Online volunteer roles

Vice Chair
Location: London (Hybrid)
Remuneration: This is an unremunerated role. However, expenses such as childcare, care for other dependants, and travel will be covered to support attendance at board meetings.

Our client is a registered Charity Incorporated Organisation that aims to support and invest in young people (predominantly 18-25 years old) through their adolescent years which can be difficult because of both personal circumstances and the injustices in society. They fund work nationally, as well as having a specific focus on several counties in the South East of England. The grants they make total c. £3 million per year.

The Trust has evolved a lot over the years and is very much values driven around their mission “to bring lasting change to the lives of young people; investing in them as powerful forces for change and acting upon their right to be heard in pursuit of a fair and just society.” They really want to be a foundation that listens well and gives young people power to change and improve society whilst staying responsible, trusting and progressive. They do this primarily by providing grants to organisations working with young people, influencing youth policy alongside them and investing directly in young changemakers.

Our client is looking for a new Vice Chair to join their inclusive, inspiring and professional Board. The Vice Chair will provide support to the current Chair and additional leadership to the Board. You will bring experience of working with young people or within/around youth led organisations. This individual will be able to be an effective ambassador and will bring an understanding of boards and charity governance, ideally though a previous board role or experience in an aligned role. The Trust provides training and ongoing support, and they looking for someone committed both to the role and to continuous learning.

Most importantly, this individual will be motivated to live the Trust’s values and share their vision of a world where all young people have hope, access to the support they need, a stake in society and influence over their futures. They are committed to centering the voices of those thet seek to serve. The board and staff team have relevant lived and learnt experiences to help us fulfil the Trust’s mission. They listen to the communities they seek to serve both directly and broadly to have as accurate of an understanding as possible about the issues that those they’re here to serve are facing. Our client encourages applications from younger candidates and for those who may not have previously held a Chair or Vice Chair role.

For further details about this exciting opportunity, please refer to the full appointment brief attached below. To apply, please click ‘Redirect to Recruiter’

Deadline for applications: 18th May
Interviews with client: w/c 26th May or 2nd June

We are currently in the process of establishing a Welsh-language service to allow fluent Welsh speakers to discuss their case in their preferred language. As a result, we need more Welsh-speaking volunteers to join our charity and help support the Welsh-speaking community. Please note, our Welsh-language services are available on Thursdays and Fridays only.

Gwirfoddolwyr Cymraeg

Rydym ar hyn o bryd yn y broses o sefydlu gwasanaeth Cymraeg er mwyn i siaradwyr Cymraeg rhugl allu trafod eu hachos yn eu hiaith ddewisol. O ganlyniad, rydym angen mwy o wirfoddolwyr sy’n siarad Cymraeg i ymuno â’n elusen ac ein helpu i gefnogi’r gymuned Gymraeg. Sylwch, mae ein gwasanaethau Cymraeg ar agor ar ddydd Iau a dydd Gwener yn unig.

Hysbyseb Rôl

Allwch chi helpu unigolion sy’n wynebu’r llys yn annibynnol?

Ydych chi'n wrandawyr da gyda'r gallu i gynnig cymorth hanfodol yn y Gymraeg? Rydym yn chwilio am wirfoddolwyr sy'n siarad Cymraeg I ymuno a'n tim a chynnig cymorth ymarferol ac emosiynol hanfodol i bobl sy’n mynd trwy’r system llysoedd sifil a theuluol heb gynrychiolaeth gyfreithiol.

Pwy Ydyn Ni?

Pob blwyddyn, mae miloedd o bobl yn y DU yn wynebu’r llys ar eu pen eu hunain. Heb gymorth, mae’n rhaid i unigolion gynrychioli eu hunain wrth fynd trwy un o gyfnodau anoddaf eu bywyd, megis wynebu ysgariad, ceisio sicrhau gofal eu plant, neu wynebu cael eu troi allan o’u cartref. Mae gormod o bobl yn cael eu gadael mewn penbleth, wedi’u gorfodi i lywio system gyfreithiol gymhleth ar eu pennau eu hunain

Rydym yn sefyll ochr yn ochr â phobl sy'n teimlo nad oes ganddynt unman arall i droi. Rydym yn darparu gwasanaeth am ddim ledled Cymru a Lloegr, gan gynnig cymorth ac arweiniad cyn, yn ystod, ac ar ôl achos llys. Rydym yn sicrhau nad yw pobl sy'n wynebu'r llys ar eu pennau eu hunain, gan archwilio'r agweddau ymarferol ac yn eu paratoi i wynebu'r llys ag urddas a hyder.

Gall cymorth ein gwirfoddolwyr gael effaith uniongyrchol ar ganlyniad achos ein cleientiaid ac ar weddill eu bywydau. Wedi’i deilwra i bob unigolyn, mae ein gwirfoddolwyr yn darparu cymorth eang, megis cynnig gwybodaeth cyfreithiol, esbonio beth fyddai’n digwydd yn y llys, helpu pobl i lenwi ffurflenni cyfreithiol cymhleth, a’u cefnogi wrth iddynt gynllunio’r hyn yr hoffent ei ddweud wrth y barnwr.

Credwn fod gan bawb yr hawl i wrandawiad teg, ac rydym yn credu y dylai'r unigolion a'r teuluoedd sy'n chwilio am gymorth yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu gwrando a’u deall. Ni ddylai unrhyw un wynebu'r llys ar ei ben ei hun. 

Ein Gwerthoedd

Canolbwyntiedig ar Gleientiaid: Rydym yn dilyn arweiniad ein cleientiaid.

Ymrwymedig: Rydym yn deall bod ein gwaith yn bwysig, ac mae ein tîm medrus wedi’u hymrwymo i ddarparu gwasanaeth o ansawdd uchel.

Ymddiriedig: Rydym yn sicrhau ein bod yn haeddu'r hyder a roddir inni gan y bobl rydym yn gweithio gyda.

Parchus: Rydym i gyd yn gofalu am ein gilydd ac yn cymryd yr amser i siarad yn agored ac yn onest gyda phawb rydym yn gweithio gyda.

Croesawgar: Rydym yn agored i wahaniaethau a chyfleoedd i ddysgu, ac yn annog syniadau gan eraill.

Ein Gwirfoddolwyr

Rydym yn chwilio am bobl frwdfrydig, gofalgar sydd ag sgiliau cryf o ran datrys problemau, i ymuno â ni i sicrhau na fydd unrhyw un yn wynebu'r llys ar eu pen eu hunain. Dan gefnogaeth un o'n Rheolwyr Gwasanaeth, byddwch yn ymuno â thîm o wirfoddolwyr yng Nghaerdydd, gan helpu pobl trwy:

• Esbonio sut mae'r broses llys yn gweithio
• Helpu cleientiaid i lenwi ffurflenni llys, paratoi datganiadau a threfnu dogfennau llys
• Helpu cleientiaid i gynllunio’r hyn yr hoffent ei ddweud yn y llys
• Mynychu gwrandawiadau llys gwyneb yn wyneb/o bell

Mae profiad cyfreithiol yn werthfawr, ond nid yw'n hanfodol. Rydym yn chwilio am bobl sydd â'r empathi, y menter, a'r ymrwymiad i ddod o hyd i ddatrysiad. Nid ydym yn cynnig cyngor cyfreithiol, ac ble bynnag y gallwn, byddwn yn cyfeirio cleientiaid at sefydliad perthnasol arall.

Sut byddwn yn eich cefnogi

Rydym yn elusen sy’n cael ei pharchu, ac mae gwirfoddolwyr yn chwarae rôl allweddol yn ein gwaith. Byddwch yn gweithio gyda'r Rheolwr Gwasanaeth a fydd yn rhoi hyfforddiant i chi. Byddwch chi byth yn gweithio ar eich pen eich hun, byddwch bob amser yn derbyn cefnogaeth gan dîm o gydweithwyr. Rydym yn chwilio am bobl sy'n gallu gwirfoddoli am o leiaf 2 ddiwrnod y mis, am gyfnod cychwynnol o 8-12 mis. Rydym yn agored i fod yn hyblyg. Sylwch, dim ond ar ddydd Iau a dydd Gwener rydym yn cynnig gwasanaeth trwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg.

Disgrifiad Rôl

Rydym yn cynnig cyfleoedd i wirfoddoli gwyneb yn wyneb neu o bell (dros y ffôn/fideo).

Mae'r rhestr isod yn cynnwys rhai enghreifftiau o’r math o dasgau y byddwch yn eu cyflawni fel gwirfoddolwr:

· Cwrdd â chleientiaid wyneb yn wyneb neu dros y ffôn a gwrando arnynt yn esbonio eu hachos.

· Egluro gweithdrefnau’r llys a helpu cleientiaid i gynllunio eu camau nesaf.

· Helpu cleientiaid i ddeall papurau llys, llenwi ffurflenni (ar-lein ac/neu ar bapur), ysgrifennu datganiadau a chwblhau gwaith papur arall sy’n gysylltiedig a’u hachos.

· Helpu cleientiaid gyda chynllunio’r hyn maen nhw am ddweud yn y llys, e.e. helpu i strwythuro eu meddyliau, ysgrifennu nodiadau, ayb.

· Mynychu gwrandawiadau gyda chleientiaid a’u helpu i ddeall beth sydd rhaid iddyn nhw wneud nesaf.

· Cyfrannu at brosiectau sydd â'r nod o wella’r ffordd rydyn ni’n helpu ein cleientiaid.

· Codi arian ar gyfer yr elusen.

Priodweddau/Profiadau

· Person cydweithredol

· Y gallu I gyfathrebu yn y gymraeg

· Profiad o weithio gyda’r cyhoedd

· Sgiliau gwrando a chyfathrebu rhagorol

· Sgiliau trefnu a datrys problemau rhagorol

· Sgiliau TG, ac/neu’r barodrwydd i ddysgu ein systemau

· Profiad o ddelio â sefyllfaoedd heriol

Nodweddion Dymunedig

• Profiad sylfaenol o'r llys teulu a llys sifil

• Profiad o weithio neu wirfoddoli yn y trydydd sector

Background to the Role

We are currently creating a brand new three-year strategy, setting out an exciting vision to support, promote and defend the mental health, rights and social position of young people. This follows a period of organisational growth, where expanding services into the North Somerset region, and working in partnership with the local statutory mental health provider, has increased our staffing to over 100 employees.

Our new Chair will be an experienced Trustee or Board member who is skilled in effectively managing meetings for productive discussions. We are looking for someone with energy and drive and who will ensure robust governance, aligning strategy and operations. A number of our Trustees have been with us for less than a year and we also have a new CEO and a fairly new SLT, we are therefore looking for an experienced hand who is a skilled relationship manager and a decisive leader, capable of listening to all sides and finding compromise to make difficult decisions.

Main Responsibilities

• To be responsible for providing effective strategic leadership and management to the Board of Trustees, enabling them to fulfil their responsibilities for the overall governance and strategic direction of OTR.
• To chair meetings of the Board of Trustees effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision-making process.
• To plan the annual cycle of Board meetings.
• To set agendas for Board meetings and review minutes.
• To ensure the Scheme of Delegation to the CEO is reviewed and updated.
• To be knowledgeable about, and abide by, the Articles of Association and Charitable Purpose.
• To represent OTR at functions and meetings, and act as a spokesperson as appropriate.

Person Specification

• Strong leadership skills and a collaborative team member.
• Strategic vision.
• Able to display impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship from the Charity Commission and Companies House.
• Excellent people management skills, and an ability to build trusting relationships with Trustees, senior staff, external partners and stakeholders.
• Ability to make measured and fair judgements and decisions.
• A regard for Nolan's 7 principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

Diversity and inclusion 

At OTR, whatever your role or professional background, you will be expected to work in a way that is anti-oppressive and inclusive. A key focus for OTR is to develop an organisation that is inclusive for all. We do not claim to be experts in this, but we are committed to continuous learning and improvement in these areas and invite you to join us on this journey. 

OTR recognises the benefits to individual practice and organisational credibility of having a diverse community of staff and volunteers and to this end, is continually working towards building and maintaining an environment which values and pursues diversity accordingly. 

We recognise that tackling systemic inequality, prejudice, racism, and oppressive practice requires each of us to actively engage, self-examine and make changes where necessary in order to improve access and ensure an equitable experience for all in society and all of those who come through our doors at OTR. 

How to apply

Eastside People is supporting Off the Record (Bristol) in the recruitment of this role. Please click here to apply by submitting a CV and a cover letter both in Word doc. format. Please use the cover letter (max 2 pages) as an opportunity to add to the information you have shared in your CV and ensure that you cover the following:

• Why is OTR’s work important to you and how can you contribute as our Chair?
• Your experience of working at a strategic level and of effective governance.
• How would you go about ensuring that our many stakeholders are heard and represented at Board level

Having a call of this kind will not influence the success or otherwise of your application. 

The closing date for applications is Friday, 16th May. Longlisting interviews with Eastside People will take place shortly after and shortlisted candidates will have an interview with the panel at OTR during the week beginning 2nd June.