Area chair volunteer jobs

Contract: Full-time, permanent
Hours: Full-time
Reports to: Chair; Board of Directors 
Location: Hackney
Salary: £50,000-60,000 depending on experience.
Pension: HSoF participates in the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) pension scheme and contributes 3%.
Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, free onsite lunches .
Probation period: Six months.

About Hackney School of Food

Hackney School of Food is an award-winning food education hub based in the grounds of Mandeville Primary School in Clapton, East London. Through our teaching kitchen and educational garden, we help children, families and communities build the skills, confidence and knowledge to grow, cook and eat good food.

Each year, we welcome more than 10,000 visits to our kitchen and garden, delivering curriculum programmes for schools alongside community cooking courses, gardening projects, holiday clubs, corporate volunteering and public events. Since becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC) in 2023, we have expanded our facilities, strengthened our governance and built a strong reputation as a leader in food education.

We're now looking for an exceptional Managing Director to build on these strong foundations and lead Hackney School of Food through its next phase of growth and impact.

About the role

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Managing Director (MD) will provide both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring the organisation delivers its mission while remaining financially resilient, well-governed and responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.

The Managing Director is responsible for all aspects of the organisation, including strategy, income generation, finance, governance, partnerships, programme delivery and people leadership. Working closely with a small, committed team and an engaged Board, they will build on strong foundations to grow Hackney School of Food's impact, reach and long-term sustainability.

This is a varied, hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys balancing big-picture thinking with practical delivery. One day you may be developing a new partnership, meeting a prospective funder or working with the Board on future strategy; the next you could be supporting the team, welcoming visitors to the garden or solving day-to-day operational challenges.

Key priorities

In your first 12 months you will:

• Build on Hackney School of Food's strong foundations to deliver the next phase of our strategy and growth.

• Increase and diversify income through fundraising, partnerships and commercial opportunities to strengthen long-term sustainability.

• Lead, support and develop a small, ambitious team, fostering a positive and inclusive culture where people can thrive.

• Strengthen relationships with funders, partners and local businesses, helping Hackney School of Food deepen its impact.

• Work closely with the Board to embed strong governance, organisational systems and long-term planning for the future.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for Hackney School of Food, ensuring delivery of its mission, vision and long-term objectives. 

• Lead the development and implementation of Hackney School of Food's annual business plan and organisational priorities.

• Work with the Board to evolve organisational strategy, identify opportunities, manage risks and support sustainable growth.

• Monitor, report on and respond to organisational performance against agreed objectives and impact measures. 

• Champion Hackney School of Food externally, strengthening its profile and influence.
   

Financial sustainability and income generation 

• Oversee organisational budgeting, financial planning, forecasting and cashflow management, working closely with the Treasurer and accountant.

• Lead income generation across the organisation, including trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, sponsorship and earned income.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, sponsors and strategic partners.

• Ensure all funding commitments are met, including grant reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements.

• Identify new opportunities to diversify income and strengthen long-term financial sustainability.

Partnerships & External Relations

• Act as the main point of contact for HSoF’s key partners, LEAP Federation and Chefs in Schools to ensure the partnerships are effective and positive.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with other key stakeholders, including local authorities, funders and sponsors.

• Represent Hackney School of Food at meetings, events, and public forums.

• Champion the value of food education and contribute to wider local and national conversations. 

• Ensure programmes remain responsive to community needs through ongoing engagement and consultation. 

Governance and public benefit 

• Ensure the organisation operates in line with its CIC objectives and delivers clear public benefit. 

• Support the Board of Directors to fulfil its governance responsibilities through high-quality reporting, planning and decision-making.

• Prepare Board papers, reports and agendas, ensuring timely and accurate information is available to support effective governance.

• Oversee and report on organisational performance to the Board of Directors quarterly.

• Act as the primary link between the Board and the operational team.

• Maintain effective governance, delegated authority and accountability frameworks. 

• Support the Board in meeting all statutory and regulatory obligations relating to the CIC.

People, Culture and safeguarding

• Provide leadership to a small core team (currently c.4 employees), directly managing staff and fostering a positive, inclusive culture. 

• Provide oversight and support for a wider network of approx. 15 freelance contractors to ensure consistently high-quality delivery.

• Lead recruitment, induction, performance management and professional development in line with safer recruitment and equality principles. 

• Ensure effective organisational structures, clear roles, and performance accountability.

• Oversee HR processes including appraisals, performance management, and professional development.

• Act as Designated Safeguarding Lead, embedding safeguarding throughout the organisation maintaining compliance with all relevant requirements. 

• Develop organisational systems, policies and practices that support an inclusive, high-performing workplace.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Maintain and regularly review the organisational Risk Register and report key risks and mitigations to the Board.

• Oversee organisational policies, procedures and continuous improvement, ensuring policies and legal requirements are up to date, clearly communicated and embedded across the organisation. 

• Ensure compliance with employment law, health and safety, safeguarding, GDPR and other relevant legislation. 

Personal specification

Essential experience 

• Senior leadership experience with responsibility for organisational performance and accountability. 

• Experience securing income through fundraising, partnerships and/or commercial activity.

• Experience of financial leadership, including budget setting, forecasting and cashflow oversight.

• Experience working closely with a Board, Trustees or governing body to translate strategic vision into operational delivery. 

• Experience building and managing successful partnerships with funders, businesses and community stakeholders. 

• Experience in managing and motivating a team, creating a positive and inclusive workplace culture. 

• Experience of governance, compliance and organisational risk management.

• Experience of safeguarding within an education, youth or community context.

• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands, make sound decisions and remain resilient in a resource-constrained environment.

Essential skills and attributes

• Passion for Hackney School of Food's mission and the role of food education in improving health, wellbeing and community connection. 

• Strategic thinker who is equally comfortable with hands-on operational leadership. 

• Entrepreneurial, resourceful and committed to building long-term financial sustainability and identifying growth opportunities.

• Ability to lead a team through change with sensitivity, clarity and kindness.

• Strong communicator with excellent relationship-building skills. 

• Confident decision-maker with a high level of personal accountability. 

• Committed to equity, inclusion and community-led practice.

Desirable 

• Experience working within a Community Interest Company (CIC), social enterprise or charity.

• Knowledge of Hackney, its communities and local stakeholder landscape.

• Experience of working in food education, community food, gardening, environmental education or a related field.

• Experience reviewing and managing contracts, service agreements or other legal documentation.

An inclusive workplace

We know that diverse teams make stronger organisations and are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment and will consider all qualified applicants regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

We particularly encourage applications from people who are under-represented in our sector and in leadership roles, including people from the global majority and those whose lived experience brings valuable perspectives from the communities we serve. We also welcome applications from people who live in Hackney or East London.

How to apply

The deadline to apply is Monday 20 July at 9am. Please apply by filling out this application form.

You'll find the link to the application form on our Recruitment Pack which provides more information. 

Stage 1: A one-hour online interview with the Senior Team and Board (24 July) 

Stage 2: On-site interview at Hackney School of Food (30 July), including a short presentation. 

We may also invite the preferred candidate to an informal meeting with the wider team and Board before making a final appointment. 

The successful applicant will need to pass an enhanced DBS check and provide two suitable references. 

We may close the application window earlier if we are inundated with applications, so please don't wait to apply.

If you have any questions about the role or your suitability, please feel free to get in touch with us. You will find a Recruitment pack and email address to contact via our website.

We’re looking for an enthusiastic and passionate Head of Fundraising to play a significant role in the growth of Bags of Taste. 

This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated and proactive individual who is keen to make a tangible difference. The issues of health and well-being across the population and food insecurity are urgent and our work directly addresses these critical issues. 

You’ll be responsible for fundraising and delivering a plan to raise funds from a variety of sources - including trusts and foundations, digital fundraising and individual giving. You’ll work with our corporate and community fundraiser to raise income through corporate partnerships and community fundraising. We expect that trusts and foundations funding will form a large part of this role and this includes securing larger and multi year grants. 

Bags of Taste is a small and ambitious charity and you’ll be an integral part of our growth and be able to make this your own role. Working closely with our CEO and being part of the management team, you’ll be involved in organisation wide decision making and strategy. 

We’re looking for someone with a track record in fundraising and income generation within the charity sector, who shares our commitment to empowering local people and creating happier and healthier communities for life.

Key responsibilities

Whilst we appreciate that many fundraising skills can be transferable, we’re looking specifically for someone with charity fundraising experience for this role. 

Income generation

• Develop and implement a fundraising strategy to raise funds from a variety of sources(trusts and foundations,companies, individuals, digital fundraising, the community and events).
• Research funding opportunities and develop and approach a pipeline of prospects
• Implement systems across Bags of Taste to ensure all funding is maximised
• Achieve agreed income targets
• Prepare budgets and track income and forecasts
• Develop persuasive funding proposals,cases for support and reports
• Develop new funding or partnership opportunities through presentations, applications, pitches and proposals
• Create awareness of fundraising at Bags of Taste 
• Attend networking events  

Relationship Development and Stewardship 

• Build and maintain relationships with funders, partners, donors, trustees and key stakeholders
• Ensure excellent stewardship for all funders and donors in order to build strong, long term relationships. 

Management 

• Manage the Corporate and Community Fundraiser
• Manage any other fundraising team members if the team grows
• Manage and support any volunteers and work with external agencies/partners.

General 

• Maintain accurate records across all fundraising income streams including contact and relationship and financial data
• Ensure all activity complies with all fundraising regulations, GDPR and all relevant legal requirements 
• Prepare reports and data for the Board of Trustees/management team
• Support finance staff with preparation of the annual accounts and financial recording
• Monitor and manage fundraising risks
• Attend and support networking events or other events or fundraising activity as required to represent Bags of Taste, including occasional working outside of normal office hours, including some evenings or weekend

Person specification

Essential 

• A minimum of 3 years’ experience managing a number of fundraising streams in a charity
• Experience of successfully securing large/multi-year grants from trusts and foundations
• Track record of reaching income targets.
• Experience of developing fundraising strategies and plans 
• Experience of managing staff
• Exceptional interpersonal and presentation skills 
• Excellent written skills - you’ll need to be able to write compelling presentations, proposals, applications and reports
• Excellent relationship builder and ability to network, build, and nurture relationships with a wide variety of people
• Strong negotiation skills
• Excellent organisation and project management skills and ability to work to tight deadlines
• Proactive, self motivated and tenacious 
• Self starter with the ability to set your own workload
• Strong attention to detail 
• Strong IT skills including all word packages 
• Good knowledge of all social media channels including relationship building on Linked in 
• Good understanding of the relevant fundraising codes of practice and GDPR/data protection
• Passion for the work of Bags of Taste 
• Flexible and able to attend networking events/events occasionally out of work hours as part of the role.

Desirable

• A relevant professional qualification eg Institute of Fundraising Certificate or Diploma in Fundraising 
• Experience of charity communications
• Good understanding of CANVA and WordPress
• Good understanding and knowledge of food insecurity and health issues

We recommend you read the full job pack before applying. 

Why join Bags of Taste?

● You’ll be part of a small, ambitious organisation with a big vision and a strong sense of purpose. The issues around health inequalities and poor diets and the need for solutions are critical. There are lots of opportunities to raise funds. 

● This is a hugely flexible role in a supportive organisation.

About Bags of Taste

The work of Bags of Taste and the issues that we tackle are highly topical and relevant so there's lots of opportunities and scope to raise funds. Our vision that everyone should be able to access and cook good food has never been more important. 

We address dietary related health inequalities and food insecurity - both these issues have been exacerbated by the current cost of living crisis and public health challenges. There is recognition now that food banks are not a sustainable solution and Bags of Taste works across a number of high need communities enabling people to be happier, healthier and more resilient.

Salary:£53,500 - £56,268 per annum

Contract Type:      12-Month Fixed Term Contract

Closing date:  12 July 2026 at 11pm

Interview date: 15 - 17 July 2026

About CARE

CARE International is a global humanitarian organisation leading the fight to end poverty in the world’s most challenging situations. Women and girls are at the centre of our work, because we cannot overcome poverty and inequality until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We know that when a crisis erupts, women are often the first to pick up the pieces, so we work alongside women, so they have the power to make change where it’s needed most. Founded in 1945, CARE currently works in over 100 countries and last year alone reached 53.4 million people through nearly 1,500 projects.

Why work for CARE International UK?

This is an exciting time to join CARE International UK. We are embarking on a new four-year organisational strategy, and our Advocacy and Influencing Team sits at the heart of it - leading efforts to sure up the UK Government's political commitment to women and girls, move power and resources to women-led organisations, and build networked advocacy for the issues we care most about.

This is also a pivotal moment for the wider sector. In a political environment marked by growing scepticism toward international aid, the mainstreaming of anti-gender narratives, and increasingly polarised public discourse, the case for gender equality has never needed making more urgently or more skilfully. At CIUK, you'll be working at the frontline of that challenge, helping to ensure or advocacy on gender equality is not only technically rigorous but politically resonant and accessible to the audiences who are shaping the debate.

About you

You are an experienced, politically astute advocate with a strong track record of influencing policy change on gender equality or international development. You thrive in complex, collaborative environments and know how to translate evidence into compelling political asks.

You will bring:

· Significant advocacy or public affairs experience, with a deep understanding of the UK Government, Parliament, and relevant political institutions

· Demonstrable expertise on gender in emergencies, violence against women and girls, or related areas of international development

· Experience developing and delivering successful policy initiatives that have shifted attitudes, behaviour or legislation

· Strong leadership skills, including experience managing teams across time zones and working in co-management or consortium structures

· Excellent communication skills (written and oral) with the ability to distil complexity for senior political audiences and the confidence to speak to media

· A genuine commitment to feminist principles, equity, diversity and inclusion, and to centring the voices of women's rights organisations in advocacy work

Experience working on violence against women and girls and familiarity with FCDO-funded programmes, are highly desirable.

About the role

This is a rare opportunity to lead advocacy on two of the most important fronts in international development. You will co-lead the External Engagement and Influencing workstream of What Works to Prevent Violence – Impact at Scale (What Works II), a FCDO-funded programme working to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls globally. Alongside this, you will drive CIUK's own influencing work on gender equality, shaping UK Government policy and building CIUK's reputation as a thought leader on gender justice.

You will co-manage a global team of six advocacy and communications professionals for What Works and represent CIUK at senior levels across FCDO and UK Parliament, with sector colleagues, global and domestic women’s rights organisations and influential thought leaders. You will oversee the development of high-impact advocacy products, events and influencing strategies for both briefs.

This role sits in the Programme and Policy team and is line-managed by the Head of Advocacy & Influencing.

Right to Work in the UK

All applicants must have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom at the time of appointment. Proof of right to work will be required as part of the recruitment process. For more information, please visit the UK Government's guidance on right to work.

Where you do not have current right to work in the UK, then this will be discussed with you as part of the recruitment process. Please note that not all roles are eligible for sponsorship and further information (should you require sponsorship to work in the UK) on eligibility can be found here.

Safeguarding 

CARE International UK has a zero-tolerance approach to any abuse to, sexual harassment of or exploitation of, a vulnerable adult or child by any of our staff, representatives or partners. CARE International UK expects all staff to share this commitment through our Safeguarding Policy (link here) and our Code of Conduct (link here). They are responsible for ensuring they understand and work within the remit of these policies throughout their time at CARE International UK.

Safeguarding our beneficiaries is our top priority in everything we do, including recruitment. All offers of employment at CARE International UK are subject to: 

· Satisfactory references. CARE International UK participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (link here).  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from successful applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. 

· Appropriate criminal record checks (including a Bridger check, link here).

By submitting an application, the applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures. 

Equality and Diversity

We are committed to Equality and value Diversity. We are a Disability Confident Employer and particularly welcome applications from disabled people. We guarantee interviews to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role (see person specification). If you require the candidate brief or need to submit your application in an alternative format, because of a disability, please do get in touch by sending an email to the HR Team.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We particularly welcome applications from people of underrepresented backgrounds, including those from Black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities, and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

Job Purpose 

To provide a physiotherapy service as part of a multi-disciplinary team, on a part-time basis

Key Working Relationships

Physiotherapists are self-employed contractors and report to the Clinical Lead.

Other key working relationships:

• Other physiotherapists within the team
• Other members of the services team
• Action for M.E. colleagues

Job Description

Key duties

• Respond to physiotherapy referrals
• Carry out assessments, provide advice and recommend interventions to manage the symptoms in patients with M.E./C.F.S. and related conditions, working with a whole person approach, and involving family/carers where appropriate
• Provide written reports for the person with M.E. and others involved in their care with consent of the patient
• Participate in clinical team meetings at least once a quarter (approximately 1 hour)
• Participate in quarterly physiotherapy team meetings (approximately 1 hour)

Key Tasks 

• Arrange and undertake consultations in the most appropriate manner for the patient - remotely by either telephone, Zoom or email.
• Record consultation details (date, length of consultation, charge) on Action for M.E.’s internal tracker for invoicing purposes
• Consider choices and in collaboration with the person with M.E., agree attainable and realistic goals, however small, during assessment
• Offer a selection of gentle progressive interventions to facilitate an improvement in their quality of life
• Offer follow-up consultations with patients by phone, Zoom or email
• Raise any safeguarding concerns to appropriate colleagues.

Working Practices  

• Seek to reduce fear associated with the illness and to create an environment for healing
• Offer clear and consistent information and advice to people with M.E. and their family/carers
• Work within Action for M.E. policies ensuring privacy and dignity.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Key requirements

• Must be registered HCPC
• Must be registered with Chartered Society of Physiotherapy or other professional body which can provide PLI
• Up to date professional indemnity insurance
• Safeguarding training to Level 3
• Eligible to work in the UK

Experience and Knowledge

May be varied but would typically include:

• Several years of post-graduate work experience in different aspects of the profession
• Familiarity with the NICE Guideline for the management of M.E. (2021)
• Experience in the management of long-term conditions
• Experience in the management of chronic pain and its impact on the quality of life
• Working in a multi-disciplinary team

Skills and Behaviours

• Excellent communication skills, in both active listening and careful word usage
• Proficient with Microsoft Office (including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) and the ability to quickly learn relevant bespoke software systems

Attitudes

• Understanding that ME/CFS is a complex biomedical condition
• A desire to help people holistically to manage their ME/CFS
• A willingness to think outside established protocols