Lead support volunteer volunteer roles in upminster, greater london

Are you committed to driving excellence and innovation? Do you have experience working within practitioners of Volunteer Education Programmes?

As a Community of Practice Officer, you will play a vital role in supporting and enhancing a national community of practice. You will focus on specific activities or areas within the community, ensuring that efforts align with national standards and priorities while avoiding duplication.

As a Community of Practice Officer, you will:

• Support the Community of Practice Lead in coordinating the community.
• Focus on specific activities or areas within the community of practice.
• Assist in delivering impactful initiatives and projects.
• Foster collaboration and strengthen professional engagement.
• Champion inclusivity and provide support to community members.
• Contribute to the overall success and development of the community.

For more information about this role, please see the role description.

The closing date for this vacancy is 08/08/2025

A fantastic opportunity to volunteer helping asylum seekers to find the access to legal help they deserve.

This is what current volunteers from the Legal Access Department say about their experience with C4C:

"Volunteering with Care4Calais looks different everyday but the impact is felt constantly. The people we support show undying resilience and it is a privilege to assist in their asylum journey. Care4Calais offer lots of support for volunteers and we are very well looked after and mentored"

Rosie (New Referrals Team)

‘’This experience has deepened my understanding of UK asylum policies and the immigration system while allowing me to develop valuable skills.’’ 

Leila (Asylum Team)

About us

Care4Calais is a volunteer-based charity providing essential aid and support for refugees in France and the UK.

In northern France we operate year-round from Calais, providing warm clothing, bedding, food and assistance to refugees who live in appalling and dangerous conditions. 

Across the UK we collect and distribute clothes, shoes, mobile phones and other essential items, as well as offering social support and interaction, including language lessons, sport and music workshops. We also help with vital access to legal, medical and educational services.

Our Legal Access Department is an access to justice project that exists to arrange critical legal representation for people seeking asylum and, more than this, to support people through the hostility and difficulty of claiming asylum. The department, made up mostly of volunteers, works tirelessly to ensure that people feel informed, empowered, and far less isolated and alone.

About the Role

As a volunteer in our Legal Access Department, you would be the first point of contact for asylum seekers requesting assistance. Your role would involve referring clients to the appropriate internal teams for support or signposting them to external services when we are unable to assist directly.

Our Legal Access Department includes the following teams:

• Age Dispute Team: Supports minors who have been incorrectly assessed as over 18 to challenge those decisions.

• Public Law Team: Assists clients in challenging inadequate accommodation that does not meet their specific needs.

• Asylum Team: Helps clients access legal representation for their asylum claims and supports them in preparing for asylum interviews.

• Notice of Intent Support: Assists clients whose asylum claims have been deemed inadmissible due to their travel route, helping them to find representation and challenge inadmissibility decisions.

You would communicate with clients via our internal messaging system and be responsible for referring cases to the appropriate team or signposting when needed.

We are looking for someone who thrives in a collaborative environment and wants to make a meaningful impact. If that sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!

A key part of the role involves maintaining accurate and complete referral information and delivering a high-quality service to each of our vulnerable clients.

Time Commitment
We ask volunteers to commit to a minimum of 4 hours per week. We're flexible in how this time is scheduled. Your shifts and tasks will be coordinated with the New Referral Team Lead to match team needs and your availability.

Training and Support
Successful applicants will receive a full induction and training to equip them for the role.

We are looking for individuals who are genuinely passionate about human rights and refugee protection. If this is you, please get in touch.

Responsibilities

• Communicate effectively and sensitively with clients, referring to different Legal Access Teams and signposting where appropriate

• Keep relevant referral records up to date to allow for teams' quick and effective retrieval.

• Attend and contribute meaningfully to team meetings.

• Ensure that any safeguarding concerns are identified and responded to appropriately.

• Commit weekly to the minimum hours required

Person Specification

Essential Criteria:

• Ability to work sensitively and effectively with a diverse range of clients, demonstrating cultural competence, respect and compassion.

• Resilience in the face of challenging and emotionally demanding situations, with a positive and solution-oriented mindset.

• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information clearly and concisely.

• Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to take initiative.

• Strong working knowledge of Google Workspace.

Preferable Criteria:

• Proficiency in one or more of the languages spoken within asylum seeking communities, such as but not limited to Arabic, Farsi, Pashto, Dari, Kurdish Sorani, Tigrinya, Amharic is a strong asset. 

• Having experience of the asylum system in the UK is a strong asset.

• Experience working with vulnerable communities

Lived Experience Inclusion:

We are an anti-racist organisation and a proud member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network (EBE), which aims to create a charitable sector led by individuals with lived experience of the asylum system.

As part of our membership, we are dedicated to creating inclusive employment practices that recognise and accommodate the unique circumstances and strengths of people with lived experience. We actively move away from a one-size-fits-all approach, ensuring our recruitment processes are fair, supportive, and accessible.

We warmly encourage applicants with lived experience to make use of the guidance and resources available on the EBE website (ebeemployment)

In addition, applicants with lived experience are welcome to connect with the EBE support team for tailored assistance with completing the application form and, where available, one-to-one interview preparation. 

Importantly, we recognise the significant cultural, linguistic, and experiential insights that individuals with lived experience of the UK asylum system bring to this role. As such, all applicants from this background who meet the essential criteria will be automatically shortlisted and invited to interview.

London City Mission (LCM) shares the gospel alongside the local church of London, equipping everyday Christians to lovingly bring a message of hope in Christ to those least likely to hear it.

Webber Street is LCM’S Day Centre for people who are homeless - based just around the corner from Waterloo station. We welcome up to 70 guests a day - we seek to give them not only relief from life on the streets, but also help in taking the first step out of homelessness.

We also seek to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of guests, as well as the physical ones, to help restore some of the dignity that life on the streets has taken from them and to share the life-transforming news of Jesus!

Role Description:

Morning Volunteer (Mondays to Thursdays 8:00-12:30)

This role involves serving our guests breakfast at our morning sessions when we usually have around 60-80 guests each session. Our volunteers come from many walks of life, backgrounds and church traditions, we want to make the best use of your gifts to connect with all of our guests and provide relevant support to them.

No. of volunteers required:  3 each morning

Afternoon Volunteer (Mondays to Thursdays 13:00-16:00)

You can also join us in helping at our weekly afternoon sessions when we have a smaller number of guests. Perhaps you have a gift of listening and coming alongside others; maybe you have artistic gifts where you can come up with new ideas for art and crafts activities and taking the lead in making these happen; maybe you have the skills to help the men with their CVs; maybe you like to show hospitality in welcoming our guests or have a heart serve drinks and refreshments; you can also join or be the lead of our weekly Bible Group.

Our weekly afternoon schedule are as follows:

Mondays- Arts group

Wednesdays- Bible group

Thursdays- Drop in (fortnightly)

No. of volunteers required:  2 each afternoon

Women only space (Fridays 9:00-12:30)

This is a designated safe space for women guests which operates once per week at our centre.  You can join our team if you would like to support our women guests.

Note: This is for female volunteers only

Centre Team

This role involves supporting the centre practically by working in our clothes store, assisting in the kitchen, and doing other practical jobs around the building such as maintenance. It's a hands-on type of role but a vital part of the ongoing ministry of Webber Street.

General Tasks

The role of volunteers at Webber Street Day Centre is to welcome and care for our guests from homeless communities. You will help to ensure smooth operation of the Day Centre by preparing the space and leaving, to help with respective activities based on its weekly programme. Specific duties will include some of the following:

Morning sessions:

o Meeting and welcoming the people who come to Webber Street Day Centre

o Assisting our staff and other volunteers in preparing the room for our guests and leaving it clean and tidy at the end of the session

o Socialising and chatting with those who attend

o Having gospel conversations with our guests

o Praying with guests at their request

o Signposting guests to where they can get help and advice

Afternoon sessions:

o Similar to the tasks in morning session, while volunteer may lead or help with art and craft activities, lead or help with bible group, welcoming guests and help with refreshments.

About You

We are looking for Christians have a compassionate heart to care for those on the margins of society and want to put their faith into action by serving.

We want to make the best use of your gifts and experience, as well as finding a time that fits with your schedule, so we’ll work with you to define how we can serve best. We have volunteers commit to come weekly, fortnightly or monthly etc.

You should be comfortable sharing your faith with guests at natural opportunities.

We are recruiting for a volunteer who would like to play a role in helping others to express themselves through writing. Would you like to support others to use their imagination to portray a message?

Creative writing is a great way to express yourself using your own creativity and imagination through story telling or poetry. It is an opportunity to reflect on your own experiences and put it down on paper. Creative writing has been shown to improve emotional and mental well-being. Through creative writing, we can gain insight into our emotions, develop self-expression and communication skills, cultivate empathy and understanding of others, boost our imagination and creativity.

About the service..

We work with people who need support with their mental health across London and the South East. Our support ranges from registered accommodation services for people with severe mental health conditions to drop-in community and crisis services.

In the last year, 9,499 adults accessed Hestia’s mental health support.

We help people to feel safe, develop hope for a better future, and achieve their personal goals. These goals may include rebuilding relationships with family members and friends or connecting more with their local community.

What you will be doing

• Lead and facilitate a weekly Creative Writing Group, encouraging participants to explore their thoughts and feelings through writing exercises, prompts, and storytelling.
• Guide a subsequent Feelings Forum where participants can share and discuss emotions sparked by the writing session or current experiences in a respectful and supportive atmosphere
• Foster an inclusive, non-judgmental environment where all voices are heard and valued
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to the organisation’s safeguarding and mental health protocols
• Prepare session materials and adapt activities to meet the needs of diverse participants

The skills you need

• Prepare session materials and adapt activities to meet the needs of diverse participants
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with sensitivity to mental health challenges
• Ability to facilitate group discussions and manage diverse emotional responses constructively
• Patience, empathy, and a non-judgmental approach.
• Training or experience in mental health, counselling, social work, or a related field is advantageous but not essential

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Are you committed to driving excellence and innovation? Do you have experience working within practitioners of Volunteer Education Programmes?

As a Community of Practice Officer, you will play a vital role in supporting and enhancing a national community of practice. You will focus on specific activities or areas within the community, ensuring that efforts align with national standards and priorities while avoiding duplication.

As a Community of Practice Officer, you will:

• Support the Community of Practice Lead in coordinating the community.
• Focus on specific activities or areas within the community of practice.
• Assist in delivering impactful initiatives and projects.
• Foster collaboration and strengthen professional engagement.
• Champion inclusivity and provide support to community members.
• Contribute to the overall success and development of the community.

For more information about this role, please see the role description.

The closing date for this vacancy is 08/08/2025

We are delighted to have secured funding to deliver a 24-month befriending programme. This exciting opportunity will support the delivery of our ambitious five-year strategy by:

- Promoting Independence - ensuring more older people can stay independent for longer

- Providing Connection - enabling friendship and social connection for older People

The befriending service will be provided through 2 different strands which aim to support older people in different ways based on the needs identified via an assessment. Clients will enter the strand that is most appropriate to their needs.

- Strand A: We will offer a local face-to-face service of up to 1 hour for 26 weeks. Strand A provision would be appropriate for older people who have experienced a recent life event, such as a hospital admission, bereavement or home move and who need time limited support and guidance to connect with suitable services and activities.

- Strands B: We will offer ongoing support either face-to- face of up to 1 hour or by telephone between 30 minutes and 1 hour. Strand B provision is for older people leaving Strand A that require long term support or for those who are identified as needing ongoing face-to-face or local telephone befriending support on entry to the programme. As a befriender you will be asked to select your type of volunteering preference.

Purpose of Role 

• Provide companionship, emotional support, and a listening ear to people who may be lonely or isolated. 

• Provide monthly reports to the Volunteer Manager on your client. 

Key tasks 

• Make a regular weekly visit or phone call to a client who has been matched to you, at a time suitable to the older person.

• Provide conversation and company. 

• Spend time chatting with the client, talking with them about their current and past life experiences. 

• Report any emerging issues or concerns that the older person has agreed to be shared with us such as safeguarding issues or a change in personal circumstance or health. 

• Make the client aware of any other services across AUKEL they may benefit from. 

• Maintain records of client contact and send this to the Volunteer Manager on a monthly basis. 

• Regularly meet with your befriending peers and supervisor, to share experiences, get support and reflect. 

Skills and attributes 

• Understanding loneliness and social isolation. 

• Good communication skills with a friendly approachable manner. 

• Keen on building a strong befriending relationship. 

• A desire to learn more about an individual and their interests and their past, and life history. 

• Consistency and reliability.

• Understanding of Confidentiality. 

• Understanding of and empathy with the needs of older people. 

• Patience and Sensitivity. 

• Confidence to deal with emergencies. 

• Record keeping.

• Basic IT skills. 

Support Provided 

• You will be inducted in cohorts with other volunteers. 

• Training for the role is provided including Safeguarding, Making Every Contact Count, Sexual Harassment and Building a positive volunteering experience and other more. 

• Ongoing support including regular supervision by the Volunteer Manager. 

• Goup supervision with other befrienders. Groups supervision is a safe place where you can share experiences, challenges, and successes, process emotion and learn from each other. 

• Reimbursement of agreed expenses.

• Access to an AGE UK Discount portal provided by Aon.  

• Monthly volunteer newsletter 

We hold an annual Volunteer Award event where we celebrate and recognise the contribution of our Volunteers! 

Benefits 

• Making a Difference: Volunteering allows you to have a tangible impact on someone's life, particularly those in vulnerable situations. Helping older people can provide a strong sense of accomplishment and purpose. 

• Emotional Rewards 

• Intergenerational Connections 

• Learning and Skill Development 

• Enhancing Career Prospects 

• Building Empathy and Compassion 

• Giving Back to the Community 

• Social and celebration events 

Commitment 

• We expect a minimum of 6 months commitment but would ideally prefer more of a longer-term commitment.

• Weekly commitment is between 30 minutes to 1 hour for client plus one/two hours monthly for reporting. 

Job Description:
Youth Advantage UK is seeking a volunteer Head of Local Operations to lead the launch and on-going delivery of its commissioned research projects in England and Wales. The focus of these projects will be obtaining and analysing primary and secondary data in order to help smaller community organisations improve their ways of working and effectively report on their impact. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring their teams deliver these projects within the agreed time-scales and in line with the goals agreed with the commissioning organisations, growing Youth Advantage’s reputation and reach.

Working closely with the Departmental Director, the ideal candidate will use their prior experience to effectively contribute to the organisation’s ability to enable evidence-based, positive local change. They should have excellent leadership, writing and speaking skills, IT literacy, and the ability to work well independently and in a team.

This role reports directly to the Director of Local Operations.

Do you want to see more happiness and kindness in the world? We’re looking for dynamic Volunteers to be part of creating exactly that!

About the Role:

Our volunteers bring people together for shared online learning experiences, based on positive psychology, that boost the wellbeing of everyone involved.

Our groups and courses can be run online or in-person in your local area.

- The amazing 6-week Happiness Habits Course is designed to be run by pairs of volunteers.  It features expert videos, science-backed exercises and the chance to form meaningful connections. Our course has been specially designed to gather the insights of the world's leading experts on six fundamental aspects of a happy and meaningful life: Gratitude, Self-Care, Relationships, Resilience, Kindness, and Meaning. It is a very impactful (many say life-changing) experience.

- Alternatively, you can get involved by supporting a Monthly Group, bringing like-minded people together to learn evidence-based tools for creating a happier and more meaningful life. Explore the monthly themes and encourage people to set personal actions towards happiness, that support both themselves and others.

Volunteering with Action for Happiness is a path of action that consistently feels like you are making a difference in the world. You don’t have to be an expert - or be happy all the time. If you are a warm and enthusiastic person that is more than enough to get started.

Why Volunteer with Us?

Do something that matters: spreading happiness and witnessing people transform for the better is a huge source of meaning.

Grow your skills: inspiring others, learning together and reinforcing your own happiness skills all contribute to personal growth.

Build community: meeting like-minded people, building lasting friendships and belonging to a global community contributing to a better future for all.

How do I know it’s right for me?

Try out free VOLUNTEER TRAINING via the Action For Happiness website and decide for yourself.

We've designed it especially to help you answer questions like this as it explains thoroughly what being a volunteer involves and helps you reflect on your readiness.

What is the time commitment?

You'll need to set aside a couple of hours for the training initially and a few more for planning your course or group and connecting with your co-volunteer. Then you'll need a couple of hours per session for facilitating (x6 weekly sessions for a course, or x1 session per month for a group). 

- Apply today! Together, we can inspire change that ripples out through people’s lives, communities and the world.
 

Volunteer General Manager - Mindset Charity

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for mental well-being and a desire to make a tangible impact? Mindset Charity is seeking a dedicated and experienced Volunteer General Manager to lead our exciting new start-up and help us empower men across the UK.

About Mindset Charity:

Mindset is a brand new UK charity committed to creating a supportive, non-judgmental environment where men can talk openly, learn vital life skills, and build the resilience needed to thrive. We believe that true strength lies not in silence, but in connection, personal growth, and the courage to seek and offer support. Our unique approach focuses on proactive mental well-being and holistic self-improvement, offering practical workshops, peer support groups, and a vibrant community.

Our Vision:

A society where every man feels empowered to openly address his mental health, pursue personal growth, and live a life of purpose and fulfillment.

The Opportunity:

This is an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic individual to take the helm of a new charity, shaping its strategic direction, operations, and growth from the ground up. As our Volunteer General Manager, you will be instrumental in bringing Mindset's vision to life, building a strong foundation, and reaching men who need our support.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement the charity's strategic plan, ensuring alignment with our mission and vision.

• Operational Management: Oversee the day-to-day operations, including programme delivery, volunteer management, and resource allocation.

• Fundraising & Development: Drive fundraising initiatives, seek out grant opportunities, and build relationships with donors and partners.

• Financial Oversight: Manage the charity's budget, ensuring financial sustainability and accountability.

• Governance & Compliance: Ensure the charity operates in full compliance with all regulatory requirements and best practices.

• Team Building & Management: Recruit, motivate, and manage a team of dedicated volunteers, fostering a positive and collaborative environment.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with beneficiaries, volunteers, partners, and the wider community.

• Advocacy & Awareness: Represent Mindset Charity externally, raising awareness of men's mental health and our unique approach.

Who We Are Looking For:

• Proven Leadership Experience: Demonstrated experience in a senior management or leadership role, ideally within the charity or non-profit sector (though commercial experience with a strong transferable skillset will be considered).

• Strategic Thinker: Ability to develop and execute strategic plans, with a clear vision for growth and impact.

• Operational Excellence: Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage diverse operations effectively.

• Financial Acumen: Experience in budget management and fundraising.

• Excellent Communicator: Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

• Passionate & Committed: A genuine passion for men's mental health and a deep commitment to Mindset Charity's mission and values.

• Proactive & Resourceful: A self-starter who can navigate the challenges of a start-up environment with initiative and problem-solving skills.

• Team Player: Ability to inspire, motivate, and work collaboratively with a volunteer team.

Time Commitment:

This is a significant volunteer role, requiring a substantial time commitment (e.g., 10-15 hours per week, flexible depending on needs and agreed upon schedule). We are seeking someone who can dedicate the necessary time to drive the charity forward.

Why Volunteer with Mindset?

• Shape a New Charity: Play a pivotal role in establishing and growing a vital new organisation.

• Make a Real Difference: Directly impact the lives of men across the UK by improving mental well-being and fostering personal growth.

• Leadership Opportunity: Gain invaluable experience leading a charity at a strategic level.

• Be Part of a Movement: Join a passionate team dedicated to changing the narrative around men's mental health.

To Apply:

If you are ready to lead and inspire, please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you are passionate about this opportunity.

Application Deadline: Friday 8th August 2025 before 5:30pm

Join us in building a stronger Mindset for men!

Meditation can give us a sense of calm, peace and balance that can benefit both our emotional wellbeing and overall health. Do you have experience in delivering meditation sessions and would like to give back your time to support people in crisis?

The hustle and bustle of everyday life can leave us feeling tired and burnt out. People in our services are feeling this more than ever and would benefit from learning mindfulness techniques and strategies. It is important for us to pay more attention to the present moment, our own thoughts, feelings and the world around us as it is known to support and improve our mental wellbeing, sleep, and increase our overall happiness.

What you will be doing

• Facilitate a weekly online meditation session in a small group
• Plan each session and identify any items needed for the Meditation sessions.
• Lead on the logistics and set up of the session alongside the staff team.
• Inspire and motivate people using the services to attend.
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback, and report any concerns to the staff team.

The skills you need

• Have an interest in quizzes
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation
• Good communication skills
• Calm and patient approach

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

We are seeking a new Chair to provide strategic leadership at a time when demand for our advice services is at an all-time high. Help shape our vision, champion our mission, and make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing challenges.

About Citizens Advice East Berkshire
Citizens Advice East Berkshire offers crucial help and advice when people need it most. No one but Citizens Advice sees so many people with so many different kinds of problems, and that gives us a unique insight into the challenges people are facing today. 

What will you be doing?
We are at an important stage in our development and we are seeking a new Chair to replace our current Chair who will be standing down as her term finishes. We have ambitious plans for our future and we are looking for a Chair who can help drive our mission forward.

Building on our successes to date, we want a new Chair to lead us through the next exciting phase of our journey. You will have a strong background and track record of providing leadership at board and/or senior executive level and will have a passion for supporting people facing tough life challenges. You should have the judgement and vision to operate effectively at strategic level and you should demonstrate the skills and expertise to help drive our mission forward. We are looking for someone with 3 years+ professional experience in one of the fields of Fundraising strategy, Governance, Operations management or Advice / Advocacy. 

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation
• Successful track record of achievement through their career
• Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees
• Passion for supporting people facing tough life challenges
• Ideally has served as a Chair or Vice Chair and is familiar with leading a Board

What are we looking for?

You’ll need to:

• Understand the type of work undertaken by a local Citizens Advice and the Citizens Advice network
• Understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities of a trustee
• Be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
• Have a good basis of leadership skills (and preferably you have served within a Board, ideally as Chair or Vice Chair or led a Committee)
• Have the ability to facilitate and lead meetings
• Have good interpersonal skills
• Have good listening, verbal and written communication skills
• Be able to exercise good independent judgment
• Have good numeracy skills to understand accounts with the support of the treasurer
• Be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
• Be willing to undertake mandatory training in your role
• Line manage and support the Chief Executive Officer

What difference will you make?
Citizens Advice East Berkshire makes transformational differences to people who need support when facing life crises. As Chair you will play a significant part in ensuring we are able to expand and grown our services to make a significant difference to many more individuals and families. 

Overview

This is a Senior Leadership team role.

The Base Camp Manager has responsibility for many of the logistical aspects of the expedition,
including equipment, food, and managing the environmental impact at base camp. You will need to be ready to turn your hand to a range of tasks, acting as the ‘fixer’ for the expedition and supporting the expedition team with all aspects of expedition life.

We are looking for applicants who are:

• Comfortable spending extended periods in remote and sometimes harsh environments.
• Able to commit to all pre-expedition training events. 

As a charity, all Leader positions are undertaken on a voluntary basis and Leaders join for the intrinsic value of adventure, education, and personal development of young people. You do not have to fundraise to lead on our expeditions.

Barefoot and Free is a grassroots charity that supports families of neurodivergent children and children affected by trauma. We offer fully funded staycations and nature-based respite breaks for families and parent carers who are often at breaking point.

We’re a small, warm team not a large wealthy organisation and we care deeply about what we do. There are no airs and graces here, just real people doing our best to help families who need a break. Right now, we need someone with the skills and experience to help us bring in more funding to meet the growing need.

We’re looking for someone experienced and independent.
This is not a start out training opportunity. You’ll be working alongside an existing bid writer and need to come in ready to get stuck in with little to no guidance, it will test your resiliance and give you some amazing challenges. We’re looking for someone who knows how to write strong, successful bids and is comfortable finding opportunities, matching them to our projects, and managing the process from start to finish, we are giving you alot of exciting responsibility so if you wish to progress and move to the next step and meet some personal goals this is for you. 

What are we looking for?

• Solid experience writing successful funding bids, ideally in the charity or non-profit sector

• Someone self-motivated, confident, and able to work without close supervision

• A clear communicator who can work independently and enjoy networking.

• Someone who genuinely cares about the work we do and wants to help us keep doing it

• Meet funding dealines and reporting deadlines

• Help along with our team to maintain the funding database and outcomes

What difference will you make?

By securing funding through successful bids, you will be supporting Barefoot and Free towards building a more sustainable and resilient organisation. Your input will be instrumental in establishing long-term sustainability, ensuring that our vulnerable families are supported over time. Families are often stretched to the limit with carer roles, supporting vulnerable children and young people without breaks or respite, by securing suitable funding you will be supporting them and the long-term sustainability of the organisation's efforts with the ultimate goal of profoundly improving the quality of life for our families.

We rely entirely on grants and donations. Every successful bid helps keep the doors open for families who often have nowhere else to turn.

Perks of volunteering with us:

• Flexibility to work around your life, take the lead on bids from start to finish

• Join a genuinely warm, down-to-earth team where your input is truly valued and felt

• Be part of something that directly supports struggling families in a very real way

• A rewarding role where your skills will have a direct and lasting impact

• Achieve some personal goals and a chance to build your portfolio with meaningful, purpose-driven work

If you’re looking to be part of something real, something with heart, and you’ve got the experience to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you today.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs. Cats are at the centre of everything we do and our objectives are: homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care. We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

As a charity we are able to help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations we receive from members of the public. Our fundraising team leaders have the exciting and varied role of inspiring our fundraising volunteers to plan and deliver local fundraising events. Using their passion and imagination, they oversee a small team of fundraising volunteers who come together to raise the vital funds needed to cover costs such as veterinary bills and food. Our fundraising team leaders support their team of volunteers in all aspects of their roles, making sure our volunteers are happy, confident and supported.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Supporting and encouraging a team of fundraising volunteers in the Mid-Sussex area
• Planning fundraising events and activities with your team
• Allocating tasks before and during fundraising events
• Keeping financial records from fundraising events
• Encouraging and promoting a professional image of Cats Protection 
• Following policies and guidelines and ensuring licences and permits are obtained for events

A bit more information about this role and the team

• This is a flexible role. The amount of time you offer can work to your availability and convenience.
• There may be opportunities for your activities to be fully remote and/or admin based if you'd prefer.
• You will need your own transport if you wish to attend events, ideally a car or van since items, stock and equipment will usually be needed.
• We ask that you complete training to support you in your role. This can be completed online if you have access to the internet and the necessary device (computer/laptop/tablet etc). Support can be offered or paper versions of much of the training if needed.

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens by helping raise funds and awareness through organising local events. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• Great people skills and the ability to bring out the best in others
• Excellent organisational skills
• The ability to prioritise and delegate
• An appreciation of the importance of handling money and charity resources responsibly
• Fine-tuned communication skills and a passion for engaging with people within your local community
• Basic IT skills to use Cats Protection systems - training and support can be provided
• Committee volunteers need to be aged 18+

Time expectation

Our fundraising team leaders usually spend three to four hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.

Applicants will be asked to complete an application form and provide details for two references