Local development volunteer volunteer roles in shooters hill, greater london

The Organisation:
Founded in 1868, the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is the oldest charity dedicated to the Commonwealth. The RCS is a network of organisations and individuals across more than 70 countries in the Commonwealth and beyond who promote the value and the values of the Commonwealth.
His Majesty The King is the Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and Her Majesty The Queen is the Vice-Patron.
The King succeeded The late Queen Elizabeth II, who had been Patron since 1952 when she was also Head of the Commonwealth. Queen Camilla had previously been our inaugural Vice-Patron since 2018.
The Honorary Vice-President is the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
The Royal Commonwealth Society is governed by an experienced Council
comprising the Executive Chair and Trustees.
The offices are in Guildhall, London, with team members based in Canada, Malta, Nigeria, the Solomon Islands, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.
In addition to branches, the Royal Commonwealth Society has an active network of over 450 Associate Fellows. Formerly Queen’s Young Leaders and other outstanding young people from all 56 Commonwealth countries, the Associate Fellows are reappointed annually based on their contributions to their respective Working Groups.

To find out more about the Royal Commonwealth Society, visit the website.
 
The Role:
To get the most out of being on the RCS’s Council, we are looking for those who have a passion for our aims and can commit to the time and effort required. Our trustees need strategic vision, independent judgement, and an ability to work effectively and actively as part of a small but dedicated charitable organisation. We are seeking an experienced Chair who can lead the Council in a collegiate and effective manner to deliver the most impact for the citizens of the Commonwealth.
To fulfil the duties of this role, we are looking for someone who has considerable board experience and a commitment to charitable endeavours. A background in the Commonwealth is not required. We are especially keen to hear from people from a wide range of backgrounds.

• Oversee the Council and the Society’s strategy and direction
• Management of finances of the Society
• Lead fundraising efforts
• Responsible for the governance of the Society
• Maintain relationships with external stakeholders

Person Specification:

• Chair experience would be highly desirable
• Board experience would be required
• Trustee experience of charitable organisations would be desirable
• High-level professional experience
• Interest in the voluntary sector and its contribution to society
• Commitment to good governance
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collegiate approach
• An interest in global affairs and an international outlook
• Experience of working with stakeholders and doing so with professionalism and discretion
• Confidence in being the high profile representative of a significant institution

Further Information:
For comprehensive information about the Royal Commonwealth Society, the role responsibilities and the person we are looking for, please download the Candidate Information Document.

How to Apply:
If you are passionate about joining the Royal Commonwealth Society and believe you have the skills and experience we are looking for, please apply with the following:

• An up-to-date 2 page CV
• A supporting statement of no more than 1 side of A4, detailing why you would like to be considered, your relevant experience and expertise and what you think you can bring to the role.
• 3 referees’ contact emails and telephone numbers. 

All applications are being handled by our recruitment partner, Trustees Unlimited (part of the Russam group).

All applications should be sent to Trustees Unlimited.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Melissa Baxter, Managing Partner - Charities.

Closing date for applications: Monday 5th May 2025
Interviews with Royal Commonwealth Society: Monday 19th May [online] and Tuesday 27th May 2025 [in person, at the Guildhall]. 

The role commences on 1st June 2025.

Please confirm the above dates are suitable in your covering letter. Please also highlight any potential conflicts of interest. References and other checks will be conducted.

Activity Alliance looking for a Chair and three new Trustees who will add value to the charity and exciting journey ahead. You will bring your expertise and/or lived experience to drive meaningful change for disabled people. Two Trustees will be Board-appointed, and one will be Member-appointed. Their start times will vary. We are pleased that you are interested in joining us to work towards our vision and thank you for your interest.

The key responsibilities of the Chair will be:

• Provide visionary leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring that Activity Alliance fulfils its mission and objectives.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation within  the organisation.
• Oversee the governance framework, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the Board in monitoring organisational performance and  ensuring effective risk management. 
• Act as an ambassador for Activity Alliance, promoting our vision and mission. This includes being a spokesperson for the charity with the media and at events.
• Champion the voices of disabled people, advocating for change and influencing policy and decision-making at the  highest levels.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including partners, funders, and government bodies.

The key responsibilities of the Trustees will be:

• Have outstanding commitment to Activity Alliance with a strong understanding of the organisation’s values as well as of the Nolan Seven Principles of Public Life.
• Contribute actively to the Board of Trustees role in giving strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall  policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets. 
• Ensure that the organisation complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations. 
• Safeguard the reputation and values of the organisation. 
• Represent the organisation at functions and meetings when appropriate, and act as an ambassador for Activity Alliance.

Currently, we are particularly interested in recruiting Trustees with understanding, skills, and/or experience in one or more  of the following areas: 

• Legal 
• Commercial and corporate affairs 
• Income generation 
• Application of AI and technology

The posts are for an initial term of up to three years, which may be extended for two further terms of three years.

We’re not just talking about change — we’ve lived it.

We’re looking for a Treasurer/Trustee to help power our pre-treatment work.

Dear Prospective Trustee

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Trustee and Treasurer for Woolwich Service Users Project (WSUP). As a grassroots charity rooted in lived experience, we are committed to providing holistic support for individuals and families facing poverty, homelessness, substance misuse, and mental health challenges. 

Our work is growing, and we are seeking a dedicated and skilled Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees. This is a critical role in ensuring financial sustainability, governance, and transparency, helping us to continue delivering essential services to the community. 

If you are passionate about social impact and have finance, accountancy, or financial management expertise, we would love to hear from you. 

We hope this pack provides you with an insight into our work and what being a Trustee at WSUP involves. Please reach out if you have any questions. 

Warm regards, 

Chris Hill 

Chair of Trustees 

About WSUP 

Woolwich Service Users Project (WSUP) is a community-led charity providing practical, health, and wellbeing support to people at risk or experiencing homelessness and poverty in Woolwich and the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Our services include: 

• Essential Support: Hot meals, clothing, showers, laundry, and haircuts. 

• Healthcare Access: Hepatitis C, TB testing, eye exams, GP drop-in 

• Housing & Benefits Signposting: Preventing homelessness through connecting with services. 

• Recovery Support: Harm reduction and peer-led recovery pathways. 

• Community Engagement: Mindfulness sessions and volunteering opportunities. 

WSUP is committed to embedding Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) and Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) to improve service user experience. 

We work closely with local and national partners, including South East London Cancer Alliance, King's College London, Commonweal Housing, and homelessness services across South East London, Groundwork - Greenwich Healthier Communities Fund. 

Treasurer (Trustee) role description 

As well as fulfilling the general duties of a Trustee, the Treasurer maintains an overview of WSUP’s financial affairs, ensuring appropriate financial measures, controls, and procedures are in place. The Treasurer reports to the Board at regular intervals on the financial health of the organisation. 

Key responsibilities 

• Overseeing the presentation of budgets, internal management accounts, monthly and annual financial statements to the Board of Trustees.

• Ensuring that proper accounting records are kept, and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.

• Ensuring that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being implemented and supporting the development of policies covering financial reserves and cost management.

• Monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity.

• Overseeing financial controls and adherence to systems, regularly liaising with Chief Executive.

• Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process

• Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities and liaising with the Chief Executive to develop the financial understanding of the Board of Trustees. 

• Defining Key Performance indicators (KPI’s) and tracking against forecast. Also to include monitoring fundraising targets. 

• Ensuring investments and assets are maximised. 

• Lead on the appointment of and liaison with external auditors.

• Oversee the development and implementation of systems for appraising, mitigating and reporting corporate risk.

• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by relevant statutory bodies, for example, the Charity Commission and/or the Registrar of Companies. 

• Liaise with the bank and be involved with the payment authorisation process 

• Oversee payroll updates and payment authorisation, plus authorise/pay employment related taxes/pensions/NI 

• Review financial aspects of grant applications 

What we are looking for 

Essential skills & experience 

• A finance professional. A knowledge of charity finance is an advantage. Otherwise an enthusiasm to learn, drawing from sound commercial experience and an understanding of the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector 

• A strategic thinker with an ability to balance risk and opportunity. 

• Clear communicator with the ability to bring the financial information alive to non-finance specialists.

• Willing to play an active role in areas such as forecasting, setting budgets, liaising with auditors 

Desirable skills 

• Understanding of grant funding, financial sustainability, and social impact finance. 

• Experience working with QuickBooks, Xero, or similar accounting software. 

• Previous experience as a Trustee, Treasurer, or charity finance lead. 

General responsibilities of all trustees 

As a Trustee, you will: 

• Support and provide advice on WSUP’s purpose, vision, goals and activities.

• Approve operational strategies and policies and monitor and evaluate their implementation.

• Oversee WSUP’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.

• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.

• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.

• Review and approve WSUP’s financial statements.

• Provide support and challenge to WSUP’s CEO in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.

• Keep abreast of changes in WSUP’s operating environment.

• Contribute to regular reviews of WSUP’s own governance.

• Attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.

• Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect WSUP’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third party interests.

• Contribute to the broader promotion of WSUP’s objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts. 

As a small charity, there will be times when the trustees will need to be actively involved beyond Board meetings. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, presenting externally, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Time commitment & term 

• Board Meetings: Held monthly (in Woolwich or remotely). 

• Finance & Audit Meetings: 3–4 per year. 

• Ad-hoc Involvement: Supporting the CEO on financial matters. 

• Estimated Time Commitment: 1–2 days per month. 

• Term: 3 years, with the option for renewal (max 9 years). 

• Expenses: This is a voluntary role, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. 

Benefits of becoming a WSUP Trustee 

• Play a key role in shaping the future of a growing, community-led charity. 

• Gain experience in charity governance, leadership, and financial management. 

• Work alongside a team of passionate and experienced professionals. 

• Make a tangible impact in the lives of people in Royal Borough of Greenwich. 

• Develop new skills and networks in the charity and voluntary sector. 

How to apply 

To apply for the role of Treasurer, please submit: 
- Your CV outlining your relevant experience. 
- A short cover letter (max 1 page) explaining why you are interested in the role and how your skills align with WSUP’s needs. 

If you’d like to discuss the role informally, please contact CEO, Darek Karwacki 

Commitment to diversity & inclusion 

WSUP is committed to building a diverse and inclusive Board that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from individuals with lived experience of homelessness, substance dependancy, or mental health challenges, as well as those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, people with experience of migration, and those in precarious housing. 

We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments to support your application. 

Thank you for your interest in joining WSUP as a Trustee. We look forward to hearing from you. 

Woolwich Service Users Project (WSUP) 

Charity No: 1175999 

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

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

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

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

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

Overview of In2scienceUK

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

Responsibilities

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

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

The expected duties of an In2scienceUK trustee are:

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

Experience and skills

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Maths/Computing/AI, 

• Life Sciences, 

• Physical Engineering.

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

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

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

Recruitment Process

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

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

Equal opportunities

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

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

Governance

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

Interview and selection

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

Safeguarding

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

The following checks will be undertaken as applicable:

• References 

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

• Self-Disclosure 

• Identity check 

• Confirmation of registration with applicable registered body where applicable 

Further information can be found in the documents below.

We are looking for two new trustees who can bring expertise from the philanthropic and talent management spheres, respectively.

The Organisation:
Founded in 1868, the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is the oldest charity dedicated to the Commonwealth. The RCS is a network of organisations and individuals across more than 70 countries in the Commonwealth and beyond who promote the value and the values of the Commonwealth. His Majesty The King is the Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society, and Her Majesty The Queen is the Vice-Patron. The King succeeded The late Queen Elizabeth II, who had been Patron since 1952 when she was also Head of the Commonwealth. Queen Camilla had previously been our inaugural Vice-Patron since 2018. The Honorary Vice-President is the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.  The Royal Commonwealth Society is governed by an experienced Council comprising the Executive Chair and Trustees.

The offices are in Guildhall, London, with team members based in Canada, Malta, Nigeria, the Solomon Islands, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. In addition to branches, the Royal Commonwealth Society has an active network of over 450 Associate Fellows. Formerly Queen’s Young Leaders and other outstanding young people from all 56 Commonwealth countries, the Associate Fellows are reappointed annually based on their contributions to their respective Working Groups.

The Role:
To get the most out of being on the RCS’s Council, we are looking for those
who have a passion for our aims and can commit to the time and effort
required. Our trustees need strategic vision, independent judgement, and an
ability to work effectively and actively as part of a small but dedicated charitable
organisation.
To fulfil the duties of this role, we are looking for someone who has
considerable experience in philanthropy or talent and human resource
management. A background in the Commonwealth is not required. We are
especially keen to hear from people from a wide range of backgrounds.

• Active and committed Member of the Council to give input into the Society’s strategy and direction
• Management of finances of the Society
• Contribute to fundraising efforts
• Responsible for the governance of the Society
• Serve as a representative of a significant charitable institution

Person Specification:

• Background or experience in philanthropy or talent/people management
• Board/trustee experience would be desirable but not required
• High-level professional experience
• Interest in the voluntary sector and its contribution to society
• Interest in global affairs and an international outlook
• Commitment to good governance
• Strong interpersonal skills and a collegiate approach