Mental health volunteer roles in lewisham, greater london
Board Member / Trustee
Reimbursement: £0 (reasonable expenses paid)
Location: Regular attendance at Board and Committee meetings in Central London or Cheam, Surrey.
Duration: initial 3-year term with option to extend.
At the Charity for Civil Servants, we can’t always prevent the tricky, stressful, sad stuff from happening. But when it does happen, we help current, former and retired civil servants get the best support.
Would you like to join us as a member of our Board of Trustees as we embark on the next phase of our strategy to ensure we can be there when people need us the most?
This is an exciting time for our organisation – we are growing and our ambition is to grow faster over the coming 5 years. This role will support a Charity that is working to embed itself back into the heart of the UK Civil Service.
As one of our Trustees, you will be responsible for ensuring that our strategic focus and ambition enable us to fulfil our mission. You will also work with our Chief Executive and Executive team to shape and monitor our impact.
For this round of recruitment, we are looking for candidates with expertise in Charity Fundraising; Communications and Marketing; Finance and investments; or Digital & Technology.
To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter that states why you are interested in becoming a Trustee for our Charity. The closing date for applications is 11.59pm on 25 May 2025. Informal interviews will be held on 16 June. Please let us know in your covering letter if that date would be difficult for you.
The Charity for Civil Servants are committed to building and developing a Trustee board which reflects the diversity of the civil service community that we support. We seek to ensure all applications are treated fairly, with respect and without bias and we encourage applications from suitably experienced candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief, or any other factor.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Cystar
Help women with PCOS manage their condition through our health program.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects 1 in 10 women globally, yet it remains one of the most under-diagnosed and misunderstood hormonal disorders. Our startup addresses the social and healthcare inequality faced by individuals with PCOS, who often experience delayed diagnosis, misinformation, and a lack of holistic support. Many face chronic physical and emotional challenges—ranging from irregular periods and infertility to anxiety, depression, and body image issues.
Socially, PCOS is stigmatised and frequently dismissed, especially in low-resource settings, where access to specialised care is limited and digital health education is minimal. Environmental challenges also arise from a lack of culturally sensitive, inclusive, and personalised resources for managing lifestyle and medical interventions.
We aim to close these gaps by providing accessible, evidence-based tools and community support to help individuals manage PCOS proactively—supporting not just physical health, but also mental well-being, self-advocacy, and long-term empowerment.
Our startup empowers individuals with PCOS to take control of their health through a personalised, holistic digital platform. We combine science-backed tools, expert guidance, and community support to address the unique and complex challenges of managing PCOS.
Copywriter
Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)
We are looking for a copywriter to optimise our landing pages.
Are you passionate about women’s health and skilled at writing persuasive content? Join us as a Volunteer Sales Copywriter and help us amplify our mission to support women with PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome).
At Cystar, we provide resources, support, and advocacy for women navigating life with PCOS — and we need a talented storyteller to help us reach more hearts (and inboxes).
What You’ll Do: Write compelling copy for our website, email campaigns, social media, and landing pages
Help craft messaging that educates, inspires, and drives action (e.g., donations, sign-ups, downloads)
Collaborate with our passionate team to grow awareness and engagement
Support a mission that empowers women to take control of their health
What You’ll Gain: Meaningful portfolio work in a purpose-driven space
Flexibility — fully remote, with a schedule that works for you
A chance to make a difference in the lives of women around the world
Experience working in health and wellness advocacy
Ideal for: Copywriters who care about women's health
Students or recent grads in marketing, communications, or public health
Freelancers looking to add mission-driven impact to their portfolio
If you believe in the power of words and the strength of women, we’d love to have you on our team.
Weekly Time Commitment
7-9 hours per week
Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)
1-2 months
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are seeking enthusiastic and committed volunteers to support our programmes in a variety of roles, including Subject Ambassadors, Front of House/Chaperones, and Stage/Production Crew. These roles provide a fantastic opportunity to engage with students, parents, and MTA staff while contributing to a vibrant and inclusive learning and performance environment.
Roles & Responsibilities:
1. Subject Ambassador:
· Actively participate in sessions to encourage student engagement
· Champion an inclusive and fun learning experience for all
· Act as a classroom assistant to support our facilitators
· Provide pastoral care and learning support
· Lead by example with a positive and enthusiastic approach
· Depending on individual goals, work with MTA staff to develop a personal progression plan to gain relevant experience in key areas including (but not limited to): working with children, leadership, assistant directing, musical direction and more
· Actively represent and promote MTA at volunteer events and networking opportunities, engaging with attendees to share our mission and initiatives
2. Front of House / Chaperone
· Help assist with events management in many areas which can align to your personal goals
· Potentially take on specific event tasks (i.e. events logistics including set up/pack down, running a stall at fundraising events etc.)
· Serve as a point of contact for students and parents ensuring a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.
· Provide backstage support and supervision to children and young people – ensuring the children have a great experience
· Provide entertainment for groups (i.e. playing games, encouraging arts & crafts etc.)
· Help assist with moving children and young people to and from the stage and/or performance location
3. Stage / Production Crew
· In line with your personal experience and/or personal development goals, help assist with the technical and/or logistical needs of performances
· Support performance’s technical aspects; including set-up of equipment (lighting and/or sound), operation and pack down/get out
· Support performances with set design, build and/or production crew roles (stage management and stagehands)
MTA champions the transformative power of the performing arts while removing financial and perceived social barriers to participation.




Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you passionate about standing in support of a fairer, more compassionate system for refugees - and want to be a part of making real, lasting change?
SolidariTee is inviting new volunteers to join our regional and central teams for the 2025/26 academic year!
Whether you're a current student, have recently graduated, on a year abroad, or you’re a self-identifying young person who didn’t go to university, we want to hear from you! We offer a range of flexible, meaningful roles (some remote and some in-person) where you can gain skills, build confidence, and help create real change.
Our current opportunities include:
Regional Teams:
- Team Lead
- Team Member
Central Teams:
- Events Officer
- Partnerships Officer (remote)
- Social Media Publicity Officer (remote)
- Social Media Digital Education Officer (remote)
- T-shirts and Logistics Officer
You can find full role descriptions and more information in our recruitment pack.
Who are SolidariTee?
SolidariTee is an entirely volunteer-run movement led by students and self-identifying young people who share a commitment to standing in solidarity with displaced people.
We support refugees and asylum seekers through advocacy, awareness-raising, and fundraising to provide grants to NGOs in Greece delivering vital legal aid and psychological support. We believe in the power of grassroots action - and in the ability of young people to drive real, systemic change.
Who are we looking for?
- Our applications are primarily designed for current students and self-identifying young people, but we warmly welcome recent graduates to apply too.
- You don’t need any prior experience to volunteer with SolidariTee - just passion, commitment, and a willingness to learn. Our goal is to empower individuals to develop the skills, confidence, and knowledge to make a tangible difference.
Volunteering with SolidariTee is a chance to:
- Build leadership, advocacy, teamwork, and event organisation skills.
- Join an international community which supports and upholds the rights of all those forced to flee their homes globally.
Our commitment to inclusivity
- We don’t want anyone to feel excluded from supporting a cause they care about, which is why we offer a range of roles with different levels of commitment - more details can be found in the role descriptions.
- We are dedicated to building an inclusive and accessible volunteering community. If you require any adjustments or accommodations during (or beyond) the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to contact us - there is also a space to disclose this in the application form.
- We especially encourage applications from individuals with lived experience of displacement.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Period Reality
We fight for gender equity through system-level change by educating about and advocating for living in sync with your cycle.
Period Reality aims to address period related issues and stories by sharing the real life stories from girls and women globally. Although half the population experiences a menstrual cycle, the stark contrast in the different realities of girls and women is very real and through storytelling we aim to educate and provide relatable content.
Through sharing stories from girls and women focused on their common humanities. Even though our realities might be very different depending on many factors (physical, geographical, socio-economical, mental etc.) we all share a lot of the same questions, worries, dreams, anxieties, ambitious etc. Making these stories relatable and accessible will educate and inspire and create a movement of girls and women being able to first and foremost understand their own cycle, in order to be kind to themselves.
Fundraising Team Coordinator
Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)
Are you passionate about fundraising, grant applications, and advancing women’s health and gender equity?
At Period Reality, we’re on a mission to grow with integrity and purpose, and we’re looking for a Fundraising Team Coordinator to guide that journey.
In this role, you’ll: Support our Fundraising Team with a service-minded approach. Map and pursue funding opportunities across grants, corporate giving, and individual donors. Support the preparation of grant applications, donor decks, and fundraising campaigns. Manage relationships with partners and funders. Keep efforts coordinated and consistent across all income streams.
This is an opportunity to build real-world fundraising experience while contributing to creating long-lasting change in gender equity and women's health.
Commitment: 8–10 hours per week
Weekly Time Commitment
7-9 hours per week
Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)
6+ months
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Nature Buddies inspire and support local people at risk of isolation, to reconnect with the outdoor and local green spaces. This volunteer opportunity looks to develop members of the community with the confidence and mobility to spend more time outdoors to improve their mental and physical health. The activities and green spaces visited, will be chosen between the Nature Buddy, Leader and the supported individual; you decide together what is most helpful, convenient and enjoyable. A Nature Buddy is someone who believes in the benefits of health and wellbeing, outdoor learning and environmental stewardship.
Time commitment:
1 hour weekly for periods of 6-8 weeks at a time. This particular project runs until April/May, however there are many other projects in the Let's Go Outside and Learn catalogue. We love to work long-term with volunteers, so we provide solid support, online and in-person training, as well as regular support and guidance from us, to make this a no-brainer for you.
What skills do you need?
No special qualifications or background in horticulture needed.
Volunteers should be:
Understanding, Patient, Empathetic and have a love for Nature.
Benefits:
A fantastic personal learning and development opportunity. Rewarding activity directly improving the lives of people in the community. Volunteers will have expenses covered for some travel and refreshments if taken with clients. This is an ideal role to gain experience for your CV in the social care and environmental sectors, broadening your skills, and creating a pathway for potential new career avenues. Regular access to enjoying time outdoors in the company, and creating new friends within the team. You will be given induction training, online and in-person, this will be carried out through 3 sessions and a handbook for you to keep track of what you are learning. You will recieve on-going support and guidance as well as peer support at volunteer meetings. You'll work closely with the Let's Go team, who are there to help you and the participants.
We engage with local green spaces and nature to support and enhance the lives of our communities in Richmond, Hounslow, and the Crane Valley.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Gingerbread is the charity for single parents. We challenge discrimination, and campaign against the inequalities single parents face. We are seeking a Treasurer to join our Board. This is an exciting opportunity to join a passionate and inclusive organisation making a real difference to single-parent families across England and Wales.
What will you be doing?
Our Board combines their skills and experience to provide stewardship to Gingerbread and its staff.
The role of Treasurer is to enable the board to maintain an overview of Gingerbread’s affairs, ensure its financial viability and ensure that proper financial records and procedures are maintained.
Trustees generally meet for full Board meetings a minimum of five times a year. Each of these meetings is two hours long. Trustees would need to allow for preparation time ahead of these meetings. We estimate there would be 2 hours of work a month outside of Board meetings.
What are we looking for?
The Treasurer should have the following qualities:
· A commitment to Gingerbread’s work and mission
· Financial qualifications and experience
· Some experience of charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes
· The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences
· Being prepared to make unpopular recommendations to the board
· A willingness to be available to staff and trustees for advice and enquiries on an ad hoc basis
Gingerbread wishes to actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented communities and single parents. Previous Trustee experience is not essential. Full training and induction will be provided.
What difference will you make?
There are over 2 million single parents in England and Wales. Although the majority of them are working, they’re twice as likely to live in poverty as couple parents. And too many single parents experience loneliness, worry and the impact of negative stereotypes in the media and wider society.
As Treasurer, you will join us in leading the fight to create a society where all single parents and their children can thrive.
As you’d expect, we’re a family-friendly charity. We offer a supportive team culture and good work-life balance, while delivering impressive results.
Before you apply
The TrusteeWorks Team at Reach Volunteering are supporting Gingerbread with their Trustee recruitment. Applications should be made via TrusteeWorks in the first instance.
To apply please send your CV/LinkedIn profile along with a supporting statement explaining why you are interested in the role, the skills and experience you will bring to the Board and what you would hope to get out of the role.
Our existing 12 trustees bring a variety of skills and experiences, such as fundraising, safeguarding, finance and investments and lived RAF experience to the Fund. Your background, skills and experience will further enhance this for the benefit of the RAF Family.
The successful candidates will:
• be aligned to our vision, purpose, key goals and values and be able to demonstrate their commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion;
• be able contribute positively to the Fund in a non-executive capacity, operate strategically, be held accountable and hold others to account;
• be able to build supportive relationships and work as a team. This will involve working collectively with others, supporting collective decision-making, being comfortable in sharing your views and expertise with fellow trustees and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) trustees whilst still bringing your own ideas, perspectives and experiences to discussions;
• have the ability to analyse and interpret complex information and evidence, demonstrate impartiality, intellectual flexibility and sound judgment;
• have the ability to listen, communicate and influence effectively;
• have the capacity and skill to understand stakeholder priorities; and
• be a collaborative and pragmatic problem-solver and have the ability to adapt and respond to change.
Our vision is that everyone in our RAF Family – veterans, serving personnel and their families – gets support in their hour of need.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Period Reality
We fight for gender equity through system-level change by educating about and advocating for living in sync with your cycle.
Period Reality aims to address period related issues and stories by sharing the real life stories from girls and women globally. Although half the population experiences a menstrual cycle, the stark contrast in the different realities of girls and women is very real and through storytelling we aim to educate and provide relatable content.
Through sharing stories from girls and women focused on their common humanities. Even though our realities might be very different depending on many factors (physical, geographical, socio-economical, mental etc.) we all share a lot of the same questions, worries, dreams, anxieties, ambitious etc. Making these stories relatable and accessible will educate and inspire and create a movement of girls and women being able to first and foremost understand their own cycle, in order to be kind to themselves.
Sales Team
Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)
Are you passionate about driving meaningful change while building sustainable connections?
As a part of the Sales Team, you’ll help expand our impact by following up on leads for corporate training programmes and helping us connect with organisations that align with our mission of advancing menstrual health and gender equity.
In this role, you’ll support outreach efforts, nurture potential client relationships, and assist with maintaining records in our CRM system. This voluntary role is a great opportunity to sharpen your skills in sales, outreach, and relationship-building while contributing to a cause that truly matters.
Commitment: approximately 8–10 hours per week.
Weekly Time Commitment
7-9 hours per week
Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)
6+ months
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Period Reality
We fight for gender equity through system-level change by educating about and advocating for living in sync with your cycle.
Period Reality aims to address period related issues and stories by sharing the real life stories from girls and women globally. Although half the population experiences a menstrual cycle, the stark contrast in the different realities of girls and women is very real and through storytelling we aim to educate and provide relatable content.
Through sharing stories from girls and women focused on their common humanities. Even though our realities might be very different depending on many factors (physical, geographical, socio-economical, mental etc.) we all share a lot of the same questions, worries, dreams, anxieties, ambitious etc. Making these stories relatable and accessible will educate and inspire and create a movement of girls and women being able to first and foremost understand their own cycle, in order to be kind to themselves.
Fundraising Team
Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)
Are you someone who is passionate about fundraising, grant applications and wants to help promote Women's health and gender equity?
We are seeking a new member for our Fundraising Team, exploring all funding avenues, from governments and grants to individual giving and platforms.
This is a hybrid role combining coordination and writing, offering ownership of the full process, from mapping out a market landscape to writing the proposals, dealing with third parties and supporting with related content like donor decks and marketing copy. You will be gaining a lot of hands-on experience across the fundraising journey.
Commitment: 8 hours/week.
Weekly Time Commitment
7-9 hours per week
Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)
6+ months
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We’re looking for trustees
We’re looking to recruit dynamic, committed and motivated people with professional skills and experience who are as passionate as we are about empowering individuals to work through and beyond their experience of sexual abuse.
Specific qualifications are not necessarily required and we welcome applicants with lived experience. A genuine interest in learning about our charity and our services within the local community is essential.
These trustees will help to form a new board dedicated to supporting the charity and contributing to the effective and quality governance of Trust House. You will play an active role in developing the strategic direction of the charity and provide guidance to ensure the charity continues to support anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse in the Thames Valley area.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Spires, a South London homelessness charity, is seeking trustees to support its mission and growth.
About Spires
Spires is an award-winning charity that has been working with homeless and disadvantaged people in Streatham, South London, since 1990. Working with some of the most isolated and vulnerable in our society, we support over 900 men and women every year.
Our vision and aim is to be the best support that we can in helping people move from lives of distress, isolation and insecurity to a future of greater stability and hope. The majority of our clients are homeless or have insecure accommodation, with many also facing complex issues such as long-term unemployment, problems with poor mental and physical health, addiction and substance abuse, or they may even be imprisoned by sex work.
What will you be doing?
Trustees at Spires are responsible for overseeing the charity’s strategic direction and ensuring its long-term sustainability. Key responsibilities include:
- Strategic oversight: Help shape and support Spires’ evolving strategy
- Legal and regulatory compliance: Ensure adherence to governing documents, charity law, and relevant regulations
- Financial oversight: Together as a board, approve annual budgets, monitor financial performance, and support the Treasurer in maintaining financial health
- Resource management: Ensure that the charity’s resources are used effectively to meet its mission
- Support and challenge: Engage actively in board meetings, offering advice, support, and constructive challenge
- Ambassadorship: Promote Spires within your networks, helping raise its profile and attract support for its mission
- Uphold best practices: Ensure high standards of governance, transparency, and accountability throughout the organisation
This role is mainly home-based
The board meets six times a year, with an estimated time commitment of around 4 hours per month.
Please request the candidate pack for more information.
What are we looking for?
We’re seeking trustees with the following attributes:
- Commitment to Spires and its mission
- Good, independent judgment and strategic vision
- Willingness to speak up and share your opinions
- Understanding of legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
- Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to duties as a trustee
- Ability to work effectively as part of a team
- Creative thinking and problem-solving skills
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds but are particularly interested in those with experience in marketing, social media, fundraising, finance, governance, or legal compliance. Additionally, lived experience of homelessness or related challenges is highly valued, as we strive to ensure our board reflects the community we serve.
No prior trustee experience is required - just a willingness to contribute time, expertise, and fresh perspectives.
What Difference will you make?
By joining Spires as a trustee, you will directly influence the charity’s ability to support homeless and at-risk individuals. Your contributions can help shape policies, enhance fundraising efforts, and strengthen governance, ensuring Spires can continue providing life-changing services. Whether by improving financial oversight, increasing community engagement, or advocating for those in need, your involvement will play a vital role in improving lives and preventing homelessness in South London.
The TrusteeWorks team at Reach Volunteering are supporting Spires with their Trustee recruitment. Applications should be made via TrusteeWorks in the first instance.
To apply please submit your CV along with a covering letter stating why you wish to join the organisation and how your skills and experience would add value to the board.
Please send applications and enquiries to the email address provided.
Join the Board of The Gestalt Centre as a Treasurer or a new Trustee, and help shape their ambitious growth strategy with the life-changing approach to counselling, psychotherapy and organisational development – applications from first time Trustees are very welcome.
- Interviews will be held in June 2025
About The Gestalt Centre
The Gestalt Centre is an established educational and therapy charity, supporting the mental and psychological well-being of individuals, groups, and organisations.
Gestalt is a humanistic life-changing approach to life, counselling and psychotherapy. It enables people and organisations to manage change, develop meaningful relationships and lead fulfilling lives by creatively utilising their own resources, skills and strengths.
We are a dynamic organisation and run several accredited counselling and psychotherapy courses, along with professional development programmes for practitioners and organisations. We also offer affordable therapy and counselling and are a hub for a range of health and wellbeing practices for people in the community.
We value awareness and change, collaborative working, diversity and the view that we are all connected and therefore together responsible for our communities.
About the roles
The Gestalt Centre is a registered charity with a Board of Trustees and a Board of Directors. The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the organisation carries out its purposes and for overall planning and good governance. The Directors (executive and non-executive) make decisions about strategy, the running of the organisation and oversee the work of the Psychotherapy faculty, the Counselling faculty and the management team.
Purpose of the role
Trustees are legally responsible for all aspects of the Charity, including:
- agreeing the purpose and strategy
- ensuring the Charity is financially viable
- making sure a charity does what it was set up to, which includes making decisions about how it is run
Operational matters are delegated to the CEO and the Executive.
Who we are looking for
We’re also seeking new Trustees who can strengthen our expertise in critical areas as we look to strengthen our Board to devise and deliver our ambitious plans. We are keen to hear from people with experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Events management
- Fundraising
- Property
- Higher Education
- Marketing and Social Media
We are looking for a new Treasurer who will be a strategic thinker with good knowledge of charity accounting and the Charity SORP, and can ensure sound financial management. You will bring commercial acumen to guide our financial strategy during a transformative period.
You will also oversee our financial governance, reserve investment, and risk management while contributing your broader strategic insights and experience across all aspects of our work.
Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.
Interviews will be held in June 2025.
We’re an executive search firm working across third sector, education and membership sectors to transform leadership and inspire change.

The Registration Advisory Panel are seeking a Legal Representative for this panel. As a member of the Registration Advisory Panel, you will offer legal insights that ensure compliance with required standards and regulations for the wider psychological workforce. The Registration Advisory Panel are responsible for strategic oversight of the Wider Psychological Workforce Register and reports directly into the Board of Trustees with the following role and remit:
· Provide assurance that competency, safe practice and high standards are maintained for the Wider Psychological Workforce Register and that the register continues to fulfil its objective of public protection.
· Ensure that voluntary register functions are carried out fairly, effectively, proportionately and transparently and in line with the standards set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
· Engage with relevant stakeholders and works in partnership with other bodies where appropriate to ensure registrants continue to meet the required standards for entry and maintenance on the Wider Psychological Workforce Register.
We are looking for someone with a legal background and should demonstrate the following:
-
That they are an accountable professional responsible for own professional actions and adherence to professional codes of practice
To apply please download a Statement of Interest Form and submit it together with your CV
Building a world where psychology transforms lives
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
South West London Law Centres (SWLLC) is an independent registered charity providing specialised legal advice and assistance covering Wandsworth, Merton, Croydon, Kingston-upon-Thames, Richmond-upon-Thames and Sutton in South West London.
Our vision is a future where people who cannot afford a lawyer:
- Have equal access to assert and enforce their rights;
- Are empowered to benefit from everything a healthy society has to offer;
- Are treated equally with dignity and respect.
You will play a critical role in helping SWLLC to grow and prosper. If you have a passion for access to justice and believe that you can improve the impact the SWLLC can make, then we look forward to hearing from you.
What will you be doing?
Our previous chair stood down after an extended term of 6 years. They helped oversee the law centre during the pandemic and its aftermath during which we have seen the law centre continue to flourish in a very challenging environment. We are looking for a new chair who believes in what we do and is prepared to lead and act as an ambassador for the charitable trust so that we can continue to do this work. We currently have a strong trustee board of varying skills and tenures and the day to day management of the law centre is delegated to a small team. This team is small for what the law centre is trying to achieve. We need you to bring your expertise, energy and networks to the law centre. The role isn't glamorous, it's unpaid, and it's sometimes unacknowledged, but it is rewarding. You will play a critical role in helping SWLLC to support over 6,000 people a year, who would not otherwise have access to legal advice. We are very proud of the impact that we have had over the last 50 years, and continue to have. SWLLC continues to operate in a challenging environment, the work of the law centre is regulated and audited by a number of external bodies, our finances continued to be challenged by static legal aid, grants and donations, despite this we have continued to flourish, but the need for our services is greater than we can provide. The main areas that our trustees board can support alongside the role of governance of the law centre are:
- Finance
- Fundraising
- Human Resources
- Communications and Marketing
- IT and facilities
- Community Engagement and Community Activism
Time commitment:
6 Board meetings per year. Take place through a mixture of in person and online meetings in the evenings (usually midweek between 6pm – 7:30pm). The Chair will also need to have regular meetings with the Chief Executive, and Senior Management Team outside of these regular board meetings. Such meetings will typically be brief, online and arranged at a mutually convenient time. The Chair will also need to represent the Charity at various events and meetings with key stakeholders. Our head office is based in Croydon with other offices in Clapham Junction and Morden. We expect the role to take around 1 -2 days per month.
What are we looking for?
Principal responsibilities:
Strategic leadership
- Act as representative of the whole board and not its defacto head
- Provide leadership to the charity and its Board, ensuring that the Charity has maximum impact for its beneficiaries
Governance
- Ensure that the governance arrangements are working in the most effective way for the Charity
External Relations
- Act as an ambassador for the cause and the charity in partnership with the CEO
Efficiency and effectiveness
- Chair meetings of the Board of Trustees effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision-making process
- Ensure that Trustees are fully engaged and that decisions are taken in the best, long-term interests of the Charity and that the Board takes collective ownership
Relationship with the Chief Executive and the Senior Management Team
- Establish and build a strong, effective, supporting and a constructive working relationship with the Chief Executive, ensuring s/he is held to account for achieving agreed strategic objectives
Personal Qualities:
- Personal gravitas to lead a significant organisation demonstrating a strong and visible passion and commitment to the law centre, its strategic objectives and cause
- Exhibit strong inter-personal and relationship building abilities and be comfortable in an ambassadorial role
- Demonstrate tact and diplomacy, with the ability to listen and engage effectively
- Strong networking capabilities that can be utilised for the benefit of the law centre
- Ability to foster and promote a collaborative team environment
- Ability to commit time to conduct the role well, including travel and attending events out of office hours
Experience:
- Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation
- Successful track record of achievement through their career
- Experience of external representation, delivering presentations and managing stakeholders
- Significant experience of chairing meetings and events Knowledge and skills
- Broad knowledge and understanding of the legal sector and current issues affecting it
- Strong leadership skills, ability to motivate staff and volunteers and bring people together
- Good understanding of charity governance and finance issues Terms The charity’s Chair (and board members) will serve a four-year term to be eligible for re-appointment for one additional term.
What difference will you make?
The impact the Chair will have is to ensure the continuation of the law centres' successful mission
Law Centres are community-led, not-for-profit organisations that help local people to understand and enforce their legal rights. Their services are free, and they attempt to target the people who most need them – people who are at risk of discrimination and ill-treatment and those who are least able to protect themselves, for example because they lack the money to hire someone with legal expertise to help them. We are currently celebrating our 50th year. SWLLC s is one of the larger Law Centre in Great Britain covering six London boroughs – Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth. Our catchment area covers 1.7 million people. We now operate from 3 branch offices. We help over 6,000 people each year with a face to face service covering 3 broad services.
- Expert casework and representation in the social welfare law covering community care, debt, employment, housing, immigration/asylum, public law, welfare rights and cost of living support
- Emergency representation as part of the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme
- Pro Bono Clinics
Amongst the results we achieve that make us proud of what we do are:
- the prevention of homelessness
- the prevention and reduction of poverty
- the protection of family life by reuniting people living in the UK with those living abroad
- the prevention of torture and death beyond our borders by the provision of advice and representation to people fleeing persecution
- the prevention of ill-health by successfully challenging unfit living conditions
- the prevention of mental ill-health by assisting people to deal with their personal debts
Before you apply
If you would like an initial discussion before putting in your application please message through the Reach Volunteering Platform and Senior Management Team will be on contact to further discuss the role and the opportunity. A panel of trustees and senior management team will review your application. If we consider that your skills and experience are a good fit with the Law Centre, you will be invited for an informal discussion with the panel about our work and the trustee role. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and we encourage early submissions.