Independent living volunteer volunteer roles in newcastle

Who we are:

The Humane League UK (THL UK) is dedicated to ending the abuse of animals raised for food by influencing the policies of leading food companies, advocating for stronger animal protection laws, and encouraging individuals to take action. We are part of a global network of organisations working to create a future where all animals are treated with respect and compassion.

Thanks to our effectiveness, The Humane League has been named Top Charity by the independent evaluator Animal Charity Evaluators for every rating period since 2012.

THL UK is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to furthering equity and inclusion, and we value diversity. We seek people from a wide range of backgrounds who will bring a fresh perspective to the team, not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it makes us stronger. 

​We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed Employer, demonstrating our commitment to recruiting, retaining, and supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, based on their skills and talent.

You can read more about how The Humane League UK is working on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion via our website.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact us via our website and we will be happy to discuss, via email or telephone, reasonable adjustments that you may require throughout the process.

The Position

We are seeking two new Trustees to add to the current Board of five voluntary members.

Board members (trustees) of THL UK are responsible for providing strategic leadership, ensuring strong governance, and safeguarding the organisation’s mission, values, and financial sustainability. This is a voluntary position, and trustees are expected to act in the best interests of the charity and in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.
 

Whether you are an experienced charity trustee or looking for your first board position; if you believe you can share our commitment for ending the abuse of animals raised for food and have the qualities, knowledge and experience we are looking for, then we’d love to hear from you.

For full details on the role of trustees please view our information pack which is available in the application resources.

We will be holding a webinar on Thursday 6th November at 7pm GMT for you to find out more about the role and ask any questions you may have. The webinar will be hosted by Sean Gifford, Managing Director and our Board Chair Ben Wickham. If you’re interested, please visit our website via the 'Redirect to recruiter' button.

As it’s a webinar you’ll only be able to see the presenter and not others watching. The webinar will be recorded and available on our website, with captions, within 48 hours of the event.

Person specification and requirements for this role

While specific experience in animal protection is not essential, all Board members must:

• Demonstrate a commitment to the aims and values of THL UK.

• Understand and accept the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship.

• Bring a strategic mindset and the ability to make well-reasoned, independent decisions.

• Be able to communicate in ways that build understanding and trust, and contribute positively to collaborative team working.

• Be willing to devote the necessary time and effort to the role.

• Be committed to moving forward with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion best practices.

Specialist Expertise Sought

In addition to the general requirements above, we are particularly seeking candidates who can bring expertise in one or more of the following areas:

1. Charity Governance

• In-depth knowledge of charity governance best practice, preferably gained through prior trustee, board, or senior charity leadership experience.

• Understanding of regulatory compliance and governance frameworks for UK charities.

• Legal skills relating to charity law, contracts, risk management, or related fields (desirable).

2. Charity and Fundraising Finance

• Experience in charity finance, fundraising finance, or non-profit financial management.

• Ability to read and interpret management accounts, budgets, and forecasts.

• Understanding of financial controls, audit processes, and risk management within a charitable context.

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and with a range of perspectives. Having reviewed existing Trustees' diversity we would particularly welcome applications from ethnic minorities, disabled people and marginalised groups.

Where candidates bring similar skills and experience, we may take lived experience or background into account to help us build a more representative and inclusive board.
 

Key Responsibilities

• Contribute actively to the Board’s role in giving strategic direction, setting overall policy, defining goals, and evaluating performance.

• Ensure that THL UK complies with its governing document, charity law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.

• Oversee the financial health of the charity, approving annual budgets and monitoring financial performance.

• Champion the fundraising work of THL UK in various ways–for example by introducing new donors from your network, actively promoting THL UK’s fundraising initiatives (like our end of year appeal), or by donating directly if you have the means to do so.

• Protect and promote the charity’s values, reputation, and effectiveness.

• Support and challenge the executive team to achieve the organisation’s objectives.

• Act as an ambassador for THL UK, promoting its work to stakeholders and the public.

• Participate in Board meetings (typically four per year) and occasional sub-committee meetings, as well as contributing advice and guidance outside formal meetings when required.

Key competencies

• Strategic thinker: Looks at consequences, implications, interdependencies, and indirect effects, all in both the short and longer term. Looks beyond the immediate goal or issue and with the greater context, not just the content of the moment. Is able to think and act creatively in difficult situations.

• Problem solver: Identifies issues, effectively structures problems, analyses information to produce insights and generates wise, actionable recommendations. A forward-looking thinker who anticipates the needs of the organisation.

• Effective: Strategically able to focus our energy, resources and talent toward impactful actions that will reduce, and ultimately end, the abuse of animals for food.

• Communication and strong interpersonal skills: Ability to communicate in ways that build understanding and trust and can adapt to different tones and styles and be able to engage with people from all walks of life.

The commitment

We are looking for trustees that are able to commit the time needed to support the growth and aims of our charity.  You should be able to spend about four hours per month on regular trustee business. In addition to this, we also ask trustees to commit to: 

• Four quarterly Board meetings per year, plus preparation time. Quarterly board meetings tend to happen in the evenings between 6:30 - 9 pm. 

• Two other ad hoc board meetings throughout the year, which may happen in the evenings or during regular working hours. 

• Participation in sub-committees or working groups where relevant.

• Attendance at our in person all team summer workshop, held at the end of July.

• Occasional attendance at in-person fundraising or public engagement events.

The Interview Process

• The closing date for applications is Sunday 23rd November 2025.

• We will be carrying out telephone screening calls from Monday 24th November to Thursday 11th December 2025.

• We will inform all candidates if they will be invited to interview by Thursday 18th December 2025.

• Interviews will be held remotely from Monday 12th to Thursday 22nd January 2025.

• The successful candidates will be invited to attend a board meeting in February 2026 before being voted in.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding accessibility, please contact us via our website and we will be happy to discuss, via email or telephone, reasonable adjustments that you may require throughout the process.

We are New Wine

New Wine is a network of leaders and a family of churches, committed to seeing local churches thrive and communities transformed.

Our strategic priorities are:

• Equipping Leaders – Investing in current and emerging leaders through training, mentoring, gathering and practitioner-led ministry.
• Empowering Younger Generations – Investing in ministries that raise up children, youth, and young adults to know Jesus and lead with courage and conviction.
• Multiplying Churches – Supporting church plants, revitalisations, and pioneering expressions of church in diverse contexts.

Representing over 1,000 churches, 4,000 church leaders and 50,000 individuals, building networks, equipping leaders and empowering people to advance the Kingdom of God through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ church is always facing challenges and opportunities, and it’s as true now, and for New Wine, as it’s ever been. At this time of tremendous opportunity, we are seeking a new Chair of Trustees to work with our Board and Leadership to oversee and steward our mission, people and strategic priorities.

Could you be that person?

We’re looking for an exceptional, Godly person as our next Chair who has:

• A vibrant faith in Jesus, evident in their life and leadership, who is actively engaged in a local church aligned with New Wine’s vision and values, and who is passionate about seeing the Kingdom of God advance in the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Proven governance experience, with an ability to bring wisdom, accountability, and spiritual discernment to lead the Board in fulfilling New Wine’s mission and values.
• A proven ability to bring strategic oversight and discernment, that will help shape and steward the New Wine’s vision and priorities in pursuit of its mission.
• Strong emotional intelligence, with an ability to lead collaboratively and build consensus to enable effective and unified decision-making.
• Exceptional relational and leadership abilities, with an ability to inspire, influence, and build effective working relationships across the Board and the wider New Wine network.

This is a time of amazing opportunity.

As the ‘quiet revival’ continues across our nation, New Wine’s mission of local churches changing nations feels more spiritually potent than ever. We are living in a time of exceptional opportunity for New Wine and we will need a Chair who can help us realise the full potential God has for us.

Could you be that person?

Closing date for expressions of interest is12pm GMT on Friday 21st November 2025.

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)

Director of HR — Detailed Job Description (Voluntary)

Status: Voluntary (expenses reimbursed)
Reports to: Managing Director
Liaises with: Director of Compliance, Company Secretary, Head of Programmes, Sales & Partnerships Lead
Direct reports: None initially; matrix influence over associate facilitators and hiring managers
Location: Hybrid (South of England preferred) with occasional travel
Time commitment: c. 6–8 hours per month; peaks during recruitment rounds and policy refreshes

Role Purpose

To design and steward the organisation’s people strategy, systems, and policies so that ThriveSpark recruits, develops, and retains a safe, capable, and inclusive workforce. The Director of HR ensures that employment practice is compliant with UK law and sector standards, integrates safeguarding and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) into everyday operations, and provides the Board with independent, high-quality advice on culture, workforce risk, and organisational design as the charity and CIC scale.

Key Responsibilities

1) People Strategy & Governance

• Develop a light-touch but robust HR framework aligned to organisational strategy, values, and risk appetite.

• Advise the Board on workforce planning (staff vs. associates), role design, and succession; maintain an annual HR plan and KPIs.

• Ensure all HR policies are current, accessible, and applied consistently; schedule an annual policy review cycle.

2) Safer Recruitment & Onboarding

• Establish safer recruitment procedures (role profiles, adverts, shortlisting criteria, structured interview packs).

• Oversee right-to-work and enhanced DBS checks where appropriate; ensure references are verified and recorded.

• Design an onboarding pathway covering safeguarding, data protection (UK GDPR), H&S, code of conduct, and role-specific induction.

3) Performance, Supervision & Development

• Implement supervision and appraisal frameworks with clear objectives, feedback cycles, and development plans.

• Introduce role-appropriate learning pathways (safeguarding refreshers, EDI, delivery quality, leadership skills).

• Promote reflective practice and coaching for associate facilitators and line managers.

4) Employee Relations, Culture & Wellbeing

• Provide early, proportionate advice on capability, conduct, grievance, and whistleblowing; ensure fair and timely resolution.

• Champion an inclusive, psychologically safe culture; lead pulse surveys and action plans on engagement and wellbeing.

• Embed reasonable adjustments processes and guidance for neuro-inclusive practice across teams.

5) Pay, Contracts & Working Practices

• Advise on contracts for employment and associate agreements (with legal support where necessary).

• Set and maintain clear Delegations of Authority for HR decisions; document version control and audit trails.

• Provide pragmatic guidance on flexible working, TUPE (if applicable), volunteering, and use of contractors.

6) Compliance & Risk

• Ensure HR practice complies with UK employment law, charity/CIC regulation, and sector safeguarding standards.

• Maintain accurate, secure personnel records; ensure privacy notices, retention schedules, and DPIAs are in place for HR systems.

• Contribute to the risk register; report workforce risks, incidents, and mitigations to the Board each quarter.

7) Collaboration & Advisory

• Work closely with the Director of Compliance on safeguarding training coverage, incident learning, and policy alignment.

• Support the Head of Programmes on capacity planning, supervision cadence, and quality assurance for delivery staff.

• Partner with Finance on workforce budgeting, recruitment costs, and any contingent liabilities.

Success Measures (Illustrative)

• All statutory and safeguarding checks completed and evidenced for 100% of staff/associates before start.

• Induction completion ≥ 95% within 30 days; mandatory training (safeguarding, UK GDPR, EDI) ≥ 95% within 60 days.

• Supervision/appraisal completion ≥ 90% on cycle; documented development plans in place for all staff.

• Recruitment SLAs met (time-to-hire within target, diverse shortlists monitored), with candidate experience ≥ agreed threshold.

• Pulse survey participation ≥ 70% and positive movement on inclusion and wellbeing indicators.

• Zero missed HR compliance deadlines; personnel records and retention schedules audit-ready.

Person Specification

Essential

• Senior experience in HR/People Operations within education, health, social impact, or professional services.

• Demonstrable track record establishing HR policies and implementing safer recruitment and induction at pace.

• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law, safeguarding responsibilities, and UK GDPR in HR contexts.

• Skilled in employee relations with balanced, evidence-led judgement and clear written/oral communication.

• Commitment to EDI and neuro-inclusive practice; able to turn principles into workable, proportionate processes.

• High integrity, discretion, and independence of mind; comfortable advising a Board/Chair.

Desirable

• Experience supporting a mixed workforce (staff plus associates/contractors/volunteers).

• Exposure to TUPE, restructuring, or scaling organisations.

• Credential(s) such as CIPD (Level 5/7) or equivalent experience.

• Familiarity with lean policy design, HRIS selection, and light-touch analytics for KPIs.

Safeguarding, Data Protection & Health and Safety

This role is subject to enhanced DBS (depending on access to beneficiaries) and ongoing safeguarding refreshers. All activity must comply with ThriveSpark’s policies (Safeguarding, Data Protection/UK GDPR, Health & Safety, EDI, Code of Conduct). The Director of HR is accountable for ensuring safer recruitment is applied consistently and that HR data processing is lawful, minimised, secure, and time-limited.

Terms of Appointment

This is a voluntary position during the initial phase. Expenses reasonably incurred in the course of duties will be reimbursed in line with policy. As the organisation scales, the Board will review the HR leadership structure and may consider a remunerated appointment subject to resources and need.

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.