One off volunteer opportunity volunteer volunteer roles in Southminster, essex

Equal Aqua is seeking a Trustee with significant fundraising expertise to provide strategic leadership and hands-on support to drive substantial income growth as the organisation scales towards a seven-figure annual income. The role involves actively leveraging networks to open doors to major donors, corporate partners and grant-makers, initiating high-value funding conversations and developing new income streams. The Trustee will help shape and oversee the organisation’s long-term fundraising strategy, support the cultivation and conversion of major funding opportunities, mentor the fundraising team and strengthen proposals and donor engagement. Acting as an ambassador for the organisation, they will also help raise Equal Aqua’s profile within influential networks while ensuring strong governance, accountability and performance through the Board and Fundraising Committee. The ideal candidate will bring senior-level fundraising experience, strong sector knowledge in areas such as WASH, climate or international development, and a network capable of unlocking significant new funding opportunities.

Equal Aqua is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in the UK; Equal Aqua Uganda is a registered Community Based Organisation (CBO) in Uganda (‘EAU’ refers to both). Both operate equally and in unison. The purpose of EAU is to enable communities in Uganda to have access to safe and sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities. EAU supports schools and communities facing the greatest WASH inequalities by providing water tanks and filters, running classes and workshops, and empowering young people to be WASH change makers in their community. The current Board of Trustees, consisting of 5 members based in UK and Uganda, provides guidance to the volunteer EAU management team as well as supporting the implementing volunteers based in UK, Uganda and other countries.

The objectives of EAU are, in Uganda, to:

1. To improve access to safe and sustainable WASH for those facing the greatest inequalities in Uganda

2. To strengthen the participation of local communities in WASH, in particular women and girls, and displaced peoples

3. To take action to protect the natural environment, reduce pollution and tackle climate change

The role of trustees is:

1. Sculpt and maintain EAU’s vision, mission, objectives and values.

2. Act as ‘critical friends’ in the development of EAU’s policy, programming and planning.

3. Actively champion EAU externally, opening doors to people and organisations that can support our cause, fostering awareness and engagement in the UK, Uganda and internationally.

4. Support in particular with income generation activities, advising and supporting delivery of major campaigns and helping to build EAU’s donor and partner base.

5. Establish and maintain systems for reporting and monitoring.

6. Ensure that the financial affairs of the organisation are conducted properly and are accurately reported.

7. Manage risk and ensure compliance and accountability with the governing document (EAU Constitution), external regulators and the law (UK and Uganda).

8. Safeguard EAU’s assets – both physical assets, including property, and intangible ones, such as its reputation.

Ensure EAU has the appropriate structure and resources to deliver the above.

Trustee Responsibilities:

1. To attend and contribute to EAU Board of Trustee meetings, held at least on a quarterly basis. To work with EAU management to set an agenda in advance of this meeting.

2. Currently, Trustees will hold the position for a maximum of 3 years. This length of trusteeship will be reviewed with the aim of staggering Trustee terms to ensure a smooth transition between board members.

3. To support the recruitment of additional trustees, from diverse backgrounds and providing a range of expertise.

4. To offer personal expertise and skills in select areas for the benefit of EAU. This may include legal, management, practical, fundraising, marketing or other relevant areas.

5. To offer advice and feedback on EAU’s main fundraising programmes, e.g. events and grant applications.

Additional Responsibilities of Trustee with fundraising expertise

To provide strategic leadership and hands-on support to drive significant and sustainable income growth for Equal Aqua, with the ambition of building towards a seven-figure annual income.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Fundraising Leadership
   Provide Board-level oversight and strategic direction for the development and execution of an ambitious, multi-year fundraising strategy aligned with EAU’s growth plans, ensuring clear pathways to seven-figure annual income.
2. Active Income Generation & Network Mobilisation
   Proactively generate income by leveraging personal and professional networks to:
   • Open doors to high-value donors, grant-makers, corporates and philanthropic partners
   • Introduce EAU to influential individuals and decision-makers
   • Initiate and nurture strategic funding conversations
   • Identify and pursue new income streams and partnership opportunities

This role requires active relationship-building and direct contribution to income growth, not solely advisory input.

1. Pipeline Development & High-Value Fundraising
   Support the identification, cultivation and conversion of major funding opportunities, including trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships and major donors. Where appropriate, personally lead or co-lead high-value approaches.
2. Committee Leadership & Support
   Provide experienced guidance to the Fundraising Committee and fundraising volunteers, strengthening capability, confidence and performance across the team.
3. Hands-On Mentorship & Quality Assurance
   Offer practical, hands-on support to fundraising volunteers, including:
   • Reviewing and strengthening proposals and pitch materials
   • Advising on donor strategy and positioning
   • Supporting preparation for high-stakes meetings and presentations
4. Visibility & Advocacy
   Act as an ambassador for EAU, raising the organisation’s profile in relevant networks, events and forums, and positioning EAU as a credible, high-impact partner.
5. Governance & Accountability
   Attend quarterly Fundraising Committee meetings (one of EAU’s management committees) and relevant Board meetings, ensuring clear income targets, performance monitoring and accountability for results.

Desired Background and expertise of Trustee with Fundraising expertise.

 Senior Fundraising Experience

• A substantial track record (ideally 5+ years) in charity fundraising, with experience operating at a strategic level. This should include demonstrable success in securing significant income from one or more of the following: trusts and foundations, major donors, corporate partnerships, institutional funders or high-net-worth individuals. Experience supporting organisations through periods of income growth or scale-up is highly desirable. International development experience is strongly preferred.

• Sector-Relevant Knowledge
  Strong understanding of fundraising dynamics and donor priorities within one or more of Equal Aqua’s core thematic areas, including:
  • WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene)
  • Climate and environmental sustainability
  • Menstrual health and gender equality
  • Rural enterprise and livelihoods
  • International development

Familiarity with the funding landscape in these sectors – including trends, key funders and partnership models – would be a significant advantage.

• Network & Influence
  An established professional network that can be activated in support of Equal Aqua’s growth ambitions, with the credibility and confidence to engage senior decision-makers and prospective funders.

• Strategic & Commercial Acumen
  The ability to think entrepreneurially about income generation, identify new revenue opportunities, and contribute to building a diversified and resilient funding portfolio.

Join the UK’s first purpose-driven travel social enterprise officially incorporated as a CIC. Use your grant writing expertise to secure the funding that empowers underrepresented individuals, builds schools, and protects vulnerable global environments.

About Us
We are innovators, not just traditional philanthropists. We believe that creating self-sustaining funding models is the most effective way to support community agency, which is why we use the power of global travel as a purpose-driven engine for measurable, self-sustaining good.

We operate a unique, dual-impact framework: an inclusive empowerment programme for underrepresented UK individuals, and our flagship global tourism initiative. What makes us radically different is our legal structure. 100% of our organisation's retained surplus is legally asset-locked to our social mission. Every journey facilitated through our network actively funds our 'Four Pillars of Change' directly in developing destinations, such as our flagship 'Made From The Mekong' digital literacy and environmental project.

The Role
While our sustainable travel initiatives fund our ongoing social operations, we are seeking a highly strategic Grants & Bid Writer to spearhead our external funding strategy. You will help us scale our impact by securing social enterprise grants, community development funds, and innovation awards.

You will be responsible for:

• Strategic Bid Writing: Translating our complex dual-impact model into compelling, successful grant applications for social enterprise and community impact funders.
   

• Funding the Future: Securing capital to fund our core social mission expansions, including scaling our digital literacy programmes and on-the-ground initiatives.
   

• Partnership Sourcing: Identifying new Trusts, Foundations, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partners whose values align with our radical transparency and ethical ethos.
   

• Pipeline Management: Tracking application deadlines and maintaining a clear, organized pipeline of funding opportunities.
   

Why Join Us?
We respect that our volunteers are high-level professionals. By joining Yule Travel Group CIC, you gain:

• Strategic Autonomy: You won’t be handed a list of mundane tasks. You will be given a blank canvas to build and execute enterprise-grade funding strategies.
   

• Measurable Global Impact: Your writing doesn’t just raise awareness; it secures the capital that builds schools, funds micro-finance, and supports independent livelihoods.
   

• Innovation-First Experience: We operate with the focus of a modern social enterprise. You will gain hands-on experience utilizing cutting-edge digital tools to scale your output.
   

• Ultimate Flexibility: We operate a 100% remote, asynchronous workspace. You complete your hours on your own schedule, from anywhere in the UK.
   

• A Prestige Portfolio Piece: Coming in at the ground floor of a pioneering social enterprise is a uniquely powerful case study for any professional portfolio.

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