Independent living service volunteer roles in brighton, brighton and hove

Founded in 1997, the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants provides a place for refugees, migrants, and people seeking asylum to rebuild their life with support and community. From classes to casework to financial assistance, the Centre has a wide offering available for our community of over 200 people. Our approach is compassionate and human and the support we offer is long term - on average people stay with us around four years.

The current Board brings a wide range of charity and public body experience including strategy and fundraising and we are looking for skills to both enhance and complement these strengths.

The Centre has a dedicated and talented staff team led by our CEO, Andy Ruiz Palma, who joined in 2000 as an English teacher. In addition to this staff resource we have around 40 volunteers who provide direct support through activities. We also have in place accountancy support to the executive and a dedicated fundraising team.

We are looking for someone who can demonstrate a strong empathy with our client group and who understand how to work with organisations rooted in a local community. You will bring excellent people and communication skills and demonstrate good team-working.

We are open to applications from people looking for their first Trustee role or who may not have considered being a Trustee before and will provide mentoring to help trustees find their feet.

We are looking to recruit a deputy treasurer with:

A good understanding of financial management and reporting

A recognised accounting, finance or similar qualification

Ability to analyse and communicate financial information to the wider Board

Willingness to provide financial advice and support to the management team as needed

Knowledge and experience of fundraising finance practice in voluntary and community organisations (desirable)

DCF are a small, local, family-founded charity focusing on supporting children and young people's wellbeing. We provide youth groups, workshops and 121 support in schools and in the community. 

We are looking for a Finance Trustee to lead on financial oversight of the charity, set up financial controls and processes and oversee our Treasurer.  

We currently have a lack of financial oversight which impacts on grant applications and planning.  We have a need for trustees with specific skillsets so that each board member can take ownership of their areas related to the charity.  Currently our CEO has a very active role within Board meetings and would benefit from support from proactive members.

We would like to grow the Board and create processes and procedures that diversify our income and sustainability. We currently deliver services in two boroughs (Croydon and Merton) and have a 5 year plan to expand to four boroughs.  

What are we looking for?

This individual should have:

• Knowledge and experience of charity finance practices
• Professional accounting, finance or similar qualification
• Strong understanding of financial management and reporting
• Experience in establishing and setting out strategic goals and direction in organisations
• Ability to explain financial procedures to other Board members
• Experience of providing Governance to organisations 
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, and to exercise good, independent judgement.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.

The role will involve:

• Supporting the Treasurer
• Providing overview of income, expenditure, reserves, balance sheet, and cashflow
• Recording transactions
• Monitoring spend for various projects
• Providing reports to the Treasurer and Board 
• Forecasting project and operational spend with CEO 
• Attending 'monthly' meetings (10 per year)
• Providing information to HMRC and Pension providers 
• Monitoring compliance with local accounting laws and regulations

What difference will you make?

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about giving back and helping our future generation of young people.  

In this vital role you will be able to offer your unique skill set to provide invaluable guidance on financial procedures and ways of streamlining processes, therefore enhancing the charity's ability to run smoothly and reach more young people.  We are looking for someone to keep us on track financially as well as helping us to formulate our vision for the future.

Before you apply

• Please provide a cover letter detailing why you are interested in this role and your relevant experience.
• Interviews will be an informal virtual chat with our CEO and then with the wider Board.

Applications are welcomed from people across the Sutton and Croydon Communities. If you live more than 30 miles from these locations, your application is likely to be unsuccessful. Board meetings are in person and on-line so being able to attend is a key part of the position.

Our trustees are the people that have overall oversight of Foothold.  They are not involved in running Foothold on a day-to-day basis as we have a team of staff and volunteers that do this.  However, our board of trustees collectively make decisions about the approach the Foothold will take and its future direction.  They make sure that, as an organisation, we have the policies and procedures we need to ensure we’re complying with our legal obligations.  They provide support, ideas and constructive challenge to our staff team to test our thinking and help Foothold to achieve the best it can for our community members and demonstrate the difference that we make.

About nurtureuk

At nurtureuk, we believe that every child and young person deserves to feel safe, understood and supported to flourish at school, emotionally, socially, and academically. But for many, school can be a difficult place, especially for those who’ve experienced trauma, adversity or unmet emotional needs.

For over 50 years, we’ve been pioneers in nurturing approaches to support social emotional development, using a tried-and-tested framework that helps children and young people build the confidence, resilience, and sense of belonging they need to succeed in education and in life.

Our work transforms school environments so that they are truly inclusive, supportive and safe spaces. We train teachers and school leaders, and deliver evidence-based programmes that strengthen wellbeing across whole school communities, as well as improving attendance and reducing exclusions- because the children enjoy being in school!

At the core of our work is the Boxall Profile®, our unique, award winning and Department for Education recommended assessment tool. It helps teachers understand what lies behind a child’s behaviour; the hidden emotional needs, the gaps in development, the things a test score could never show. By shining a light on what each child needs to feel secure, the Boxall Profile empowers educators to respond with empathy, not punishment, and to nurture every child’s potential.

Behind every report and dataset is a story:
A child who finally feels safe and excited to walk into class.
A teacher who sees progress and growth where there used to be only frustration.
A family who begins to believe that things can get better. 

By joining us as a Volunteer Grant Support Officer, you’ll be helping make these stories possible, securing the funds that enable us to reach more schools, support more teachers, and change more children’s lives.

See our attached evidence brochure to learn more about the impact our work has.

The Role

We are seeking a passionate and skilled volunteer grant writer to help us increase our capacity to apply for funding from trusts and foundations.

You’ll work closely with the Income Generation staff in our Income and Partnerships team to research potential funders, write compelling proposals, and help us build long-term relationships that sustain our impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Researching new funding opportunities aligned with nurtureuk’s mission and programmes

• Writing persuasive, high-quality funding applications and accompanying documents

• Maintaining a pipeline of opportunities and tracking application progress

• Helping to build a library of core fundraising materials and case studies

• Utilising our bank of supporting evidence, data and testimonials to strengthen proposals
   

About You

We’d love to hear from you if you’re:

• An excellent writer who enjoys crafting persuasive and engaging text, ideally with previous experience of writing successful grant or funding applications

• Organised, proactive and detail-oriented

• Confident researching and interpreting funders’ criteria

• Able to work collaboratively and independently

Desirable (but not essential):

• Familiarity with the UK charity funding landscape

• Experience in education, wellbeing, or social impact sectors

What You’ll Gain

• A chance to make a tangible impact on children’s lives across the UK

• The opportunity to develop or deepen your fundraising and bid-writing experience

• Insight into how a national education charity operates

• Optional free Boxall Profile training (1 day training worth £225 exc. VAT)

• Optional free Nurture Group training (3 day course worth £699 exc. VAT)

• Support from an experienced and friendly team

• Flexibility: You can volunteer remotely, at times that suit you

• Reimbursement for any agreed expenses

Time Commitment

Approx. 3–6 hours per week, with flexibility around other commitments.
Regular remote catch-ups with the nurtureuk team and fellow volunteers.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For an informal chat, please contact Louisa on the email address supplied in the 'apply' area. 

We are seeking a Director and Chair of Trustees Designate to help shape the future direction of our organisation. We are looking for an individual with proven senior leadership experience - ideally, though not necessarily, within the third sector - who can bring strong strategic thinking, sound judgement, and a collaborative leadership style.

Make a difference in Kent by joining our team of trustees!

Kent Community Foundation (KCF) is looking for individuals to join our Board of Trustees who have a real passion for our county and want to make a demonstrable difference to the lives of people in our communities.

KCF is a professional grant-maker and local philanthropy advisor for Kent and Medway. We have been established for 24 years; distributing more than £60 million in grants to voluntary sector organisations across the county; supporting small charities to be sustainable and successful, and helping major donors maximise the impact of their donations.

Trustees are the volunteers who lead charities and decide how they are run; setting strategic plans, monitoring the performance, impact and sustainability of the charity and overseeing its governance. People of any age and background can be a trustee, and we're looking for people with specific experience to help us support communities in Kent. We are particularly interested in applications from people who are typically under-represented on trustee boards.

We have a comprehensive trustee induction programme, so if you have never been a trustee or on a board before, we will ensure you have all the knowledge and support you need.

Trustee: Desirable skills

We are looking for applicants to have one or more of the following:

· Lived experience of the communities we work with and the issues which arise in our county

· Experience of grant making; either as a philanthropist, grant maker or grant applicant

· Experience in working with or within social enterprises

· Experience in communications and PR

· A background in socio/economics, or connections with education in that field

· Knowledge of, and experience in promoting diversity, equality and inclusion

· Professional experience or active interest in technology, digital communications and AI

· Long term connections and networks with any of our stakeholder groups in Kent; such as philanthropists, businesses  owners, key voluntary sector influencers

We hope to recruit up to three new trustees with different experience to offer, who can give some of their time and expertise to help KCF continue to grow and develop. We have four in-person Board meetings a year, and trustees also sit on at least one of our sub-committees, which meet two to four times a year (often remotely). There are also occasional events trustees are invited to attend to promote and engage with our work.

Board Trustee and Chair of the People and Remuneration Committee

Responsible to:

The Board of Trustees – As a Trustee your lead responsibility will be acting on behalf of the Board in chairing the People and Remuneration Committee. You are accountable to the Board of Trustees and act on its behalf to ensure that the best interests of the charity and its stakeholders are served within relevant regulatory frameworks and standards of probity in the areas of delegated responsibility

Role Profile:

As Board Trustee and Chair of the People and Remuneration Committee, you are responsible for ensuring the delivery of our charitable objects. The Board sets out our strategic direction, upholds our beliefs and values and provides governance to the organisation by prescribing and monitoring management performance. Your lead responsibility will be in ensuring that our people strategy aligns with our mission, values, and long-term sustainability. This includes chairing the People and Remuneration Committee overseeing key areas such as executive remuneration, workforce planning, performance management, succession planning, and organisational culture.

Your leadership will guide the Board and Committee in maintaining transparency, fairness, and accountability in all people-related decisions and you will work closely with the Director of People and Programmes. In addition, you will facilitate constructive dialogue among committee members, foster a culture of informed decision-making, and ensure that governance standards are upheld. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people through a dynamic and highly respected organisation.

Specific Duties:

• To respect and promote the founding Christian principles in line with our charity’s objects.
• To be responsible for the effective and efficient conduct of committee meetings ensuring resolutions are properly put and necessary decisions made.
• To ensure the committee’s decisions are acted upon.
• To ensure that committee meetings take place at appropriate intervals as part of our annual calendar of meetings and start and finish times are agreed with other members.
• To ensure all committee members can play a full part in meetings, their contributions are timely and relevant, and appropriate standards of conduct and behaviour are maintained in accordance with the code of conduct approved by the Board.
• To work proactively with the Executive Team lead on the arrangements for meetings, including agreeing the agenda and checking minutes.
• To ensure that any decisions taken by the Committee that need Board approval are reported to the next Board meeting and lead the discussion at the Board meetings summarising the deliberations of the committee, including making clear recommendations.
• To proactively establish a constructive working relationship with and provide support to the Chair of the Board, the CEO and the Executive Team.
• To have a general understanding of legislative changes and policy developments in people-related matters.
• To ensure that the committee receives professional advice when needed, either from the Executive Team or external sources.
• To induct, support and contribute to the annual appraisal of those Board members who are members of the committee.

Additional Trustee Duties:

• Familiarising themselves with all Board papers prior to each meeting.
• Attending Board meetings (and committee meetings, as appropriate) and actively participating in the work of the Board.
• Defining and ensuring compliance with the vision, values and objectives of the charity.
• Ensuring compliance with the National Housing Federation’s Code of Governance, Regulatory Standards, Ofsted and other areas of regulation within our operating environment.
• Establishing strategy, policies and plans to achieve those objectives across the range of functions undertaken by the charity.
• Approving each year’s Budget and final accounts prior to publication.
• Establishing and overseeing a framework of delegation and systems of control.
• Monitoring the charity’s performance

Person Specification:

• A willingness to respect and promote our founding Christian principles and uphold our organisational values.
• Proven leadership experience at board or senior executive level, ideally within the not-for-profit or public sector.
• Strong understanding of governance principles, particularly in relation to people, culture, and remuneration.
• Experience in overseeing or advising on executive pay, performance management, and workforce strategy.
• Familiarity with employment law, equality, diversity, and inclusion best practices.
• An understanding of the unique challenges faced by a highly regulated not-for-profits organisation.
• Strong chairing and facilitation skills, with the ability to foster inclusive, balanced, and productive discussions.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to align people-related decisions with organisational goals and values.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and sound judgement in handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders. Role profile Time commitment:
• The role is unpaid although reasonable expenses are reimbursed.
• The initial term for the position is three years.
• The Board rhythm is typically:
• Approximately four three-hour Board meetings mid-to-late afternoon over the course of the year.
• Two full day ‘away-days.’
• Travel time for meetings, as Board meetings and Board Away Days are in person at various locations across Sussex.
• Three two-hour, virtual People and Remuneration Committee meetings a year.
• Time spent to read papers and prepare for the meeting; papers are circulated one week ahead of Board and committee meetings.
• Trustees are invited and encouraged to make at least one visit to services, and attend a staff or manager forum. There are also opportunities to attend national events such as the YMCA England & Wales Youth Matters awards.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and trends to inform decision-making. Commitment to our mission, values, and social impact.
• Collaborative and respectful leadership style, promoting transparency and accountability.
• Independent and objective, with the ability to challenge constructively and support executive leadership.
• Champion of equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of people and remuneration governance.
• A professional background in HR, organisational development, or remuneration advisory is desirable.
• Previous experience chairing a committee or board in a similar context is desirable

Time Commitment:

• The role is unpaid although reasonable expenses are reimbursed.
• The initial term for the position is three years.
• The Board rhythm is typically:
  • Approximately four three-hour Board meetings mid-to-late afternoon over the course of the year.
  • Two full day ‘away-days.’
  • Travel time for meetings, as Board meetings and Board Away Days are in person at various locations across Sussex.
  • Three two-hour, virtual People and Remuneration Committee meetings a year.
  • Time spent to read papers and prepare for the meeting; papers are circulated one week ahead of Board and committee meetings.
• Trustees are invited and encouraged to make at least one visit to services, and attend a staff or manager forum. There are also opportunities to attend national events such as the YMCA England & Wales Youth Matters awards

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.