers.

· increased opportunities, with many of our clients being able to return to work or education, supported by their accredited Assistance Dog.

We are looking for an active and well-organised Secretary who can provide support for our governance functions. You will be required to attend and minute online quarterly Board meetings and other ad-hoc meetings and strategic discussions.

The Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) was set up in June 2005 in memory of legendary campaigner, Sheila McKechnie.Campaigning is vital to a healthy society. We help campaigners to thrive. In a free and hopeful society, people need to know they have the power to make a difference: that they are able to envisage change and can push for that change to happen. For nearly two decades, we have helped all sorts of individuals, causes and charities to find their power as changemakers – as campaigners. We support, connect and champion these campaigners, equipping them to go after the social change they seek.

The Chair will hold the Board and staff team to account for SMK’s mission and vision, provide inclusive leadership to the Board and ensure that Board members fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of SMK. The Chair will line manage and support the Chief Executive and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the Chief Executive and staff team to achieve agreed objectives. They may also be asked to act as an ambassador and a public face of SMK in partnership with the Chief Executive and the Board.

For further information, see our website and the recruitment pack.