Legal volunteer volunteer roles in loughton, essex

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.

We appreciate any volunteering help that you can offer YBTC and want to make sure that our

volunteers have a positive experience with us. We pledge to support you as much as we can.

We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the exact tasks might

vary depending on your circumstances. However, some typical tasks may include:

· Helping with event preparation

· Manning checkpoints

· Walking support

· First-aid support

· Marshals

· Support drivers

· Helping with community stalls

We are looking for people who are:

· Warm and non-judgemental

· Willing to learn about the work of YBTC

· Able to communicate with a range of different groups

· Good team players, able to work with other staff/volunteers

· Reliable and able to commit to agreed requirements

We can offer you the following:

· Induction and ongoing training

· Ongoing support and supervision in your role

· The opportunity to learn new skills

· YBTC commitment to health and safety

About Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity

Background

Founded in 2003 and originally named Andrea’s Gift and later Brain Tumour Research and Support

Across Yorkshire, Yorkshire’s Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is Yorkshire and Humber’s leading

brain tumour charity. Offering practical, financial and emotional support to both adult and child

brain tumour patients, together with their families.

We fund brain tumour research in Yorkshire; we hope this research, dedicated to identifying new

approaches to the discovery and treatment of brain tumours, will improve outcomes for patients.

At YBTC we are a small team who are growing to meet the needs of those affected by a brain

tumour in Yorkshire. Around 15 new cases of primary brain tumour are diagnosed in the region

every week.

Our charity values are:

Integrity, Compassion, Community & Ambition.

Our Vision/Mission

To improve the lives of people impacted by a brain tumour in Yorkshire, through local support and research.

The role of Volunteer Clerk

The Clerk attends board meetings, provides effective administrative support to the Council, ensures the Council is properly constituted, and manages information and document control effectively in accordance with legal requirements. This is a flexible role which for the most part can fit around the existing commitments of a volunteer.

The Coroners' Courts Support Service (CCSS) is a registered Charity whose trained volunteers give emotional and practical support to bereaved families and other witnesses attending an inquest.

We need volunteers to provide emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending Inquests at Coroners' Court. Our volunteers at court also provide help and assistance to the Coroners' Officers, as and when required.

We are looking for reliable, supportive people with excellent communication skills. A mature and calm attitude is needed in order to be able to talk to people during a sometimes bewildering and emotional experience. Volunteers must be willing to undergo a period of observations and shadowing, as well as attend a 3 day training course. A minimum commitment of one day (9:00am - 5:00pm) per fortnight is asked for. Training and mentoring is provided and travel expenses to the court are reimbursed.

New volunteers should possess good communication and listening skills and the ability to empathise with people they support.

The Coroners' Courts Support Service (CCSS) is a registered Charity whose trained volunteers give emotional and practical support to bereaved families and other witnesses attending an inquest.

We need volunteers to provide emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending Inquests at Coroners' Court. Our volunteers at court also provide help and assistance to the Coroners' Officers, as and when required.

We are looking for reliable, supportive people with excellent communication skills. A mature and calm attitude is needed in order to be able to talk to people during a sometimes bewildering and emotional experience. Volunteers must be willing to undergo a period of observations and shadowing, as well as attend a 3 day training course. A minimum commitment of one day (9:00am - 5:00pm) per fortnight is asked for. Training and mentoring is provided and travel expenses to the court are reimbursed.

New volunteers should possess good communication and listening skills and the ability to empathise with people they support.

Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.

Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.

What you will do as a prison volunteer:

• Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
• Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
• Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
• Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
• Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.

Who we are looking for:

• Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
• Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
• Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
• Someone who is an excellent team worker.
• Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.

Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.

You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.

Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our prison volunteers. 

At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented amongst FCW’s prison volunteers. This includes applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and male identifying applicants.

The Coroners' Courts Support Service (CCSS) is a registered Charity whose trained volunteers give emotional and practical support to bereaved families and other witnesses attending an inquest.

We need volunteers to provide emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending Inquests at Coroners' Court. Our volunteers at court also provide help and assistance to the Coroners' Officers, as and when required.

We are looking for reliable, supportive people with excellent communication skills. A mature and calm attitude is needed in order to be able to talk to people during a sometimes bewildering and emotional experience. Volunteers must be willing to undergo a period of observations and shadowing, as well as attend a 3 day training course. A minimum commitment of one day (9:00am - 5:00pm) per fortnight is asked for. Training and mentoring is provided and travel expenses to the court are reimbursed.

New volunteers should possess good communication and listening skills and the ability to empathise with people they support.

Are you a HR professional? Could you give an hour a week to tackle pregnancy and maternity discrimination? Then we need you!

We’re not going to sugar-coat it, things aren’t great for working parents and pregnant women. It can feel frustrating and a bit depressing at times, but by being part of the Pregnant Then Screwed volunteer team, you get to turn that frustration into something positive. In the last year the fantastic volunteers on our Advice Line have spoken to over 5000 women and parents, collectively providing around 40 hours of free support and advice every week. Hundreds of women and parents call our Advice Line every day, but with a small team of volunteers we are only able to answer a fraction of those calls—this is where you come in.

We are looking for brilliant HR professionals who want to help Pregnant Then Screwed tackle the Motherhood Penalty by becoming a Volunteer HR Advisor.

Our Volunteer Advisors give around 1-2 hours a week of their time to the Advice Line. They use their HR knowledge to offer a kind, empathetic support and advice to help people to identify and challenge pregnancy and maternity discrimination in the workplace.

About the role

Role Title: Volunteer HR Advisor 
Location: Home-based (UK)
Reporting To: Head of Support Services

Time Commitment

The Advice Line is open Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm, with various available shifts during those times. We ask volunteers to give 1-2 hours per week on the Advice Line for a minimum of three months. 

Alternative time commitments can be considered and discussed as part of your application, so please do include any information that might be useful in your application form.

Main Role Purpose

The Advice Line HR Advisors play a vital role in providing support and guidance to working parents facing unfair treatment or discrimination in the workplace via our advice line. Volunteers will offer advice, listen empathetically, and provide information about employee rights and available resources. This role is critical in empowering parents to make informed decisions and navigate workplace challenges effectively.

Essential requirements

• Minimum CIPD level 5 Diploma in People Management with one professional reference.
• Knowledge of employment laws, regulations, and policies related to pregnancy, maternity leave, and discrimination.
• Access to a mobile phone/laptop/tablet to receive calls. You will not be charged for calls and your number will not be shared.
• Access to a reliable and secure WIFI connection. Public WIFI is not suitable for this role.
• Excellent active and empathetic listening skills.
• Good written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey information clearly and concisely.
• A kind and welcoming telephone manner.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Comfortable using online communication tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Answer incoming phone calls to the PTS Advice Line from individuals seeking support and advice.
• Listen actively, empathise, and provide HR advice and guidance to support callers with their enquiries.
• Signpost to further information and other support organisations if necessary.
• Make referrals to our legal partner if required.
• Record all details of the call on our CRM system.
• Maintain professionalism in all interactions, adhering to all Pregnant Then Screwed guidelines and policies.

What you can expect from PTS

• The opportunity to use your skill set to tackle the Motherhood Penalty and make a meaningful impact.
• An onboarding and induction period which can be completed at your own pace.
• Support from the PTS staff team and volunteer network.
• Access to our Volunteer Training Hub.
• Opportunities to help us further develop and shape our Support Services.

Who are we?

We are Buttons & Bubbles CIC. We are dedicated to increasing inclusion and representation across society for disabled families.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for people who can help us apply and increase our funding. We cannot do our valuable work without funding. This role can be done from home, with no rota system and how much of your time you give up is completely up to you. We truly appreciate whatever time your able to offer.

Who are we looking for?

• May have past experience gaining funding or fundraising in the community sector
• Come from a legal background or training.
• Studying law or similar subjects
• Come from a corporate background
• A willingness to learn is essential, experience isn’t although helpful.

What do we expect?

• Must be willing to undertake our training programme which will be done virtually and at a time to suit you.
• Have a basic DBS check (preferably be on the update system)
• Sign our volunteer contract. (If you disagree with anything in it
• please do discuss it with us and we will be happy to have a
• conversation and make small changes if appropriate).
• A positive attitude to disability and illness. We are happy to answer
• questions on this.

Interested?

Email us and lets chat!

Peace Brigades International (PBI) is an international NGO with over 40 years’ experience providing life-saving protection and support to hundreds of brave human rights defenders who face reprisals because of their activism for social justice. PBI’s trademark protective accompaniment teams in Colombia, Honduras, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, Indonesia, Kenya and Nepal are supported by PBI’s International Headquarters in Brussels, and offices elsewhere in the world, such as our UK section, which carries out high-level advocacy for improved governmental and other support for human rights defenders, as well as stronger regulation of transnational business behaviour.

About the role:

A 2.5 month volunteer placement where the selected candidate will not only play a vital role in upcoming projects but also harness their skills in advocacy, communications and administration/logistics. They will deepen their understanding and knowledge of the UK environment, gaining insights into UK politics, international human rights, legal frameworks, advocacy strategies, and communication tactics. 

By embracing this role, you become an integral part of our mission to influence positive change.

Responsibilities include:

(Note: These responsibilities are subject to adjustments and are not exhaustive).

• Support advocacy research and activities:

  • Conduct research on countries and cases that PBI works on.

  • Conduct research on policy advocacy related to HRD protection and business and human rights.

  • Participate in meetings with a range of external stakeholders.

• Support in the organisation and roll out of internal and external events.

  • Past events have included film screenings, talks with defenders, Parliamentary roundtables.

• Supporting field volunteer and alumni outreach and engagement.

• Producing communications outputs, such as articles on human rights issues, interviews with human rights defenders and social media posts.

• Supporting the organisation of human rights defender visits to the UK.

• Engage in network building and maintenance:

  • Cultivate relationships with lawyers, judges, NGOs, social movements, politicians, and funders.

• Support office administration, logistics and finance

  • Assist with filing, systems management and logistics.

  • Digital systems and IT support with technical troubleshooting.

Further Information:

Duration

2 1/2 months, starting October 13, 2025

Work Schedule

 Minimum of 15 hours a week / 2 days a week.

Location 

At least one day a week in our London office, ideally Mondays. Candidates can choose whether to work remotely on the other work days. 

Some work from other locations in London, for example around events, may be necessary and would be agreed mutually in advance.

Stipend Information

It is an unpaid volunteer placement. Though PBI UK provides a stipend for public transport costs incurred to travel to our office from within London, and for food on working days in the office. 

We can also cover any other reasonable costs incurred in carrying out the volunteer placement, so long as these are agreed in writing in advance.

Experience/ Skills

Essential

Fluent in English

Knowledge of human rights and environmental issues.

A love for working with people, and strong ability to work as part of a team and individually.

Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to develop and maintain key relationships with a range of audiences.

Proficient in office IT skills (Excel, Word, Outlook & open-source equivalent), project management (e.g. Asana, Trello) and online collaboration software (Google Meet, Zoom, MS Teams, MURAL, slack or similar).

Skilled at managing multiple tasks at the same time - and able to prioritise effectively to meet deadlines

Proactive problem-solving and ability to use initiative to spot opportunities for improvement and act upon them

Highly Desirable

Intermediate/Advanced Spanish

Experience of working in an office environment

Experience with event organisation

Experience supporting advocacy initiatives / meetings and transmitting messages clearly and impactfully 

Online and digital communications skills

Experience working with diverse and decentralised teams

Experience liaising and coordinating with multiple stakeholders

An ability to record administrative information efficiently and meticulously

Values

Commitment to the principles and values of PBI 

Cultural and gender awareness and sensitivity

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter, showing how you match the person specification, to the admin email address listed on our website vacancies page. 

Timelines for the hiring process are as follows:

• September 1, 2025 - deadline for applications 

• September 10 & 12 - interview dates

• October 13, 2025 - start date

Please note:

We expect a high volume of applications for this role and don’t have the resources to reply to everyone. We aim to give our shortlisted candidates the best experience possible; therefore we will only get in touch if you have been shortlisted for the role.

Please also note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early.

We're looking for 2-3 detail-oriented and strategic Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Specialist Volunteers to help optimise our online presence and ensure our campaigns and content reach the communities that need them most and increase the charity’s search engine results rankings. The SEO Specialist Volunteers will play a key role in enhancing the visibility and searchability of Burning Nights CRPS Support’s website and digital content.

The SEO Specialist Volunteers will be volunteering within the Communications & Marketing Team to implement SEO best practices, conduct keyword research, improve site structure, and analyse web performance – all to ensure our content reaches a broader audience and amplifies the voice of our charity’s supporters online.

Key Tasks and Objectives

• Competitor and Keyword Research: Conduct keyword research to inform website content and campaign strategies.
• On-page optimisation: Optimise existing content for improved search engine ranking (meta tags, meta descriptions, headers, alt text, etc.)
• Monitor and analyse SEO performance using tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and SEMrush.
• Technical SEO Implementation: Identify technical SEO issues and collaborate with content teams to resolve them.
• Backlink and Off-Page SEO: Assist in developing backlink strategies and improving domain authority.
• Support the content team in creating SEO-optimised articles and pages.
• Provide monthly reports on SEO performance and suggest improvements.
• Stay up to date with SEO trends, Google algorithm updates, and emerging best practices.

Key Skills or Qualifications

• Excellent understanding of SEO principles and search engine algorithms.
• Proven experience in conducting SEO audits, strategy development, and implementation.
• Experience using SEO tools such as Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Ahrefs, or SEMrush or similar platforms.
• Previous experience in digital marketing, content strategy, or technical SEO.
• Ability to perform keyword research and competitor analysis.
• Familiarity with HTML, CSS, and content management systems (ideally Django framework).
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written communication and reporting skills.
• Evidence of organisational skills, with good attention to detail.
• The ability to work independently, turning recommendations into action without needing constant oversight.
• A passion for using your skills to support patients and families impacted by a debilitating pain condition and help save lives.
• Passion for creating inclusive and accessible digital spaces.
• Highly organised, self-motivated, and able to work independently.
• Enthusiastic about supporting a small charity.
• Willing to learn, adapt, and collaborate with a supportive team.

Desirable Experience

• Experience of Google Ads for nonprofits.
• Experience of using Django framework websites.
• Familiarity with accessibility best practices and inclusive web design.
• Experience working with or volunteering for nonprofit / charitable organisations.
• Demonstrable IT skills, particularly Google Drive and Microsoft.
• Good research and information management skills.
• An understanding of the charity sector and/or fundraising.

Key Benefits

• Volunteer as part of a forward-thinking, supportive team.
• Unique opportunity to directly contribute to strategic SEO recommendations, and the implementation of those changes to increase the charity’s visibility.
• At Burning Nights CRPS Support you’ll use your SEO skills for a mission with a real, measurable impact. This is more than just a volunteer role, it’s an opportunity to change and save lives.
• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families impacted by a severe pain condition.
• Building your network and forming connections with like-minded people and organisations.
• Enhance your CV and gain skills that are transferable to a variety of career paths.
• Receive training and ongoing support from our team.
• Experience the personal satisfaction and fulfilment that comes from helping others.

Training and Support

• Full induction to our organisation, as well as check-ins, ongoing training, supervision and support from the Communications & Marketing Lead Volunteer, Volunteer Co-ordinators, Trustees and the Volunteer Team.
• This a remote volunteering opportunity with regular online team check-ins and collaborative sessions with a supportive, creative, and inclusive team environment.
• Relevant and ongoing training for your volunteer role.
• Regular updates on charity activities.
• Support, advice and guidance from Charity team.
• After 3 months volunteering, all volunteers are eligible for additional training courses (reasonable cost).
• Out-of-pocket expenses, approved in advance will be reimbursed.

You know what it's like to practice as a solicitor. You've navigated the pressures, the culture, and the unspoken expectations. Now, imagine using that hard-won understanding to create meaningful change for neurodivergent colleagues who are struggling to find their place in our profession.

We're looking for a qualified solicitor who gets it - someone who can help us build programmes and campaigns that will work because they're grounded in the reality of solicitor practice.

Why does this role need to be solicitor-only?

We need someone who understands the culture, systems, and pressures of solicitor life from the inside. The work involves shaping strategy, influencing decision-makers, and ensuring our programmes reflect the real experiences of neurodivergent solicitors. A qualified solicitor brings both lived experience and professional standing, which helps build trust and makes our work more effective. This isn't about hierarchy, but about grounding the role in practical, credible experience that resonates with the people we're trying to help.

What we're looking for

We need a qualified solicitor who can be our eyes and ears within the profession - someone who understands not just the law, but the culture that surrounds it.

Your background might include:

• Current qualification as a solicitor (England and Wales)

• Real experience working in or with solicitor firms and organisations

• Understanding of how solicitor practice works - the good, the challenging, and everything in between

• Genuine commitment to making the profession more inclusive for neurodivergent colleagues

• The ability to communicate with everyone from trainees to senior partners

What would be brilliant (but not essential):

• Experience across different types of solicitor practice - private practice, in-house, government, legal aid

• Personal understanding of neurodiversity challenges in professional settings

• A network of contacts within the solicitor profession

• Background in training, mentoring, or professional development

• Experience in charity/not-for-profit law, employment law, or disability rights

What you'll be doing

This isn't about sitting in meetings talking theory. You'll be:

Being our solicitor reality-check:

• Sharing insights about profession culture, challenges, and opportunities that only an insider would know

• Helping us identify the real barriers neurodivergent solicitors face and practical solutions that might work

• Ensuring our initiatives make sense in the context of how solicitor firms actually operate

Shaping our strategy:

• Contributing the solicitor's perspective to our programme development

• Advising on the best approaches for engaging with firms, training providers, and professional bodies

• Helping develop resources that work in real solicitor practice environments

Being our face in the profession:

• Representing us at solicitor-focused events and networks

• Building relationships that open doors and create opportunities

• Speaking at events and contributing to professional discussions where your voice carries weight

Developing what matters:

• Advising on training and support programmes that solicitors will actually use

• Helping create career guidance that reflects modern solicitor pathways

• Supporting research and policy work that affects how solicitors practice

The need-to-know

Time commitment: Around 4-8 hours per month - one monthly trustee meeting plus the solicitor-specific work, and the occasional extra task that crops up. 

Term: We're looking for a minimum 2-year commitment initially, which then becomes a rolling 1-year term subject to the constitutional requirements. 

When we meet: We will be setting our meeting dates at the start of the organisation's year (October 2025) so everyone can plan ahead. 

Next steps:

• Applications close: 5 September 2025 at 17:00

• Interview dates: TBC - dependent on application numbers

• Next board meeting: TBC

Why this role matters

The legal profession is slowly waking up to neurodiversity, but too often the conversation happens without the people who actually understand day-to-day practice. We've seen well-meaning initiatives fail because they don't reflect the reality of billable hours, client demands, and firm hierarchies.

Your perspective as a practising solicitor isn't just valuable - it's essential. You know which ideas will work and which ones will gather dust in the diversity folder. You understand the language that resonates with partners and the approaches that will actually make a change. 

What we offer in return

• Real influence: Your insights directly shape our strategy and programmes

• Professional development: Gain charity governance experience and expand your network

• Meaningful impact: See your profession become more inclusive for future generations

• Supportive environment: Work with a committed team that respects both your time and expertise

• Flexibility: We’re a team of working professionals and always work around professional commitments

• Recognition: References, recommendations, and opportunities to speak on topics you care about

• Expenses covered: We reimburse reasonable costs related to your trustee work

We're committed to inclusive recruitment and welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you need any adjustments to our application process, just let us know.

Application deadline: 5 September 2025 at 17:00

Are you passionate about protecting the countryside? Do you want to help ensure future generations have beautiful surroundings for their mental health, a better climate to live in and food to eat, while also having sustainable energy, transport and places to live? Do you live in, or close to, Buckinghamshire?

CPRE Buckinghamshire is looking for enthusiastic individuals to support our work on local planning matters, ranging from county-wide development plans through neighbourhood (local) plans, to proposals for large commercial and residential developments.

By volunteering with us you would be providing invaluable input into our campaigns and helping to ensure the protection and celebration of the green spaces of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

Activities include:

* Investigating planning applications, helping us to influence their outcome

* Reviewing plans, applications and other consultations and sharing your findings

* Drafting response letters to the local planning authority

* Researching planning policy and best practice

* Supporting local communities in responding to planning issues and contributing to local campaigns

* Assisting in the preparation of responses to wider consultations, including planning appeals

* Liaising with other CPRE volunteers, local residents or other organisations.

Person description:

This role does not require previous experience with planning, as training and guidance can be provided. However, some knowledge would be very helpful. We hope you can offer us many of the qualities described below:

* A strong passion for the countryside

* An understanding of the planning system (or be willing to learn)

* An interest in investigative work, with an eye for detail

* A desire to share your knowledge with others in the branch

* Good communication skills – written and verbal

* Can attend meetings or, when not possible, can provide updates for meetings

* Computer literate – the internet, e-mail and MS Word or equivalent.

This is an ideal opportunity to grow your knowledge of the planning system, and to gain experience of working in the environmental campaigning sector or for an environmental charity. You will have the opportunity to meet local people and feel part of a friendly and passionate group.

We anticipate that this role could take a few hours per week, but it can be as little or as much as you like. We keep in regular contact via phone and/or email to discuss progress and to provide support. Group meetings are usually virtual.

The role is voluntary, although we will pay all out-of-pocket expenses with prior agreement, in line with our Volunteers Policy.

We are Living Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking. Our mission is to achieve a better walking environment and inspire people to walk more.

We are looking for trustees to join our Board to support steering the charity forward. 

This is a pivotal time in our history: with a dynamic and experienced new Chief Executive, Catherine Woodhead; and a period of development, with a new strategy incoming that will take us towards our centenary in 2029. 

We are a charity which can influence anyone’s daily life.

With our thousands of members and supporters we run campaigns for positive change and influence policies that improve our streets such as encouraging families to walk to school, 20mph speed limits and controlling pavement parking. 

We manage innovative national projects, engaging schools, communities and workplaces to encourage more people to walk short journeys. Our year-round walk to school challenge captures the imagination of children in over 2000 schools. 

We work with local authorities and businesses to improve streets and public spaces. Our reports, such as The Pedestrian Pound, make a substantial contribution to the active travel agenda. 

 Our charity trustees play a key part in strategy development and bringing our strategy to life. We would welcome applicants with:

-Senior finance experience across the charity, government or private sectors.

-Legal experience in Charity Law or legal expertise relevant to the third sector.

We’re especially interested in candidates bringing diverse experience from the corporate sector. Additional digital skills are desirable. Whatever your background, a commitment to the values and objectives of the charity overall will be crucial.

We actively welcome applications from people from a diverse range of backgrounds generally and from all parts of the UK. 

Walk with us.

These roles are voluntary and unpaid, although appropriate expenses will be paid.

Closing date: 18/08/2025 (5pm)

Interviews: 03/09/2025