One off volunteer opportunity volunteer volunteer roles in Paignton, torbay

Who are Governors for Schools?

Governors for Schools operates across England and Wales to improve educational standards and ensure all children and young people have the chance to realise their full potential.

We believe the key to improving school performance is effective governance. By finding, nurturing and supporting a committed network of governors, we drive positive systematic change that benefits each and every student, regardless of their background.

Governors for Schools recruits and matches volunteers with school governing boards and provides ongoing support.

What’s involved?

There are governor vacancies across England and Wales. Some schools are also looking for remote governors who don't need to live near the school they support.

Governors volunteer at board level to set the strategic vision for their school. This involves constructively challenging current processes, using your unique skills to support senior leaders, and overseeing school finances. You’ll be involved in areas such as monitoring, budget management, and data analysis. As well as putting your expertise to good use, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your professional skills. Ultimately, you’ll work towards facilitating the delivery of a broad and exciting curriculum and oversee wellbeing and inclusion initiatives. Governance represents a fantastic opportunity to develop yourself while making a real impact on the education of children and young people.

Governors work collaboratively with the headteacher and other members of the board, including parents and school staff. In most schools, full board meetings are held termly, as are committee meetings. Many governors will sit on a committee linked to their expertise or interests, such as teaching and learning or finance and resources. In addition to attending meetings, governors will need to read the papers in advance, complete training courses, and occasionally visit their school.

Governors usually support schools for a period of four years and with an estimated time commitment of 7 hours per month. During these hours, you will attend meetings, read papers, attend training sessions, and make occasional visits to school.

Who can be a governor?

The most important part of being a governor is the ability to ask questions, provide support and have the best interests of the school at heart. You don't have to be a parent or have experience in education to become a governor. Schools seek a  wide range of skills to support the board, including finance, HR, and data analysis.

Boards also need governors with a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences to ensure a range of perspectives are considered during board meetings.

Schools welcome professional experience, as well as community insight and experience of working collaboratively.

You need to be aged 18 or above and there are certain criminal convictions that would exclude you from the role. A Disclosure and Barring Service check will be carried out by the school.

What’s the process?

You can find out more about the school governor role by attending one of our recruitment webinars.

You can complete your online profile on the website, including your motivation to take on the role, your skills and your school preferences. Your regional Partnership Manager will then look at vacancies that match your requirements. Once a school is identified, you will have the opportunity to discuss the role with them in more detail, visit the school, and observe a meeting. If appointed, a DBS check will take place and, in some cases, the school will seek references.

Ongoing support

Governors for Schools isn’t just a matching service. We want to help you thrive in your role through bespoke and ongoing support. We provide eLearning and monthly webinars covering a variety of topics to increase your knowledge of the education sector and governance. You’ll also have access to The Key for School Governors, an information hub designed to show new governors the ropes and offer a useful point of reference for existing governors.

Organisation: Easy Housing Association (EHA) – Registered Social Landlord
Location: Remote
Type: Voluntary (reasonable expenses reimbursed)
Closing Date: 5th April 2026

Join EHA’s board of trustees – provide strategic oversight for a safer, stronger social housing future.

Easy Housing Association (EHA) is a progressive, mission-driven Registered Social Landlord (RSL), committed to delivering safe, secure, and affordable homes for those who need them most. As we continue to grow, we are strengthening our governance and seeking two experienced and strategic individuals to join our Board of Trustees. As a trustee, you will provide high-level oversight, ensuring strong leadership, regulatory compliance, and financial resilience.

We are specifically looking for trustees with senior-level expertise in one or both of the following areas:

• Health & safety within the social housing sector
• Finance and strategic oversight in the charity or housing sectors

As a trustee, you will advise, challenge, and support EHA’s leadership, helping us meet our legal obligations, protect tenant wellbeing, and maintain long-term sustainability.
 

��️ Trustee oversight role: health & safety (social housing focus)

We are seeking a trustee to provide strategic oversight and governance on health and safety systems across EHA. You will help ensure we meet the highest safety standards for tenants, staff, and volunteers, and remain fully compliant with housing regulations.

Key areas of expertise include:

• Interpreting and overseeing compliance with H&S laws relevant to RSLs
• Ensuring robust systems for fire, gas, asbestos, and communal area safety
• Providing risk management insight across housing stock and services
• Understanding the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) expectations
• Reviewing inspection, audit, and incident-reporting frameworks
• Championing a strong, proactive safety culture across the organisation

Your contribution will help ensure EHA protects people and property through effective governance.

�� Trustee oversight role: finance & charity sector governance

We are also recruiting a trustee with the financial acumen to guide EHA’s strategic financial direction, ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability across operations.

This role suits someone with financial leadership experience in charitable housing providers, housing associations, or social enterprises.

Key responsibilities include:

• Monitoring long-term financial strategy, planning, and risk
• Understanding Charity SORP and RSL financial standards
• Overseeing reserves policy, budgeting, and funding management
• Ensuring compliance with the Charity Commission and RSH
• Supporting transparent and effective financial reporting
• Holding executive teams to account while enabling performance

Your insight will strengthen the board’s ability to govern with integrity and impact.

⏱️ Time commitment

Trustees are expected to attend monthly board meetings (approximately 2.5 hours online) and commit an additional 4 hours per month to board-related duties, including reading papers, joining sub-committees, or contributing expertise.

�� What you’ll gain

• A high-impact role in a values-led, tenant-focused RSL
• Opportunities to shape policy, compliance, and social impact
• Professional development in governance, housing, and regulation
• The fulfilment of helping improve lives through safe, secure housing

EHA is proud to be an inclusive and tenant-focused RSL. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds especially those with lived experience of social housing.

Your leadership and strategic oversight can help us build homes and futures that are safe, equitable, and resilient.
By joining our Board, you will help change lives—ensuring that safe, secure, and affordable housing is not a privilege, but a right.

borGO

We connect travelers, volunteers, and locals to promote sustainable tourism and revive Abruzzo, Italy village communities.

Operations Manager – Local Partner Network

Please note this role is not paid - we do not hire freelancers

Duration: 3–4 months (unpaid)
Time Commitment: ~15–20 hours/week (flexible)
Reports to: Founder

About borGO

borGO is an experiential tourism initiative based in Abruzzo, Italy, dedicated to promoting authentic, sustainable, and community-driven travel.
Through its digital platform and curated experiences, borGO connects international travelers with historic villages, artisans, local food traditions, nature, and cultural experiences. Our mission is to support rural communities while introducing a global audience to one of Italy’s most authentic and undiscovered regions.
To build this ecosystem, we collaborate with a growing network of local providers, including guides, farmers, artisans, hospitality operators, and cultural organizations.

Role Summary

As Operations Manager – Local Partner Network, you will play a key role in helping borGO organize and structure its growing database of local partners and experiences.
Your main responsibility will be to organize, structure, and manage information about local providers, ensuring that all data is clear, accessible, and easy to use for building experiences and partnerships.
This role is ideal for someone who loves structure, enjoys organizing complex information, and is motivated by improving systems and workflows.

Key Responsibilities

• Organize and manage borGO’s database of local partners and providers
• Structure information about experiences, services, contacts, and locations
• Build and maintain clear data structures and internal documentation
• Improve the organization of operational workflows
• Use tools such as Google Workspace and ClickUp to manage and structure data
• Ensure information is complete, consistent, and easy to navigate
• Support the team in preparing experience packages and partner profiles
• Identify ways to improve processes and operational efficiency
• Help create simple internal systems and guidelines for managing partner data

Requirements

• Strong organizational and structuring skills
• Comfortable working with data, spreadsheets, and digital tools
• Experience with Google Workspace (Sheets, Docs, Drive)
• Familiarity with ClickUp or similar project management tools is a plus
• Detail-oriented and comfortable working with large amounts of information
• Proactive mindset and interest in improving systems and processes
• Interest in tourism, culture, or regional development
• Good communication skills in English
• Italian language skills are a strong advantage (for working with local partners)

Learning Outcomes

• Hands-on experience building operational systems in an early-stage project
• Exposure to tourism ecosystem development and local partnerships
• Experience in structuring databases and internal workflows
• Collaboration with an international team working on sustainable tourism

What We Offer

• A structured Volunteership experience with clear responsibilities
• Flexible remote working environment
• Mentorship from the borGO founding team
• Certificate of completion and reference letter
• Opportunity to contribute to the development of a sustainable tourism network in Abruzzo

How to Apply

Please apply through We Make Change with your profile and a short note explaining:

• Your interest in operations, organization, and systems building
• Why you would like to contribute to sustainable tourism and local communities

Compensation: No financial compensation

Minimum Hours per Week:

7-9 hours per week

Duration:

3-5 months