Home start volunteer volunteer volunteer roles in Bristol

Are you passionate about helping older people to live well in later life?  Are you able to give your time, expertise and skills as a Trustee to support our charity in its hugely important mission?

This is a fantastic opportunity to join the board of an impactful and influential charity, supporting older residents in Sutton by providing valuable advice and support services regarding health, finances and wellbeing.

A trustee role can be hugely fulfilling, as well as helping you to develop and utilise strategic leadership skills, and work with a diverse and  dynamic team.

We are looking for trustees who can bring their own unique experience and expertise to support the effective governance of our charity, in particular in areas such as data and digital, commercial experience, and knowledge of the health and care sector. An understanding of charity governance, fundraising or an accountancy qualification would be beneficial.

Who are Age UK Sutton?

Age UK Sutton is a small independent charity dedicated to helping older people in our community to live well in later life. We are a network partner of Age UK, the influential national charity, and benefit from membership of a network of similar independent charities across the UK. We deliver a mixture of social and community activities while influencing strategy in Sutton. We provide vital information, expert advice and practical support. Our work enables older people to make informed decisions on finances, health, care, and wellbeing, and enables greater social connection and independence.

Location: Sutton, South West London (and online meetings)

Time Commitment:

• Quarterly Board meetings, three-hour Board meetings held virtually on Teams (twice a year), and alternately face-to-face meetings
• Quarterly Committee meetings (2-3 hours): Fundraising and Enterprise and / or Quality and / or Finance, Risk and Audit (most trustees are expected to attend 2 of the 3 standing subcommittees)
• Trustees with the capacity to do so also have the opportunity to support occasional projects or short-term working groups, supporting the CEO and wider leadership team.

Duration: A 3-year term (may be extended for two further 3-year terms)

Final closing date: Tuesday 1 April

No Panic is a national charity at the frontline of accessible help for anxiety sufferers.

The No Panic Helpline is open 365 days a year between 10am and 10pm.

Those who call us can be struggling across a range of anxiety disorders: OCD; Panic Attacks; Phobias or General Anxiety Disorder.

We train our helpline volunteers to provide sufferers with all the information they need to begin the process of self-help recovery.

This is a remote volunteering opportunity where everything is done from home, including training, and there is never a need to attend elsewhere. This makes it the ideal opportunity for those with mobility or fitness issues.

Our volunteers work a 3-hour shift once a week.

Initial training is one evening a week for 8 weeks (for a small charge of £25 to cover costs), with backup support for the first 8 weeks on the helpline. There is continued support via bi-monthly support groups.

Fundraising Events Organiser Volunteer

Would you like to be part of a dedicated and friendly team of volunteers and make a real difference to the lives of cats and kittens in our care?  Do you enjoy planning and organising for events?  Maybe you have a particular skill that you would like to put to use?
 
Then this could be the role for you! 
 
Our Fundraising Events Team are at the heart of what we do, raising essential funds for the cats. 

Our Fundraising Events Organisers share ideas, tasks and inspiration, planning and delivering local events, with the support of the Fundraising events helpers, such as Open Days (usually 2 per year) at the centre and our annual Christmas Bazaar. 

Time Expectation:  This role can be varied and time commitment can be flexible. 

Without volunteers, Cats Protection Berkshire Cat Centre simply wouldn't exist. Our amazing, friendly volunteers are a diverse group with a shared love of cats who fit volunteering around their home lives and personal commitments.

We're often looking to welcome new volunteers to join our brilliant team. As well as meeting great people and making an incredible difference to the cats of Berkshire.

Please note:  Although we do welcome everyone, unfortunately our centre is not set up to accommodate young volunteers under the age of 18, including those on the Duke of Edinburgh programme.

Full training and support will be given for all roles.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Jumble Sales Organiser Volunteer

Would you like to raise funds, have fun and join a super team of volunteers who together make our Jumble Sales in Thatcham a great success?  As Jumble Sales Organiser you would be helping to make everything run smoothly for the team.

Time Expectations:  1 Saturday every other month (plus preparations)

This could be a shared role and tasks may include:

· Booking the hall for future Jumbles

· Contacting the Jumble team before events to check availability

· Set up stalls, running a stall and packing away at the end

· Collecting any items/resources needed from the centre the day before

Without volunteers, Cats Protection Berkshire Cat Centre simply wouldn't exist. Our amazing, friendly volunteers are a diverse group with a shared love of cats who fit volunteering around their home lives and personal commitments.

We're often looking to welcome new volunteers to join our brilliant team. As well as meeting great people and making an incredible difference to the cats of Berkshire.

Please note:  Although we do welcome everyone, unfortunately our centre is not set up to accommodate young volunteers under the age of 18, including those on the Duke of Edinburgh programme.

Full training and support will be given for all roles.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Volunteer Placement Counsellor 

Location: Remote - online & telephone

Hours: 3 x clients per week - Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays

Supervision provided:3.30pm Tuesdays, fortnightly

Wimbledon Guild are recruiting up to three Volunteer Placement Counsellors to help deliver our online and telephone counselling service.  

We offer up to 16 sessions of individual online or telephone counselling to people who might find it hard to leave their homes, or their carers.

You will be on or have completed a Level 4 or above counselling course and have completed 50 hours of clinical experience or the equivalent.

You will be available to attend online supervision at 3.30pm Tuesday afternoons.  You will see a caseload of up to 3 clients online or over the telephone on either Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. As this position is for online / telephone counselling, you will need access to a private and confidential working space, Wi-Fi, a private laptop and telephone. 

Wimbledon Guild Talking Therapies is accredited with BACP.

In return for your volunteering, you will receive free, online supervision, a full induction, and experience in a well-established counselling department in a London-based charity.

If you are interested, please read the Job Description/Person Specification attached.

To Apply:  Please complete the Application Form, addressing the specific criteria in the Person Specification in your Supporting Statement and return the form to us.

Closing Date:  There is currently no closing date, although we reserve the right to close applications when placements are full. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and applicants notified if they are invited to interview.

Are you passionate about helping pets and their owners? 

Can you engage with young people in a school environment, or adults at community events? 

Our Volunteer Community Speakers provide a vital and influential service by sharing pet messaging to a range of audiences, working within their own strengths and interests. 

What will I gain from this role? 

Play a key role in delivering Woodgreen’s pet welfare messaging for animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small pets. 

Help improve the lives of pets in their homes both now and in the future. 

Increase your own pet welfare knowledge. 

Develop public speaking and teaching skills. 

Be part of a friendly, passionate team dedicated to pets living their best lives. 

Full training is given for this role and uniform provided 

A DBS check

What will I be doing? 

Shadowing staff to train in; school workshop delivery and / or leading stands at community events, across our key areas of Cambridge, Peterborough, Bedford, St Neots & Huntingdon. 

Once trained, delivering pet welfare and dog safety sessions to primary age children in schools, youth clubs and to uniform groups. 

Running interactive event stands at various community events to share essential information on caring for dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small pets. 

What is Woodgreen looking for? 

Confident public speaker, happy to deliver to large numbers of children and young people

Confident speaker to engage with pet owners at busy events. 

Self-motivated and computer literate to deliver workshops in schools. 

A keen interest in pet care, dog safety, and responsible pet ownership. 

Over the age of 18. 

Access to your own car. 

Ideally live in a key area of either Cambridge, Peterborough, Bedford, St Neots or Huntingdon.

Main Contact & Locations: 

Our Community Education Officer will be your main contact for this role and the location of this role will be discussed further at the informal interview.

Hours available: 

We are looking for Volunteers who can be available on a regular basis. Starting from once a month. Our volunteer hours are flexible and are workable around your commitments, with opportunities available 7 days a week. Further information can be given during the informal interview.

We're STAMMA. We exist to create a world that makes space for stammering. Where a stammer is embraced as just a difference. Where no-one judges us on our stammer or the way we choose to deal with it. 

We will stand up for and empower those who stammer and challenge discrimination wherever we find it. We will provide support and information and fight for speech and language therapy services for those who want it. No matter how you talk, we're here for you. Join us and help the public understand that stammering is not a sign of being shy, drunk, dishonest, nervous or weak. It's simply how some of us talk.

We provide a free national helpline, email and webchat service, online resources and information, support for local groups and professional networks, for families with children who stammer, and an Advocacy Service for those who have been discriminated against because of their stammer.

STAMMA’s Helpline Services include our phoneline, webchat and email support services and are a hugely important part of STAMMA’s work. This is frontline stuff, responding to people reaching out for information and support. It’s a great opportunity to spend time chatting with people who stammer, as well as their parents, grandparents, teachers and employers, taking the time to make space to listen and to value what they have to say. Where appropriate we then signpost people to useful information, support and services.

We use a virtual call centre which means you can take calls and webchats from home, using a desktop or laptop computer.

Our helpline is manned by our amazing volunteers from 10am - 2pm (our morning shift), and from 4pm - 8pm (our evening shift), Monday to Thursday. We are looking for dedicated volunteers who can commit to one of the following shifts on a weekly basis:

Wednesday 10:00 to 14:00

Thursday 10:00 to 14:00

We think that you (and our callers!) will get the most out of this opportunity if you're able to volunteer with us for at least 12 months or more. By gradually learning and developing your confidence in the role, you can have the biggest impact. 

About the role

Working within our Helpline Services, we’re hoping you’ll feel comfortable to:

• Take helpline calls (listening and speaking on the phone)
• Respond to webchats (reading on-screen messages and typing responses)
• Sending occasional emails

If you wish to, you can also be linked to an area of project work. That way, if the helpline services are quiet during your shift, you can get involved in other areas of STAMMA’s work. Project work is likely to involve reading and reviewing documents and resources, contributing to discussions and campaign ideas, and helping develop new resources.

We provide structured, online training that you can complete at your own pace, but is likely to take about 8-10 hours in total to complete. Following the training, you’ll have practice helpline calls and webchats. If you feel ready after that, you’ll start working in the helpline services. Ongoing support includes:

• Monthly helpline services meetings where you can meet other helpline volunteers. These monthly meetings include a short training session and discussion where we share and learn from our experiences of different calls and webchats.
• We have a WhatsApp group where you can keep in touch with other volunteers.
• Volunteer supervisors are available for one-to-one support and discussions.
• Access the training modules as many times as you want.

Who are we looking for?

You’re likely to enjoy volunteering in the Helpline Services if you:

• have a genuine curiosity about people and their experiences
• are able to understand written and spoken English
• are comfortable enough to speak on the telephone
• are comfortable with basic email functions
• have good administration skills
• enjoy listening and talking to people

It’s not essential to stammer yourself if you’re interested in working in our helpline, but it can be an advantage if you do, or if you are the parent of a child who stammers. Many of our callers find it really helpful to know that they’re speaking to someone who really ‘gets it’ and who has that personal insight into some of the issues and questions they have.

This is a volunteer role is remote, so you will need access to:

• a quiet place where you can work in privacy and not be overheard during calls
• a mobile phone or landline
• a computer or laptop

What can you gain from this opportunity?

This is a wonderful opportunity to join a small and friendly team! We'll make sure you're supported in every step of your journey, and you'll get to meet some inspiring people. You'll gain skills that you'll be able to use in all areas of your life and build experiences for your CV. Most importantly, you will make a real difference in the lives of people who stammer.

How to apply

To apply, please fill in our volunteer form that is linked to this opportunity. 

We are dedicated to making sure our roles are accessible and open to all. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Can you help us by providing a calm, safe, and caring environment for our small furries whilst we find them their fur-ever home?

Often when we think about animal fostering, cats, and dogs spring to mind, but have you ever thought about fostering our smaller animals? The RSPCA received more than 5,000 reports last year about rabbits and other small furries relating to neglect or abandonment and rescued an average of 340 small furries a month! To help us with the rehoming of these small animals, we are actively looking to add to our fantastic team of volunteer fosterers.

As a small animal fosterer, you would play an essential role in providing the animals in our care with a temporary home whilst they are being rehomed. Like us, even small furries have specific needs and requirements, but rest assured, once we have guided you through the fostering process the animal centre will ensure that you have all the necessary guidance, equipment, food, and veterinary care.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Provide them with care, safe suitable housing, and space for playtime, as outlined in our policies and guidelines.

• Ensure that they are groomed if appropriate and fed and watered.

• Provide them with suitable and clean bedding to keep them cosy.

• Give them lots of attention and plenty of cuddles as they are very sociable animals.

What We’re Looking For:

• Volunteers aged 18 or over who have had plenty of experience of caring for animals.

• Fostering experience is beneficial but not essential as training is provided.

• For their wellbeing, our small furries may need to be fostered in pairs, so please bear this in mind.

• Any existing pets or animals need to have been spayed/neutered (some medical reasons may mean they cannot be so, please let us know if this is the case).

• You should be located in South Buckinghamshire or within a reasonable distance.

What’s in It for You?

• You will be making a massive difference to the welfare of the small animals in your care.

• Join a community which will enable you to meet new people and make new friends.

• Learning new skills through our comprehensive induction and fostering training programme.

• Enhance your CV by adding your volunteering experience and newly acquired skills.

• The RSPCA is happy to reimburse you for any pre-agreed expenses that you may incur through volunteering for us.

Practical Considerations:

• Health & Safety: You’ll need to complete a simple online Health & Safety course before starting the role.

Disclaimer:

Our voluntary roles are subject to:

• An informal interview and trial period.

• Submission of two referees’ contact details.

• Completion of relevant training and assessments for the role.

STAMMA’s Helpline Services include our phoneline, webchat and email support services and are a hugely important part of STAMMA’s work. This is frontline stuff, responding to people reaching out for information and support. It’s a great opportunity to spend time chatting with people who stammer, as well as their parents, grandparents, teachers and employers, taking the time to make space to listen and to value what they have to say. Where appropriate we then signpost people to useful information, support and services.

We use a virtual call centre which means you can take calls and webchats from home, using a desktop or laptop computer.

We are currently recruiting volunteers to work on the helpline and webchat: one person covering different shifts across the week. This Floating Support role is ideal for a volunteer who is flexible and would like to help us cover gaps in our Rota, so that we can ensure all callers are able to access support.

The role will also commit to a weekly shift on Wednesdays 4pm to 6pm.

Please note that this volunteer role is only open to people who are resident in the UK.

What does the role involve?

Working within our Helpline Services, we’re hoping you’ll feel comfortable to:

· Take helpline calls (listening and speaking on the phone)

· Respond to webchats (reading on-screen messages and typing responses)

· Sending occasional emails

If you wish to, you can also be linked to an area of project work. That way, if the helpline services are quiet during your shift, you can get involved in other areas of STAMMA’s work. Project work is likely to involve reading and reviewing documents and resources, contributing to discussions and campaign ideas, and helping develop new resources.

What training and support would you get?

Structured, online training programme which can be taken at your own pace but is likely to take you about 8-10 hours in total. Following the training, you’ll have practice helpline calls and webchats. If you feel ready after that, you’ll start working in the helpline services. Ongoing support includes:

· Monthly helpline services meetings where you can meet other helpline volunteers. These monthly meetings include a short training session and discussion where we share and learn from our experiences of different calls and webchats.

· We have a WhatsApp group where you can keep in touch with other volunteers.

·         Volunteer Supervisors are available for one-to-one support and discussions.

· Access the training modules as many times as you want.

What would you need?

· A quiet place where you can work in privacy and not be overheard during calls

· A mobile phone or landline

· A computer or laptop

Who might enjoy this volunteer role?

You’re likely to enjoy volunteering in the Helpline Services as Wednesdays & Floating Support volunteer if you:

· Are flexible, and would be comfortable to take on shifts at short notice (we would always aim to give you between 1-month to 1 weeks’ notice where possible)

· have a genuine curiosity about people and their experiences

· are able to understand written and spoken English

· are comfortable enough to speak on the telephone

· are comfortable with basic email functions

· have good administration skills

· enjoy listening and talking to people

It’s not essential to stammer yourself if you’re interested in working in our helpline, but it can be an advantage if you do, or if you are the parent of a child who stammers. Many of our callers find it really helpful to know that they’re speaking to someone who really ‘gets it’ and who has that personal insight into some of the issues and questions they have.  

Other information

As a volunteer you can, of course, step back from the role at any time, although we do ask that you give us notice so that we can train someone to take over your role. However, both you and the service are likely to get most out of the opportunity if you’re able to volunteer with us for at least12 months or more. By gradually learning and developing your confidence in the role, you can have the biggest impact.

This is a volunteer role and is unpaid.

Our Mission

Brain tumours do not discriminate, and they do not respect boundaries. They can strike anyone, at any age. And they strike quickly. We understand that taking on a fundraising challenge isn’t as simple as putting one foot in front of the other. Combine the physical challenge with an ambitious fundraising target, taking part for a charity close to your heart and finding time to train, the challenge can feel overwhelming. This is where our Motivational Caller volunteers play a vital role. By offering encouragement, reassurance and a listening ear, they empower fundraisers to reach their goals!

How can you help?

To ensure our fundraisers receive the best possible support, we like to give each of them a call ahead of their challenge event to wish them good luck and offer encouragement. With hundreds of fundraisers taking part, we rely on the support of our volunteers to help make these calls possible.

This is what your volunteer role will look like:

• The Events team will provide clear, step-by-step instructions to help you log into our telephone system from the comfort of your own home. This usually takes around 10 minutes and you’re very welcome to do this alongside a member of staff via a Teams call if you’d prefer extra support.

• You’ll receive a password-protected spreadsheet containing a list of fundraisers allocated to you. Calls can be made at a time that suits you, during the week or two leading up to each challenge event.

• We will provide you with all the information you need including a script to follow and frequently asked questions so that you feel confident to make calls to our fundraisers.

• After each call, you’ll simply update the spreadsheet with any key notes or feedback.

What impact will you have?

By calling our fundraisers, you’ll create a personal connection with members of our community and help them feel recognised, valued and supported for the incredible efforts they’re making. By helping fundraisers reach the start line feeling supported and inspired, you’ll play a vital role in maximising the funds raised for The Brain Tumour Charity, directly contributing to life-changing support services and vital research for the future.

We are looking for:

As part of our volunteer team you will be enthusiastic, friendly and willing to chat to our fundraisers about the event they are taking part in. We need you to have:

• Great verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• A friendly telephone manner
• General interest in The Charity and/or our fundraising events
• Access to the internet, preferable through a secure Wi-Fi source
• Basic IT skills, including using the Microsoft Authenticator App and Excel.
• Access to a laptop or computer (preferred)

What can you gain from volunteering?

• You’ll have the opportunity to develop your communication and listening skills through one-to-one conversations with our fundraisers.

• You’ll develop an understanding of how the Events team at The Charity operates.

• You’ll help the Events team raise more than £3.9 million a year, helping fund life-changing support and pioneering research.

Time commitment

We’ll need your help in the week or two leading up to each of our Challenge events throughout the year. The role is very ad-hoc and flexible, so you’ll be free to make the phone calls at a time to suit you within those weeks. Our busiest times of year are Spring and Autumn!

All phone calls will need to be carried out between 10am – 4pm on weekdays only. This is a remote role.

Practical considerations

You will receive a full induction to The Brain Tumour Charity and any specific training for the role, as well as ongoing direction from one of the team, who will be your key contact. Volunteers must be over 18. The Brain Tumour Charity is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our organisation. We particularly welcome applications from individuals belonging to minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ communities, people with disabilities, and other underrepresented communities. We encourage volunteers to claim for any reasonable expenses that are incurred in the course of their volunteering with The Charity. Find out more in our Volunteer Expenses Policy. If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close the role early, so we’d encourage you to apply at your earliest opportunity.

Need support with the application process?

We are committed to being inclusive and recognise that there may be a number of ways we could support you through the application process. If there’s any adjustments we can make to help you fully engage in the process, don’t hesitate to let us know by getting in touch with the Volunteering Team.

"We are looking for 3 candidates to join our volunteer enhanced professional development programme and gain real world experience in your chosen field). While we only have 3 vacancies available through this programme, other options are available if your skills match our criteria".

Job description

Quilombo UK is looking for a Bid Writer (Grant & Funds), who loves to face work challenges; to join their growing team.

The Bid Writer (Grant & Funds) will play a critical role by assisting the manager to prepare the proposal that helps the organization to further develop and establish.

This role offers a great opportunity for the right person who is looking to; gain experience in the Third Sector; love to 'give back to their community'. The role is for you if you are looking for flexibility and autonomy. Where necessary specific training will also be provided to help you develop and grow your skill set.

Main Responsibilities

• Apart from writing proposals, you will also be reviewing and editing previously written content wherever necessary.
• Working with other team members to produce bid responses and writings
• Helps in writing funding applications for the varied projects that we run in order to meet our organisational objectives.
• Also helps in presentations and all supporting documentation.

General tasks

• Contribute to staff meetings and other internal meetings with views and suggestions etc.

Essential

• You must be based in the UK
• You will need to have good written skills
• Able to write effective, concise and compelling content
• You will be self-starting and willing to research and look for new funding opportunities that match our aims and objectives;
• Ability to work on tight deadlines
• Well organized, proactive and able to deliver tasks efficiently.
• Able to speak confidently with a variety of stakeholders.
• Good time-management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and excel.
• To show professionalism at all levels and in all environments
• Strong team player
• Ability to work independently and ask for clarification when needed.

The volunteering program with Quilombo UK requires a minimum of 16 weeks of commitment. We are looking for someone who can offer 12 hours a week, Monday - Friday (2 times a week).

Please note that this is a volunteering unpaid role.

Job Types: Part-time, Volunteer

Benefits: Work from home

Experience:

• Technical Writing: 2 years (preferred)

Work Location: Remote

The Chair of Trustees will:

• Provide leadership and direction to the Board of Trustees and enable the Board to fulfil its responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of the organisation.

• Ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document, charity law, company law and other relevant legislation/regulations.

• Work in partnership with the Director to support employees and volunteers, helping them achieve the aims of the organisation; and to optimise the relationship between the Board of Trustees and the staff.

• Facilitate the Board of Trustees in stimulating excellent, well-rounded and carefully considered strategic decision-making.

Main Responsibilities of the Chair

The Chair of Trustees will be expected to:

In relation to the Board of Trustees

• Formulate strategic plans and regular review of long-term strategic aims of the charity.

• Develop organisational policies, define goals, targets and evaluate performance against agreed targets.

• Approve the annual cycle of the board meetings, meeting agendas, chair and facilitate meetings, monitor decisions taken at meetings and ensure they are implemented.

• Liaise regularly with the Treasurer to maintain a clear grasp of the charity’s financial position and to ensure full and timely financial transparency and information disclosure to the Board.

• Lead and mentor other Board members to fulfil their responsibilities and enable access to training/coaching/information to enhance the overall contribution of the board.

• Annually review the Board structure, role, staff relationships and ensure implementation of agreed changes/developments are carried out.

• Encourage team working among Board members and encourage them to identify and recruit new trustees as required.

• Create a strong, profitable and fulfilling working relationship with trustees and the Director through review and self-reflective evaluation of contributions and effectiveness of the board.

In relation to the Director 

• Assume guardianship of the legal and financial integrity of the organisation.

• Consult with the Director on matters of strategy, governance, finance and HR.

• Oversee the Director’s activities in the context of the implementation of the Board’s strategy and policies.

• Maintain careful oversight of any risk to reputation and/or financial standing of the organisation.

• Receive regular informal progress reports of the organisation’s work and financial performance through the Director.

In relation to the community and code of conduct

• Represent the organisation as a spokesperson at appropriate events, meetings or functions.

• Lead the Board in fostering relations with potential clients and potential funders/donors.

• Act as final stage adjudicator for disciplinary and grievance procedures if required.

• Facilitate change and address conflict within the Board of Trustees, within the organisation and liaise with the Director to achieve this.

• Undertake review of external complaints as defined by the organisation’s complaints procedure.

• Ensure adherence and compliance around key policies to e.g. Hiring Policy,Health & Safety and in all decisions and discussions of the Board and its sub-committees.

• Attend and be a member of other committees or working groups when appropriate in role as Chair.

• In order to perform the above role, the Chair should have reasonable access to all staff and information, in line with the board’s fiduciary duties.

In relation to Child Protection

• Uphold the charity’s Child Protection Policy, and ensure its rigid application to all of the Board’s duties and endeavours. 

• Place child safety at the forefront of all deliberations, and adopt a diligent awareness of any area in which child safety might be at risk.

• Report any and all potential violations of the charity’s Child Protection Policy to the Board of Trustees immediately. 

Qualities of a Chair

The Chair of Trustees is expected to demonstrate the following qualities:

Essential

• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship and adhering to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

• Commitment to the charity’s objects, aims and values and willingness to devote time to carry out responsibilities.

• Strategic and forward looking vision in relation to the charity’s objects and aims.

• Good, independent judgement, political impartiality and the ability to think creatively in the context of the organisation and external environment.

• Good communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to respect the confidences of colleagues.

• Balancing tact and diplomacy with willingness to challenge and constructively criticise.

Desirable 

• Prior experience of committee/trustee work.

• Knowledge of the type of work undertaken by the organisation - disability care and poverty alleviation.

• A wider involvement with the voluntary sector.

• Experience of chairing meetings, committee work, some experience of charity finance, charity fundraising.

• Leadership skills exercised through a period change.

Time Commitment

• The Board meets at least 4 times a year and the Chair is expected to be available 4 times in a year.

• In addition to Board Meetings, other contact – usually electronic or by telephone – will be necessary.