Information support volunteer volunteer roles in barry, vale of glamorgan

About Access Academia

Access Academia is the charitable umbrella which was created out of the creation of the student-led publication, the Journal of Intersectional Social Justice. When Journal of Intersectional Social Justice (JISJ) was created, there were not any expectations for the project to be any more than that: a student-led academic publication. However, as it rolled on, attention for the project widened and it began to cover other topics and get involved in other realms of knowledge sharing, activism, and content creation. The creation of the seminal Access Series on the Intersections blog springboarded the idea for the JISJ to turn into something much more than a simple academic publication. Now as we have restructured the JISJ into Access Academia, we are finalising our official registration as a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) in the UK. 

Our core purpose is to Make Academia More Accessible. We plan to accomplish this by many different avenues, as obviously it is a very wide-ranging goal! The main ways we plan to do this are through encouraging Open Access academia and knowledge sharing through the Access Series, expanding the themes covered on Intersections with additions such as Mental Health Mondays and Colonialism in Subject, creating accessible content across our social media platforms which encourages truthful and accurate knowledge sharing and activism, running research events to encourage students to publish and interact with academia, covering inside stories of academia, running student engagement programmes to try and make academia less of an Ivory Tower, and much more!

What is a Volunteership?

A volunteership is a unique hybrid opportunity that combines elements of volunteering and interning. Participants commit to working with a charity or nonprofit organization for a specified period of time, fulfilling a set of responsibilities and expectations. In return, they gain valuable experience, receive a letter of recommendation, and are offered LinkedIn endorsements. Additionally, they may have the chance to continue working with the charity through future hiring cycles as long as they remain a student. This experience provides both personal fulfillment through giving back to the community and professional development for future career opportunities.

Volunteership: Content Designer
Duration: May to August 2025
Eligibility: Must be currently enrolled as a student

Requirements:

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate program.

• Strong interest in content creation, design, and digital communication.

• Proficiency in design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, etc.).

• Excellent written and visual communication skills.

• Strong attention to detail and creative problem-solving abilities.

• Ability to produce high-quality content under deadlines.

• A portfolio or examples of previous work (e.g., social media graphics, posters, digital campaigns) is a plus.

• Familiarity with social media platforms and trends (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.).

• Passion for contributing to social impact and supporting charitable causes.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Content Creation & Design:

  • Design and produce a minimum of 2 social media posts per month, ensuring they are aligned with the charity's voice and branding.

  • Create engaging visual content for various platforms, including social media, newsletters, and website updates.

  • Work with the marketing team to develop creative concepts for campaigns and initiatives.

• Content Strategy & Planning:

  • Assist in developing content strategies that resonate with the charity’s target audience.

  • Ensure content is on-brand, consistent in style, and optimized for different digital platforms.

  • Help create and maintain a content calendar, ensuring timely delivery of posts and materials.

• Brand Consistency:

  • Maintain a consistent visual and written tone across all digital platforms.

  • Stay updated on design trends and digital marketing strategies to ensure content is fresh and engaging.

• Collaboration & Teamwork:

  • Collaborate with internal teams and volunteers to ensure a consistent post schedule.

  • Contribute and attend all meetings for the Content Creation Team and directions from the Director of Content Creation.

  • Meet all given deadlines on time and consistently.

What You’ll Gain:

• Hands-on experience in content design and digital marketing.

• Opportunities to build and expand your design portfolio with real-world projects.

• A letter of recommendation upon successful completion of the volunteership.

• Certification of participation at the end of the volunteership.

• LinkedIn endorsements and the chance to be considered for future hiring cycles with the charity.

OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation was established as an educational charity in 2003. Our aim is to develop spiritual awareness and to support people of all faiths, and none, by delivering a range of training programmes that allow open-hearted adults to serve their chosen communities through Ministry, Spiritual Counselling and in supporting life’s transitions. Our interfaith ministers bring unconditional love and radical commitment to members of the public through ceremony, ritual, spiritual counselling, and other methods of support.

We are seeking new trustees, with a focus on marketing and/or legal experience, with a commitment to the vision and purpose of the organisation to join our board. Trustees are appointed for a term of 4 years and are essential to the progress and growth of our organisation.

Organisational purpose:

To benefit the public by the education of mature adults in:
• the core principles of the world’s religions, faiths, and spiritual traditions;
• principles and methods of forgiveness, reconciliation and peace-making;
• and the practice of non-denominational spiritual and pastoral service in the community.

Our Vision

is a world in which humanity awakens into an inclusive global spirituality that encompasses us all in the field of love and life.

Our Mission

is to work towards evolving consciousness in the world, by facilitating open-hearted people to awaken to inner leadership and their capacity for forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace-making.

Ideally, you will have experience working in a not-for-profit organisation and will be passionate about spiritual life and faith-freedom. We would particularly love to hear from anyone with experience of Human Resources, Adult Education, Financial Management, Fundraising, Legal, and IT.

Formal trustee meetings take place with senior staff quarterly, and we hold up to nine trustee-only meetings annually. To ensure our work is collaborative, we also have an annual two-day gathering of trustees and the wider leadership team. All trustees are volunteers, with expenses available for travel to and from meetings and other incidental expenses where applicable. Please note that meetings are currently being held via Zoom.

We have a strong commitment to diversity and aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we work with on our Board of Trustees. We welcome all candidates irrespective of sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, culture, religion, age, responsibilities for dependants, physical/mental disability (“protected characteristics” as per the Equality Act 2010), economic status or offending background.

We welcome both OneSpirit ministers and candidates who are not OneSpirit ministers.  However, we expect all candidates to adhere to OneSpirit’s code of ethics.

The New Normal are seeking a Chair of our Board of Trustees! The primary responsibilities are providing leadership, strategic direction and governance oversight for the charity. They ensure that the board functions effectively, that the organization remains true to its mission, and that it meets its legal and ethical obligations. 

We are looking for a driven and diligent person to support TNN in it's mission to provide free-to-access peer support for a diverse range of grief experiences, communities and identities. 

Applicants should have the capacity to provide around 4 hours per month on a flexible basis, with some months quieter/busier than others.

We are seeking someone who has strong leadership, facilitation and decision-making skills, excellent communication and public-speaking, understanding of financial management, fundraising and stakeholder engagement, and a passion for the Charity's mission and long-term success. You should have experience in ​governance, strategic planning, or non-profit leadership. ​

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and pathways. This is a voluntary role and responsibilities are listed in below Job Description.

[Due to the nature of the role and the work we do, the successful applicant will be required to undertake a DBS check. Persons will be shortlisted and appointed based solely on character, skills, qualifications and experience.]

Join our amazing volunteer team in this flexible opportunity that puts you at the heart of our work supporting blind and partially sighted people. You’ll make taking part in events and carrying out volunteering easier and more enjoyable for our customers and volunteers with sight loss. You’ll take some of the stress and anxiety out of getting around and taking part in activities as a blind or partially sighted person. The help you give will encourage people to do more. What you’ll be doing • Sighted guiding / giving practical help to individuals in and around venues, so they can take part in events. • Supporting volunteers with sight loss with their volunteering activities which range from facilitating a regular community group to delivering a talk about sight loss to a local business. Your role would involve things like guiding; Meeting and greeting at group activities or creating a welcoming and interesting display stand at events. In this role you will only be helping individuals in places open to the public, often in a group setting. We will provide training in sighted guiding techniques and understanding sight loss. We would particularly like to recruit support volunteers within the Downpatrick area (last Wednesday of every month) What you’ll gain from the role: • An opportunity to give something back. • A chance to build a strong community. • A sense of achievement through the difference you make. • A chance to be part of a team of like-minded people • An opportunity to develop and explore different roles with RNIB, including our internal job vacancies. In return for donating your time we will provide: • A rewarding experience. • A great Induction and training. • A supportive manager. • Regular updates and catchups. • Expenses. • An opportunity to connect with other volunteers.

What skills and experience are needed?

• • An outgoing, friendly approach to meeting new people. • An empathetic and professional manner. • The ability to take the supportive and helpful role.

• Particularly looking for Volunteers in Downpatrick area - Last Wednesday of Every month

5 x Trustee Position including one Treasurer Role

 3ST (Third Sector Together) North West London Voluntary and Community Sector Alliance

About Us

3ST is the alliance of the voluntary and community sector across North West London's Integrated Care Board (ICB) region. We support the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector in influencing and engaging with our health system while supporting the delivery of meaningful services. Our mission is to increase the VCSE sector's contribution to addressing health inequalities, improving service quality, and supporting healthier lives across North West London.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced professional to join our Board of Trustees, bringing expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Financial Management and Accounting

• Procurement and Contract Management

• Human Resources

• Corporate Governance

Key Responsibilities

1. Governance

· Ensure the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit.

· Safeguard the charity’s reputation, values, and mission.

· Ensure compliance with the Charity Commission’s regulations, the charity’s governing document, and relevant UK laws.

· Support the development and monitoring of organisational policies and procedures

2. Strategic Oversight

· Contribute to the strategic direction of 3ST, ensuring alignment with our mission and values

· Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of agreed strategies and objectives.

· Guide the development of procurement and contract management processes

3. Financial Management

· Approve budgets and ensure proper financial oversight, including adherence to charity accounting standards.

· Ensure the charity has sufficient resources to operate sustainably and responsibly.

· Assess and manage financial risks appropriately.

4. Risk Management

· Identify and evaluate potential risks, ensuring appropriate measures are in place to mitigate them.

· Maintain safeguarding practices to protect beneficiaries, staff, and the reputation of the charity.

5. Legal Compliance

· Ensure the charity meets its legal and regulatory requirements, including filing annual returns and accounts.

· Ensure adherence to data protection and equality legislation.

6. Advocacy and Representation

· Act as an ambassador for the charity, fostering positive relationships with key stakeholders and partners

· Uphold and actively promote the charity’s values and aims.

· Support the Alliance's representation and influencing work across the health system

· Champion the role of the VCSE sector in addressing health inequalities

________________________________________

Person Specification

Essential Experience and Skills

· Senior-level experience in either finance, procurement, or governance within the public, private, or voluntary sector

· Understanding of charity governance and trustee responsibilities

· Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

· Experience in strategic planning and risk management

· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

· An understanding of or connection with North West London.

Desirable Experience

· Knowledge of the health and social care landscape in North West London

· Understanding of integrated care systems and NHS structures

· Previous board or trustee experience

Personal Qualities

· Commitment to reducing health inequalities and improving community wellbeing

· Strong ethical principles and commitment to public service

· Ability to work collaboratively as part of a diverse board

· Strategic thinking and ability to analyse complex information

Time Commitment

· Board meetings bi-monthly (6 per year)

· Annual Board Strategy Away Day

· Additional time for document review and strategic planning sessions

Remuneration

This is a voluntary position. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed according to our trustee expenses policy.

This is an exciting time in our growth as we look to grow our governance systems, build on our successes and ensure we are a radical, dynamic organisation rooted in our anti-racist and anti-oppressive values.  We are looking for a new Chair for our Trustee board, to join us and help lead and shape the future of the organisation. 

Do you want to help promote social mobility, and diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)? Can you play a valuable strategic leadership role in a charity that supports young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds to achieve their potential and progress to careers in STEM?

Remuneration: The Trustee role is not remunerated, travel and other reasonable expenses may be claimed.

Location: Remote, with one in person strategy meeting in London per year.

Time Commitment: Four board meetings per year, plus up to three virtual committee meetings per year (depending on committee membership) and a small amount of support and advice as required between meetings.

Application Submission: The application deadline is 17:00 on the 2nd of June 2025 

Overview of In2scienceUK

In2scienceUK is a charity with a mission to empower young people from low-socioeconomic backgrounds to achieve upward social mobility by unlocking their potential to access degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). 

Responsibilities

The role of a Trustee is to ensure that In2scienceUK fulfils its duty to the young people with whom it works and delivers on its vision. The trustees of In2scienceUK fulfil an essential and influential role, and have the opportunity to both support the activities and strategic decision making of the charity.

Trustees have collective responsibility for the strategy and oversight of the charity and the trustee board works as a team to fulfill its statutory role, to provide help and advice to the staff team, and to represent the organisation in their respective networks.

The expected duties of an In2scienceUK trustee are:

•  To contribute actively to teamwork within the Board of Trustees, providing strong strategic direction to the organisation in line with its mission and purpose.
• To safeguard the reputation and values of In2scienceUK and ensure the effective and efficient administration and financial stability of In2scienceUK.
• Support the effective running of the organisation, by scrutinising the work of the leadership team in a way that is supportive and motivational. Trustees collectively hold executive staff to account for their performance, are involved in executive appointments as appropriate and appoint a Chief Executive Officer whenever necessary.
• Serve in one or more subgroups of the board for a deeper dive into Income/Growth, Operational Assurance, Evaluation & Learning, and People.
• To ensure that in2scienceUK complies with articles of association and fulfils charity commission responsibilities.

Experience and skills

The most important characteristic of our trustees is a commitment to helping young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds access social mobility through careers in STEM, and so helping to ensure that the STEM professions are populated by people reflecting diverse backgrounds, in all respects including socio-economic background.

We need the right mix of skills overall and anticipate making 4-6 appointments in this round who will work collaboratively to ensure good governance and the success of the organisation. Specific areas where we would like to strengthen the team, bearing in mind our natural turnover and our strategy for the future, are listed below. If you are able to contribute in one or more of these areas, please make this especially clear in your application.

Lived experience: Personal experience of transitioning into STEM degrees and careers from an underrepresented background.

• We are interested in applications from young people still going through this transition, for example undertaking undergraduate study, and for whom we can provide additional support in the trustee role as needed; we see this as an excellent development opportunity and a chance to get governance and leadership experience on the CV in line with our overall mission.

• We would welcome applications from current In2scienceUK participants and alumni. Trustees are required to be 18 years or older.

• We are also interested in hearing from people with current experience of working with young people undertaking this transition.

Professional expertise:  Finance, Communications, HR, Governance, Entrepreneurship, Fundraising and philanthropy, Career advice/coaching

• The whole of the board is responsible for key decisions such as budget setting, strategy, policies and prioritisation, however it is useful to have subject experts who can take a functional lead on helping ensure colleagues are asking the right questions and getting good answers.

Commercial contacts:  An understanding of corporate social responsibility and sponsorship, networks in industries and organisations that employ STEM professionals

Subject areas: Personal experience and industry or academic contacts in the following subject areas 

• Maths/Computing/AI, 

• Life Sciences, 

• Physical Engineering.

Treasurer: We are currently seeking a Treasurer to join the board of Trustees and take the lead on finance. This is an immediate vacancy with our current Treasurer coming to the end of their term. The Treasurer will be a qualified accountant. We are looking for people who have pre-existing experience or desire to support an organisation of our size. As such, the role will be both providing financial oversight and governance as well as providing advice, support and guidance to our executive team. Those applying without prior charity accounting experience should be willing to undertake any relevant training.

Chair succession: While not an immediate appointment, as part of managing Chair succession we are interested in people who would be candidates for a chair designate role and chair in due course, probably via an initial Vice Chair position within the organisation. 

For those who have any further questions or would like an initial discussion about these roles with our current Chair, Jonathan Flowers, please contact us. ( Our email address can be found in the documents under 'Application resources').

Recruitment Process

The application deadline is 17:00 on the 2nd of June 2025 

Please send a covering letter and CV about how you would contribute to the work of the trustee board . Please ensure you set out specifically how you would want to contribute and the experience, skills or insights you would offer us, based on the list of skills and experiences above. We would like each applicant to include a concise (no more than 2 sides of A4) cover letter that goes beyond repeating their CV.

Equal opportunities

In2scienceUK is committed to promoting diversity and equality of opportunity for all staff and trustees. Applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of ethnicity, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships.

As part of our commitment to creating a more inclusive environment, we ask all applicants to complete an equality and diversity monitoring form ( link can be found in the 'How to apply' section on Charity Job). This information is collected anonymously and used solely for monitoring and reporting purposes. It helps us to better understand who we are reaching, identify gaps in representation, and ensure that opportunities at In2scienceUK are accessible to all. All responses are kept confidential in line with data protection regulations.

Governance

We kindly ask all prospective trustees to complete a Declaration of Interest form as part of the application process. This helps ensure transparency and allows us to assess any potential conflicts of interest, ensuring the best governance for our charity. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated as we work to strengthen our board and further our mission.

Interview and selection

Successful candidates from the application stage will be interviewed by existing trustees.  The interviews will all be held via Zoom and take place between the 7th and 21st of July.

Safeguarding

In2scienceUK is committed to our responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults as outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children. We are committed to recruiting trustees who share this commitment to safeguarding, and therefore we apply robust recruitment and selection procedures to ensure that the people selected are right for the job, and that all candidates are appropriately screened prior to appointment. 

The following checks will be undertaken as applicable:

• References 

• DBS check and/or Overseas criminal records check where applicable

• Self-Disclosure 

• Identity check 

• Confirmation of registration with applicable registered body where applicable 

Further information can be found in the documents below.

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. 

Help us grow our young charity to get more children learning about germinating, nurturing, cooking and tasting food grown in nature, together with outdoor woodland activities.  This important part of learning is not yet in the national curriculum and school budgets are tight, so we need to fundraise.  Your help with this and the general develpment of the charity will be greatly valued..

We have three other trustees and three executive staff including the two founders. We hold at least quarterly virtual meetings which we'd wish you to attend. 

Most of our work is in West London schools but we also plant large numbers of trees, recenty in a London Park, involving local community volunteers and children from the local schools..

Please get in touch if this of interest.  We'd love to hear from you. .

At PAS we believe that everyone has the right to be treated fairly, properly and with respect. Prisoners can be ‘ out of sight, out of mind’, or considered to not be as deserving of good treatment as other people – but not for PAS; our reason for existing is ensuring that prisoners can fully exercise their rights.

It is my privilege to be Chair of Trustees for PAS, I believe that the work we do is fundamental to my belief that we judge our society by the way in which we treat the most vulnerable people. Contrary to popular culture, prisoners are some of the most vulnerable, neglected people in our society, and I am proud to be a part of an organisation that helps to protect them.

My fellow trustees are an impressive group of people, actively engaged with PAS, who energise me whenever I meet with them. However, our numbers have dwindled over the past year, as it can been difficult for people to fit in the demands of being a trustee around their busy lives. We also very sadly lost one of our most long-standing trustees to cancer – he is still sorely missed by us.

If you feel that you could offer your skills and experience, but most importantly your commitment and enthusiasm to our cause, we would be very interested in considering you joining us as a new Trustee.

As a Trustee, you will contribute to the strategic governance of the organisation and the setting and monitoring of overall policy; refine strategic priorities; agree targets and budgets; evaluate organisational performance and help the organisation fundraise.

Meetings take place quarterly in central London in the evening (with some virtual attendance), with additional attendance requested at Awaydays and PAS’s Annual Lecture and debates.

The Board encourages applications from candidates with disabilities or experience of mental health services, as well as black and minority ethnic applicants and ex-prisoners.

PAS does not accept Home Office or Prison Service money as this may affect its independence.

  Trustees are volunteers, but travel costs and reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

The Prisoners’ Advice Service (PAS) is the only independent registered charity dedicated to offering free legal advice and representation to adult prisoners on their rights and prison rules in England and Wales.

Are you passionate about the natural world and inspiring others to engage with it?

Join us as a Trustee at the Field Studies Council and help shape the future of environmental education.

• You can be based anywhere in the UK
• You’ll need to commit approx. 10 days a year
• It’s a voluntary position but reasonable expenses are reimbursed

About Us

Field Studies Council is an environmental education charity. For over 80 years, we've been inspiring people to understand and care for the natural world. Through our network of centres across the UK, we provide fieldwork and outdoor learning experiences for all ages — from school groups and university students to families and lifelong learners.

We are a leader in biodiversity training, the publisher of best-selling wildlife ID guides, and a champion for accessible outdoor education, particularly for disadvantaged young people. Our mission is simple but vital: to create outstanding opportunities that inspire everyone to engage with and care for the environment.

Your Opportunity to Make a Difference

We’re currently looking to appoint four new Trustees to bring fresh perspectives and help us grow in diversity, representation and expertise. As a Trustee, you'll help guide and shape our charity’s future.

While the day-to-day running of our charity is handled by our staff and volunteers, the Board of Trustees plays a key role in making sure everything stays on track.

That includes overseeing our work, making big-picture decisions, and ensuring we meet our legal and regulatory responsibilities. It’s an important role, but you won’t be doing it alone. You will:

• Provide strategic oversight and guidance to support our mission and values
• Use your insight and experience to influence decisions that impact tens of thousands of learners annually
• Act as an ambassador for environmental education and social inclusion
• Contribute to Board and committee meetings, and participate in key annual activities including visiting one of our field centres each year to see our work in action
• Use your knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to help us innovate, grow, and reach more people

Who We’re Looking For

You don’t need to be an academic, ecologist or environmentalist to join us or have charity trustee, company director or equivalent experience — we welcome applicants from all walks of life. We are especially interested in candidates with skills in:

• Charity governance
• Finance (qualified professionals – potential Honorary Treasurer role)
• Fundraising & stakeholder engagement
• Marketing & communications

Above all, we want individuals who are:

• Passionate about equal access to outdoor learning
• Ready to speak up and bring a new perspective
• Willing to give their time and energy to support the Field Studies Council

We’re committed to building a Trustee board that is inclusive, representative, and reflective of the diverse communities we serve.

We warmly encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in charity governance — including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ communities, young people, and those with lived experience of social or economic disadvantage.

If you're excited by our mission and ready to help others experience the power of nature, we’d love to hear from you.
 

What’s Involved

• Approx. 10 days per year commitment for an initial 3-year term (this includes board and committee meetings, and a centre visit)
• Most meetings are held virtually, with one in-person event annually
• All reasonable expenses are covered
• Appropriate training and support will be provided

Please download the Trustee Candidate Information Pack to learn more and take the next step in helping us connect people with the natural world

About the National Tremor Foundation: 

The National Tremor Foundation (NTF) is a leading charity dedicated to providing support and advocacy for individuals living with neurological tremor-related conditions, including Essential Tremor (ET) and other movement disorders. Our mission is to improve the lives of those affected by tremor through research, education, and the provision of vital services.

Position Overview: 

The National Tremor Foundation is seeking a passionate and dedicated individual to join our Board of Trustees

Trustees provide strategic leadership and governance, ensuring that the Foundation fulfils its mission and objectives while adhering to legal and regulatory requirements. This is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of people living with all kinds of neurological tremors.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Strategic Leadership: Work closely with the Chairperson and other trustees to provide strategic direction and oversee the implementation of the Foundation’s mission, vision, and values. 

• Governance and Oversight: Ensure that the Foundation complies with all legal and regulatory requirements and uphold the highest standards of governance. This includes financial oversight and reviewing organisational performance. 

• Fundraising and Advocacy: Support fundraising efforts by leveraging personal networks, helping raise the Foundation’s profile, and engaging with key stakeholders. Advocate for the needs of people living with all kinds of neurological tremor. 

• Policy and Program Development: Contribute to the development and review of policies and programs that meet the needs of those living with neurological tremors and their families and care giver. 

• Risk Management: Ensure that the Foundation is effectively managing risks and developing strategies to mitigate them. 

• Collaboration and Support: Engage with staff, volunteers, and the community to support the delivery of services and activities. 

Skills and Experience: 

• Experience in Governance: Previous experience in a trustee or non-profit governance role is highly desirable, although not essential. 

• Commitment to the Mission: A passion for improving the lives of individuals living with neurological tremors and a commitment to the mission of the National Tremor Foundation. 

• Skills in Leadership: Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills. The ability to build relationships and work effectively with diverse stakeholders. 

• Financial Acumen: Experience with financial oversight and the ability to understand budgets and financial statements. 

• Fundraising or Advocacy Experience: Experience in fundraising, marketing, or advocacy would be beneficial but is not essential. 

• Personal Qualities: A collaborative and solution-oriented approach, with a strong commitment to inclusion, diversity, and empathy for those affected by tremor conditions. 

• Medical Knowledge: Having a medical background would be advantageous for this role, especially someone that is aware of the current care pathways and treatment options for neurological tremors.

Time Commitment: 

Trustees are expected to attend at least four Board meetings per year (approximately 2 hours each), plus additional time for fundraising activities and events. Trustees will also be required to attend our annual conference and other ad-hoc meetings as necessary. Trustees are also expected to take on a portfolio lead and provide support to the General Manager to deliver on this. 

Term: 

Trustees are appointed for a three-year term, with the possibility of reappointment for a further term. 

Do you want to co-ordinate vegan volunteering?

As an Organiser, you would be the caretaker of your local area. This is the more time-intensive role but so rewarding! Tasks would be emailed to you directly every month by our Volunteering Coordinator, who would be your main point of contact here at The Vegan Society. It would then be your job to send out the task to Advocates in your local area and get feedback from them. You'll also be able to ask your Advocates for help with any stalls and lobbying. Every Organiser receives an outreach pack, including a table runner, leaflets and banners. We make sure you are fully supported with an Organisers' WhatsApp group for socialising and ideas. We also have a monthly gathering on video.

What does the Organiser role involve? 

Every month, you will be sent a collection of tasks to choose from. We create these from our programme of campaigns. You would be the point of contact for Advocates in your area, sharing these tasks and coordinating activities, such as stalls and lobbying councillors. We will provide you with a campaign toolkit and be in regular contact with you to ensure you have everything you need. You will also be invited to our private Facebook group and WhatsApp chat.

We would expect you to provide any updates from your group and give feedback on each task. It's vital that we measure the impact that we are having, in terms of positive conversations and leaflets handed out. You can also give us ideas you have for future outreach tasks or campaigning. Many Organisers find a huge sense of satisfaction, improvement in self-esteem and enjoy the social side of volunteering in this role.

You will also be responsible for welcoming new Advocates in your area. We will let you know when somebody new applies, and you will help them to get involved with any activities. As the main contact for Advocates, this role does require some awareness of safeguarding and data protection procedures and policy. There will be full training on your role in this, as well as a handbook and ongoing guidance and support. 

What training and support is available? 

There will be a full induction to the role, with a gradual introduction of new tasks and responsibilities. To start with, we will provide an initial training session to cover the basics of community organising, communication skills and event planning. This will be done remotely from wherever you are. Along with this, we will provide a full pack of resources that covers a range of work that we do. 

From there, there will be regular conversations and reviews, where we can discuss other training requirements. Staff are always available to Organisers for any questions, via phone or email. 

What skills would be useful in doing this role? 

• Great organisational skills
• Experience of coordinating people
• Experience of working to specific dates and deadlines
• Good time keeping
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to motivate people around the topic of veganism
• Ability to stick to branding
• Ability to read emails in a timely manner and translate tasks into actions quickly
• Ability to report back on activities
• Excellent knowledge of vegan issues

How much time do I need to invest?

You should be able to commit around two days a month to carry out actions, and this is usually spread out across the month. We also expect timely responses to emails. When a new Advocate applies to work with you, we would like them to be contacted within seven days via email.

About Us

My Black Dog is a charity that offers anonymous, peer to peer mental health support through our web-chat service. We are committed to making a positive impact on mental health in the UK as we tackle an epidemic that millions of people face.

We were founded on the motto "talk to someone who gets it". We want to connect people who share lived experiences to provide an empathetic, non-judgmental space where everybody understands how it feels to experience mental health struggles.

Position Overview

Our web-chat service is run by our Volunteer Pack, each of whom have their own lived experience of mental health challenges. In addition, each shift has a 'Leader' and a 'Mentor'. These are Volunteers who carry out specific roles during the shift and, together, ensure its success:

• Leaders - Managers of the shift. There to ensure the shift runs as it should. They support and guide Volunteers through chats and follow safeguarding processes when an alert is raised. They are also the first point of contact for the shift’s Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Mentors - There to support and guide Volunteers through chats. Will take over from the Leader if there are safeguarding issues that need the Leader's attention and/or if the Leader needs a break.

As My Black Dog looks to expand our opening hours, we are looking to recruit additional Leaders and Mentors who can run shifts and cover additional shifts as necessary.

Leaders and Mentors will be assigned a shift based on your availability and preference. The expectation is that Leaders and Mentors will form a ‘pair’ and, together, will do one shift at the same time each week. This is to provide stability, predictability and to encourage community-building between Volunteers. Shifts are usually 3 hours long. We may ask you to cover another shift when we are short, but you will never do more than 6 hours per week.

Training will be provided and you will be supported on shift by a Designated Safeguarding Lead, who will manage all safeguarding issues.

The work you will do as Leaders and Mentors will ensure we provide the best possible service to our Guests. You will also be helping our Volunteer Pack to do what we do best: helping those in need by speaking to someone who 'gets it'.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for people who have experienced their own journey with mental health and are in a strong position to support others. We ask that our Leaders and Mentors:

• Are strongly committed to helping others
• Have experienced mental health issues in order to relate to those seeking help
• Are collaborative and enjoy working with others
• Are encouraging and supportive
• Are organised and can monitor several things at once
• Can remain calm and focused during busy times and when safeguarding alerts are raised
• Are 18 years and over 
• Can commit the time to a regular weekly shift

We are particularly interested in hearing from people who are available during the following hours:

• Monday to Sunday, 5pm-7pm
• Friday and Saturday, 7pm-10pm

Role Responsibilities

1. Supervise and support Volunteers whilst on shift with general enquiries, positive feedback and signposting.
2. Assist with general volunteering enquiries whilst on shift. Provide time for guidance, instruction and de-briefing for Volunteers if required.
3. Follow Leaders & Mentors processes including unexpected absence reporting, Volunteer check-in and check-out, and completing Shift Handovers.
4. Monitor web-chat conversations and ensure all chats are tagged.
5. Maintain ability to listen, remain calm and provide intervention if necessary.
6. Be able to have difficult and often complex conversations about mental health, including Guests experiencing crisis and first-stage intervention support.
7. If a Leader, work alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) when safeguarding risks are identified and, if a Mentor, take over responsibility for shifts when Leader and DSL have to address a safeguarding crisis.
8. Exercise discretion in handling confidential situations and information, conveying sensitive information in a timely manner to necessary individuals.
9. Provide written follow up of shifts via handover, ensuring all necessary information is handed over at the end of the shift.
10. Adhere to all standards, policies and procedures of My Black Dog.

Please note: An Enhanced DBS Certificate is required for this role. If you do not have one, My Black Dog will arrange the DBS Check for you.