Office volunteer volunteer roles in london

Family Lives was formed over forty years ago by volunteers with the aim of ensuring that all parents had somewhere to turn before they reach crisis point.

We know that the right support at the right time makes all the difference.

Family Lives provides targeted early intervention and crisis support to families who are struggling.

Purpose of the role:

To be part of a flexible team providing empathic, caring and informed support to families, carers and others who use our services.

Our volunteers take calls from parents and carers on a wide range of subjects, whether that might be issues around separation and divorce, isolation, depression, bullying and abuse, dealing with behavioural problems, etc. You can find out more about our services on our website. We are a national service with home-based call takers county wide and a call centre in Old Hatfield Hertfordshire.

Once trained volunteers sign up for a weekly 4-hour shift comprising 3 hours ‘online’ followed by a debrief session with your supervisor which can last around half to one hour.

We recruit volunteers with a range of backgrounds and experiences though we ask that volunteers have experience of parenting or working with children and young people, are good listeners and have a willingness to learn. Being remote it will be very important that you have a PC/laptop, plug in headset with microphone, good Wi-Fi and a private place to work from home. You need to be a UK resident.

Our volunteers often tell us how rewarding their time with us is.

You'll be part of a compassionate community and feel a real sense of pride for what you do. You'll meet new people, gain valuable experience, and develop your skillset. We're passionate about helping people to reach their full potential, so we'll offer you full training suitable for the role, supervision from a named member of staff, including help setting personal development goals, and opportunities to increase skills and input into practice via regular Practice Development Groups.

Our training programme is excellent and will give you the opportunity to develop the skills needed to offer empathic support and guidance to callers whatever their circumstances; all shifts are overseen by a regular shift supervisor who provides ongoing remote support.

We ask our volunteers to make a commitment of 1 year (with time off for holidays), obviously we understand that circumstances sometimes make that an impossibility but can be helpful to know at the outset that is the general expectation.

We have remote call taker training sessions that run over five sessions and is done remotely connecting you via a Microsoft Teams link. Our next training is starting in September 2025.

Module One = Tues 16th Sept

Module Two = Wed 24th Sept

Module Three = Weds 1st Oct

Module Four = Weds 8th Oct

Module Five = Wed 15th Oct

10am to 2pm

You would need to be able to attend all five sessions and be available on four occasions to listen into calls, this can be organised remotely. If you are unable to attend the training however are interested, please do apply as we run training throughout the year.

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About the CARAS ESOL Team:

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to adults at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling people to attend college and access other services in the future.

About the Role:

CARAS is looking for volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistants to support our face-to-face adult ESOL classes in Tooting and Streatham. Volunteers in this role are required to commit to at least one class ever week, either Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday during these times: 

• Mondays ESOL 10:30 to 12:30

• Tuesday 10:30 to 12:30

• Wednesday One-to-one employability and language learning support on 10:30 to 12:00 

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities:

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within ESOL classes; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources;

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential: 

• To be 18 years or older; 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• An interest in education and English language teaching; 

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds; 

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• The ability to volunteer on Mondays or Wednesdays during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of three months; 

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• *Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; 

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role. 

 *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK. 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies; 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

Our Fundraising team is looking for a data entry volunteer to support them for 2 - 3 months to assist with the data migration from our current CRM to our new CRM.

This role would suit someone who is detail oriented as it will involve systematically working through all our contacts and seeing if they are up to date. They will also need to look through emails and summarise any important information or contact that has been made with the contact over the last few years. Confident in IT and good communication skills is essential. Ideally, the person can commit to help the charity for 2-3 months and minimum 2 days per week or more (5 days per week would be wonderful!) to complete the project in good time. This is a remote role unless the person would like to work in our office in Bristol. Laptop will be provided and we would require two references and ID checks. 

Our volunteers will also get the opportunity to learn more about the work that we and to support other projects that they may be interested in. Even better if you are interested in fundraising as you will be mostly working with our fundraising and comms team. 

Find out more about our work in farming and sustainability on our website. 

The Chapter Secretary ensures smooth running of the local chapter by managing communication, meetings, and documentation. The Secretary is responsible for organising chapter meetings, prepare agendas, take structured minutes, and upload them to Onedrive, ensuring they are shared with all attendees. In addition the Secretary also help coordinate volunteer socials and support chapter activities.

The Chapter Secretary should have strong organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to coordinate meetings, manage calendars, and keep accurate records. Attention to detail, good communication skills and time management are essential in addition to being reliable, proactive and collaborative.. Familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel, OneDrive.

About Us

The Pathfinders Organisation CIC is a community-focused, values-driven social impact organisation based in Birmingham. We’re dedicated to empowering individuals and communities through creativity, collaboration, and meaningful opportunities.

As a volunteer with us, you’ll gain real-world experience, build transferable skills, and connect with a supportive, mission-led team.

The Opportunity

We’re currently looking for volunteers to join our organisation across a number of departments. This is a generalised volunteer post – once you apply, we’ll connect with you to explore your skills, interests, and which team you’d be best suited to. This is a flexible opportunity, yet a commitment of 6-8 hours per week is required.

Our departments include:

• People & Culture (HR & Wellbeing): Recruitment, onboarding, volunteer engagement, and supporting a positive team culture.

• Creative: Content creation, design, storytelling, branding, and social media support.

• Data & Reporting: Research, impact measurement, data collection, analysis, and reporting.

• Outreach: Community engagement, partnerships, events, and external communications.

What You’ll Gain

• Practical, hands-on experience in a social impact organisation.

• Mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals.

• Transferable skills in teamwork, communication, and organisation.

• Certificate upon successful completion.

• A supportive and inclusive environment where your ideas are valued.

What We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from students who want to grow their skills while giving back.

Some general qualities we look for:

• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

• A proactive and curious mindset.

• Organisational and time-management skills.

• Willingness to learn and take initiative.

• Basic IT literacy (Google Workspace, MS Office, or similar).

Additional skills (depending on department) may include:

• Creativity (graphic design, content writing, video editing).

• Data analysis and reporting.

• HR/people management interest.

• Community engagement or event support.

Important Information

• This is a voluntary position (unpaid) and not a contract of employment.

• We ask for a minimum commitment of three months (flexible around academic schedules).

• Volunteers are expected to comply with our confidentiality, data protection, and equal opportunity policies.

• You will receive regular supervision and feedback to support your development.
   

Volunteer Admissions Assistant

You'll be multitasking throughout the day, with a mix of responsibilities including customer service, ticket sales, promoting Gift Aid donations, shop duties, guiding visitors and providing information about the Museum and the collection. If you enjoy a fast-paced environment and love engaging with people, this is the role for you. 

The Volunteer Admissions Assistant role is all about making a lasting impression and creating a memorable visitor experience. You’ll be:

• Welcoming and engaging with visitors, sharing information about the museum and its collection.
• Selling tickets and gift shop items, ensuring smooth transactions and great customer service.
• Collecting data for Gift Aid and marketing purposes, including how visitors found out about us.
• Creating positive experiences to encourage return visits and word-of-mouth recommendations.
• Helping visitors explore the Museum through interpretation, answering questions and distributing trails, accessibility and family activities.
• Maintaining the gift shop, including restocking, counting stock, and setting up attractive displays.
• Conducting online research and building contact lists to support marketing efforts.
• Promoting the Museum locally, raising awareness and encouraging more visitors to discover what we have to offer!

Who we’re looking for:

We’d like to extend an invitation to anyone, particularly members of the local community.  Full training will be provided, we are looking for anyone with:

• Great customer service skills – you will be friendly and confident about approaching visitors of all ages and backgrounds
• Great communication skills – you will be able to clearly explain information about the Museum and ticketing to visitors
• Good computer skills – with training, you will be able to use our ticketing system, email and Microsoft Office
• Good Sales Skills – you will be able to promote ticket sales and gift shop items as well as encouraging Gift Aid donations
• Multitasking skills – with various responsibilities such as selling tickets, guiding visitors, and managing the gift shop, you will be able to juggle tasks efficiently
• A good telephone manner
• Good team working skills

This role offers plenty of variety, and you'll play an important part in making every visitor's experience unforgettable.

Training and support:

All volunteers will first be invited for a training shift.  We have an induction and training process, during which we give volunteers the information they need to enjoy their time with us. Training is mainly 'on the job', supported by an experienced volunteer as well as the manager on duty. Volunteers are given regular feedback and we remain open to suggestions on how we can improve the volunteer experience. The Admissions Assistant receives continued training and development throughout their time with us.

Availability:

We are looking for volunteers who would ideally like to donate 2-4 shifts per month, weekdays or weekends, either as a 10-1.30pm shift, or a 1.30-5pm shift, for a minimum of 3 months. Ideally, you will be able to start immediately, although this is not essential. Travel expenses up to £5 will be paid, with up to an additional £5 for lunch expenses if you are on a full day shift.

Please note: Applicants from some overseas countries are required to have a relevant work permit or student visa to volunteer in the U.K. We’ll need to see this for our records before volunteering can commence.

Are you a dog lover? Do you have the time to help raise a life-changing puppy? Would you like to make a difference to someone's life? If you've answered yes to these questions, then this role could be perfect for you! 

As a Puppy Raiser, you'll provide a 6-8 week-old puppy with the vital foundation for its future role as a guide dog. You'll be looking after a puppy for 12-16 months and will guide him or her through training, socialisation, the introduction of new environments and experiences while providing a loving home.

There might be the odd chewed slipper along the way, but nothing beats the rewarding feeling of loving and raising a puppy who will go on to make an enormous difference to someone living with sight loss.

What you'll be doing:

• Engaging with our world-class training programme to prepare your puppy for the next stages of becoming a guide dog.
• Providing care and support for your puppy at home e.g., loving, grooming and feeding him or her. 
• Socialising your puppy and introducing him or her to a variety of environments to increase confidence – this can be as simple as taking your puppy with you to the shops, office or park as you go about your everyday life.
• Teaching your puppy to be comfortable alone - gradually building up from a few minutes to a maximum of four hours.
• Taking your puppy to monthly puppy classes, and interacting with other puppy raisers in your community whilst refreshing your training and sharing tips.
• Meeting with your volunteer manager as frequently as needed to discuss any changes or issues with your puppy.
• Completing short questionnaires about your puppy’s development.

You'll ideally have:

• A loving home with enough time to invest in raising a puppy and attending to their needs (e.g. toilet training). If you work from home or have hobbies, you'll need to be available to give the puppy regular attention alongside these.
• Someone at home who is physically able to handle large breed dogs (around 25-40kg).
• Access to a car, so that you can get your puppy used to travelling.
• The agreement of your landlord to have a dog in the property if you rent your home. 
• A safe secure area outside for your puppy to go to the toilet.

What you'll get:

• The satisfaction of knowing you're supporting people with sight loss to live actively, independently, and well.
• The rewarding feeling of watching a mischievous puppy learn new training techniques to help them develop into a guide dog.
• The opportunity to participate in our bespoke world-class training programme – this can help you train your own dogs or advance a future career in dog handling.
• The opportunity to have a loveable, canine companion, proven to reduce feelings of stress and improve fitness – you’ll be out walking rain or shine!
• The chance to be part of the inspirational Guide Dogs community, meeting like-minded people and interacting with a community of puppy raisers in your area.
• A dedicated volunteer manager and fellow peers who will help support you throughout your role.

s a volunteer you'll have access to our world-class training programme, to implement with your puppy in training, a great bonus for any dog owner! This is delivered in an interactive and engaging manner, using a mixture of different learning techniques virtually e.g., videos, documents and e-learning modules. Examples of the modules you'll have access to include:

• Food manners
• Greeting new visitors
• Being home alone
• Settling in new environments

You'll receive plenty of support from your volunteer manager who will help you work through these training modules with your puppy. We also offer puppy classes for puppy raisers in the local area to get together, share stories and provide refreshers on training techniques. 

Volunteering for Guide Dogs should never leave you out of pocket. We’ll make sure we pay any pre-agreed expenses related to volunteering with us, including veterinary costs, food costs for the puppy and other materials needed for the puppy’s training. We will also pay an optional allowance of up to £100 a year to offset additional costs, and we have working agreements with certain bus and train operating companies, letting you take your puppy on short training journeys free of charge.

Minimum age of applicant: 18.

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit an Administration Volunteer for the Mid-Sussex and District Group. Our Administration Volunteers are the linchpin for our local groups’ activities. They act as the first point of contact and they make sure all relevant information is circulated to other volunteers and members. And they play an important role in keeping our data and details up to date to comply with data protection legislation.

In this role you’ll develop your administration and organisation skills. Most importantly you’ll be help your local group run efficiently, so they can keep providing valuable services to our MS community. 

Time Commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the area the group to carry out this role.

Please apply online.

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

Job Description – HR Manager

Organisation: Children With Voices

Reports to: the executive ops manager

Location: Hackney, London - Hybrid

Contract: Full-time / Part-time – specify as needed

Job Purpose

The HR Manager plays a vital role in supporting the vision and mission of Children With Voices by ensuring that all HR practices are fair, compliant, and aligned with safeguarding, equity, and community wellbeing. This role is responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources, from recruitment and staff development to compliance and wellbeing initiatives. The HR Manager will be instrumental in creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where staff, volunteers, and young people can thrive.

Key Responsibilities

1. Oversee Daily HR Operations
   • Manage HR functions to ensure efficiency, compliance, and alignment with organisational goals.
   • Champion safeguarding and equality in every aspect of HR practice.
2. Recruitment & Onboarding
   • Lead fair and inclusive recruitment, ensuring diversity, equal opportunity, and alignment with our safeguarding responsibilities.
   • Deliver onboarding that instils Children With Voices’ values, safeguarding culture, and commitment to community impact.
3. HR Policies & Compliance
   • Develop and implement HR policies and procedures in line with UK employment law, charity governance, and safeguarding legislation.
   • Ensure GDPR compliance and maintain secure, confidential records.
4. Training & Development
   • Coordinate training on safeguarding, equality, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing.
   • Support ongoing professional and personal development for staff and volunteers.
5. Employee Relations & Wellbeing
   • Provide advice and support on employee concerns, encouraging a culture of respect, accountability, and collaboration.
   • Promote mental health and wellbeing initiatives, aligned with our duty of care.
6. Volunteer Engagement
   • Oversee volunteer recruitment, DBS checks, safeguarding induction, and ongoing engagement.
   • Support volunteers to feel valued and integrated into the charity’s mission.
7. Collaboration with Leadership
   • Work closely with the CEO and department leads to ensure HR strategies support the organisation’s mission and goals.
   • Streamline HR processes to improve efficiency and impact.
8. Conflict Resolution
   • Mediate disputes fairly, maintaining trust and confidentiality.
   • Support managers in handling sensitive matters in line with policy and safeguarding standards.
9. Records & Benefits Management
   • Maintain accurate HR records, ensuring data protection compliance.
   • Administer employee benefits and ensure fair, transparent processes.
10. Health, Safety & Safeguarding

• Ensure workplace compliance with health and safety legislation.
• Embed safeguarding responsibilities across all HR practices, ensuring no child or vulnerable adult falls through the gaps.

Person Specification

Essential Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience in an HR management role, ideally within the charity or community sector.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, HR compliance, and safeguarding requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust at all levels.
• Experience managing recruitment, onboarding, and training processes.
• Ability to mediate and resolve conflicts in a fair, professional, and sensitive manner.
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail and confidentiality.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and community empowerment.

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above) or equivalent HR certification.
• Experience working with volunteers, young people, or community-focused organisations.
• Knowledge of charity governance and regulatory frameworks.
• Experience in developing wellbeing or mental health initiatives.

Our Values at Children With Voices

• Safeguarding First: Every decision is made with the protection and safety of children and vulnerable people in mind.
• Equity & Inclusion: We champion fairness and diversity, ensuring no child or family is left behind.
• Collaboration: We believe in the power of working together with partners, communities, and families.
• Empowerment: We support children, families, staff, and volunteers to thrive and reach their full potential.
• Community Impact: We exist to rebuild stronger, safer communities for future generations.

Salary & Benefits - £1,520 per month

Days 1–2 days in the office, with flexibility to choose from Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. The remaining hours can be worked remotely.

Working pattern: 20 hours per week

Events Officer has the responisbility of organising (along with the help of a Trustee Events Manager) our magical visits to children/adults with LD, this could be at the hospital, social groups, refugee centres, libraries etc etc.

They will monitor the chapter email for submitted event booking forms (some of these will come from events organised by the Events Manager on Trustees). These will then be added to the calendar and advertised to volunteers. They will ensure each event organised has a handful of volunteers confirmed within a week of the event itself. They will then provide information and support to a Lead Volunteer to run the events. They will ensure that regular events are being attended by volunteers and that they have the costume and materials that are needed for these. They will follow up after events to ensure social media posts are made, hours are uploaded and that costumes are returned. They will ensure that all volunteers are attending events.

Do you speak Farsi and are looking to give back to the local community? By joining our team of befrienders, you will support us to reach some of the most isolated adults in the community to reduce their feelings of loneliness, build friendships and provide support for mental wellbeing.

You will support individuals who struggle to communicate with others and help them to reconnect with their local community. You will support to relight a spark in a hobby, interest or encourage individuals to explore and participate in new social activities.

Loneliness and isolation can affect anyone in life, whatever their age or family situation. Official data from the Office for National Statistics shows that rates of depression doubled during the COVID pandemic, and one of the major causes of depression is isolation.

What you will be doing

• Agree a mutual time and frequency to meet in the local community
• To develop and promote a positive relationship with your befriendee
• To engage in conversation in Kurdish
• To encourage your befriendee to engage in social activities and support them in doing so whilst building their confidence
• To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
• Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals

The skills you need

• Able to communicate confidently in Kurdish
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere which motivates and inspires others
• Willingness to engage in activities in the community
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow professional boundaries
• To be consistent in attendance

What's in it for you

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

The Chapter Secretary ensures the smooth running of the local chapter by managing communication, meetings, and documentation. The Secretary is responsible for organising chapter meetings, prepare agendas, take structured minutes, and upload them to Onedrive, ensuring they are shared with all attendees. In addition the Secretary also help coordinate volunteer socials and support chapter activities.

The Chapter Secretary should have strong organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to coordinate meetings, manage calendars, and keep accurate records. Attention to detail, good communication skills and time management are essential in addition to being reliable, proactive and collaborative..

Familiarity with Microsoft Word, Excel, OneDrive.

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Communications Volunteer for the Mid Sussex and District Group. As our Communications Volunteer you’ll make sure people know they have a local MS Society group to turn to.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your writing skills, and gain an experience of communicating across a range of digital channels. 

Time commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the area the group to carry out this role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

Join Elleray Community Association as Chair and lead an exciting new chapter as we move into a new purpose-built centre in Teddington. Help shape strategy, support staff and volunteers, and expand our valued services for older adults and the wider community. We are seeking an inclusive leader with strategic vision, governance experience, and a passion for local impact.

Chair Role Description

• Provide strategic leadership to the charity and the Board, ensuring that ECA achieves its mission.

• Work in partnership with the Centre Manager and team to achieve ECA’s mission.

• Lead the board in ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation.

• Optimise the relationship between the board and ECA’s staff and volunteers.

• Plan and chair the board meetings and the AGM, with others as appropriate.

• Act as a spokesperson and figurehead for ECA.  

What we are looking for  

• Ideally previous experience of being a trustee. 

• A keen sense of strategic purpose.

• Governance and committee experience in a charity or business setting.

• Strong in execution and managing transformation projects, including leading the charity in the new ECA building setting. 

• Experience in stakeholder engagement and ability to constructively negotiate and collaborate with various institutions, entities, and personnel.

• Affinity with and commitment to the local SW London and Teddington area.

• Business experience and awareness across finance, risk, IT, and people management, would be desirable.

• An inclusive leadership style, able to inspire and support everyone to participate on an equal footing. 

• The ability to listen and engage effectively, comfortable with challenge and debate and able to encourage that in others whilst fostering a collaborative board environment. 

• In advocation, be able and willing to champion ECA’s work through personal networks, social media, and other channels.

• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 

• Be available, responsive and flexible to advise, support or give consent to, as needed.   

Terms of office  

• Trustees are appointed for a 3-year term of office, renewal for 2 further terms to a maximum of 9 years.

• This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.  

Time commitment 

• Attending [6] Board meetings annually. Currently meetings are generally held in person at the ECA building.

• Periodic meetings with the Centre Manager and management team, with flexibility to respond swiftly to the occasional ad-hoc issues.

• Other meetings, including on potential strategy and other charity-related issues.