Peer to peer researcher volunteer roles in edinburgh

UNIfied is FORWARD’s leadership programme for young women from African, Black and minoritised communities in UK universities.

Our Aim: To empower you as a leader, amplify your voice, and drive change on campus by tackling gender inequality and ending Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG).

What you’ll gain:

• Confidence and leadership skills
• Knowledge on gender justice & advocacy
• A supportive network of peers & mentors
• The tools to make a real impact on your campus

Who can apply?

• Young women from Black & minoritised backgrounds
• Studying at a UK university
• Passionate about gender justice and social change

Length: 1-year programme with training, regular meetings, and events as FORWARD ambassadors

Outcome: Lead your own campaign or awareness action at your university to challenge sexual and gender-based violence

Apply now and be part of a movement for change!

NEUROMANCERS is a peer-led organisation providing autonomous, abolitionist, and accessible mental health care for and by the neurodivergent+ community. 

NEUROMANCERS was founded in 2021 by then-fifteen-year-old Aiyana Goodfellow in response to the lack of politicised community spaces for neurodivergent individuals. After years of incredible work, we are re-launching in 2025 in our new and improved form. 

We are...

• Youth Founded

• Black Led & Centred

• LGBTQ+ Led & Centred

• UK Based & Globally Grounded

Volunteer Coordinator

The Volunteer Coordinator will oversee and support the Research Collective, Care Practice Collective (Peer Support), Media Team, and Membership Team, ensuring volunteers feel valued and engaged. This role involves team management, volunteer support, and fostering a positive volunteer experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Management:

  • Oversee all volunteer teams across NEUROMANCERS.

  • Ensure volunteers are aligned with organisational goals and tasks.

• Volunteer Support:

  • Facilitate a monthly drop-in session or one-to-one check-ins with volunteers as needed.

  • Act as a point of contact for volunteer questions, concerns, and feedback.

• General Support:

  • Assist with onboarding new volunteers.

  • Collaborate with the Administrative & Operational Assistant to streamline volunteer-related processes.

Ideal Candidate:

• Able to gain a fast understanding of how NEUROMANCERS works and our community programs.

• Experience in volunteer coordination or team management.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, flexible to different access needs, and prompt at responding. 

• Empathetic and supportive, with the ability to motivate and engage volunteers.

• Organized and able to manage multiple tasks effectively.

Make a Meaningful Impact - Join the BES Personnel Committee 

Role: Personnel Committee Member 
Organisation: British Ecological Society 
Term: 3 years 
Closing Date: 16 November 2025, 09:00 GMT 
Interview: TBC 

Are you passionate about people, strategy, and shaping the future of a thriving organisation? The British Ecological Society (BES) is inviting expressions of interest for voluntary positions on our Personnel Committee, a dynamic group that plays a vital role in guiding our people strategy and supporting the delivery of our ambitious organisational goals. 

As a registered charity and non-profit organisation, BES is dedicated to advancing ecological science and promoting the importance of ecology in addressing global challenges. We support a vibrant, inclusive community of researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts through funding, events, publications, and policy engagement. While our mission is rooted in ecology, you don’t need a background in the field to contribute, what matters most is the unique skills, perspectives, and experience you bring.

This is a unique opportunity to influence how we nurture, support, and empower our staff, ensuring our internal culture reflects the values and vision of BES. The Committee typically meets 3 times a year, with occasional additional input via email. 

Why Join? 

As a Personnel Committee member, you’ll: 

• Help shape the strategic direction of our staff resource. 

• Influence policies that support a healthy, inclusive, and high-performing workplace. 

• Collaborate with passionate professionals committed to organisational excellence. 

• Gain valuable experience in governance and strategic HR. 

• Make a real difference in how BES supports its people. 

Who We’re Looking For 

We’re seeking individuals with experience or insight in one or more of the following areas: 

• Organisational leadership, management, and strategy 

• Staff policy development 

• Organisational change or conflict management 

• Staff appraisals and performance development 

• Learning and development 

• Health & Safety in relation to HR 

• Embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion in HR practices 

We especially welcome applications from individuals from underrepresented groups within the ecological community and those with experience across diverse workplaces. We’re committed to forming a committee that reflects the range of experiences and backgrounds within our membership.

Ready to Get Involved? 

To learn more about the Personnel Committee, what the role involves, and how you can contribute, please explore the attached resource.

Closing Date:

We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis and applications will be reviewed as they are received.

The Role:

We are currently seeking a Finance Trustee to join our Board as Treasurer. It’s a voluntary role that requires a committed individual with financial expertise to take a collaborative approach, supporting our Trustees, our Head of Finance and Governance, and our management team to oversee the financial affairs of our charity and ensure that they are legal, constitutional, and within accepted accounting practice.

Our Organisation:

Greener and Cleaner delivers locally but thinks, and influences, nationally. Our vision is greener, healthier, better connected communities across the UK. We seek to achieve this through normalising 360-degree sustainable living, bringing the community together to make changes that can deliver a big impact. We have a non-judgemental peer-to-peer approach, so that all elements of the community feel empowered to take action in how they live, work, and play and in how they use their voice to push for change.

Treasurer Role:

The primary role is to ensure alongside other Trustees that they accept ultimate responsibility for the affairs of G&C and ensure that it is solvent, well run, and delivering the charitable outcomes for which it has been set up. As well as fulfilling the duties of a Trustee, the Treasurer ensures that effective and appropriate financial measures, controls, and procedures are put in place and reports to the Board at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation.

• Overseeing the presentation of budgets, internal management accounts, and annual financial statements, as produced by the finance team or others where appropriate, to the Board of Trustees
• Ensuring that proper accounting records are kept, and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place. 
• Liaising with any paid staff about financial matters, as appropriate.
• Ensuring that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being implemented, and supporting the development of policies covering financial reserves, and cost management. 
• Overseeing financial controls and adherence to systems. 
• Drawing any major financial concerns to the attention of the trustee and the management team.
• Ensuring that the charity has appropriate reserves in line with its reserves policy, and monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity. 
• Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process.
• Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate investment policy and that investments and assets are maximised.
• Leading on the appointment of and liaison with external auditors. 
• Overseeing the development and implementation of systems for appraising, mitigating, and reporting corporate risk. 
• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by relevant statutory bodies – for example, the Charity Commission and/or the Registrar of Companies.
• Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities.
• Supporting other Trustees in understanding the charity’s financial position and decision making.
• Contributing to the fundraising strategy of the charity and its ethical fundraising policy.
• Making a formal presentation of the accounts at the Annual General Meeting and drawing attention to important points in a coherent and easily understandable way.

The Person We’re Looking For:

• A finance professional with a firm understanding of charity finance and some experience of fundraising and pension schemes.
• Knowledge of charity fundraising, bid writing, and/or other income generation and/or securing funding through creation or leveraging of partnerships and networks (at a national or local level).
• A strategic thinker with an ability to balance risk and opportunity and the skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences.
• Clear communicator with the ability to explain financial information to members of the Board and other stakeholders.
• Willing to play an active role in areas such as forecasting, setting budgets, and liaising with auditors.

In addition, the Treasurer will also have the responsibilities and qualities of all Trustees.

Responsibilities of All Trustees:

• Demonstrating a commitment to G&C’s objectives
• Contributing to setting the strategic goals and monitoring performance by active participation in Board discussions and decision-making
• Actively assisting the charity to build their connections and partnerships for the purposes of most effectively delivering their goals and fundraising
• Ensuring that G&C complies with its governing documents, the law, and all other relevant documentation
• Helping to identify risks and ensuring appropriate controls are in place
• Helping the Board to make sound decisions by making available their own personal knowledge and experience
• Assisting the Chair to appoint and appraise the performance of the Senior Leadership Team members
• Sharing relevant skills and expertise with the Senior Leadership Team members
• Making all reasonable efforts to attend Board meetings, away days, development meetings, publicity events, and other such public functions as requested by the Chair
• Ensuring the charity’s focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion remains at the heart of its strategy and delivery

Trustee Person Specification:

In addition to the Treasurer role specific above, our Trustees will ideally also demonstrate the following:

• A commitment to the objectives and activities of G&C
• A willingness to devote time and effort to G&C beyond attending board meetings
• Have strategic vision, an ability to think creatively, and an appropriate level of financial literacy
• Understanding of and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of their position
• Have good independent judgement
• Be willing to effectively act as part of a team
• Adhere to the Nolan Principles of public office: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership
• A willingness to allow the Employee/s to make reasonable decisions and to act within the limits prescribed by the Board

To Apply:

To see the full job advertisement with details on how to apply, and to learn more about the role and our organisation, please see the attached supporting documents.

Chair of the Board – Sweaty Betty Foundation

Location: Remote (with some in-person commitments)

Term: 3 years (renewable once)

Time commitment:** Approx. 1-2 days per month (voluntary role)

About the Sweaty Betty Foundation

The Sweaty Betty Foundation is on a mission to empower teenage girls to get active and stay active – for life. We are committed to breaking down the barriers that prevent girls from engaging with physical activity, with a particular focus on girls from lower-income backgrounds, and those who face systemic disadvantage due to race, ethnicity, disability, or other factors.

We believe in a world where all teenage girls have access to the confidence, support, and opportunities they need to move their bodies in ways that work for them – joyfully, freely, and on their own terms.

Our values are:

• Girl Centred – we listen to and elevate the voices of girls in all we do
• Bold – we challenge the status quo and take informed risks
• Collaborative – we work together with openness and humility
• Equity-Focused – we prioritise those furthest from opportunity
• Evidence-Led – we base decisions on learning, research and lived experience

Role of the Chair:

The Chair of the Board of Trustees provides strategic leadership to the Foundation, ensuring robust governance, clear vision, and accountability to our mission. The Chair plays a critical role in shaping strategy, championing equity and diversity, and supporting the Director to deliver the Foundation’s goals.

The Chair is a voluntary role and is held for a term of 3 years, renewable once for a maximum of 6 years.

Key Responsibilities:

Governance & Oversight

• Lead the Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities, ensuring robust governance, clear vision.
• Chair quarterly board meetings effectively, fostering open and inclusive dialogue.
• Ensure all decisions are underpinned by our mission to get teenage girls active, and aligned with our values.
• Help set and monitor long-term goals and impact.

Relationship with the Director

• Act as the key line of accountability and support for the Director.
• Meet weekly (virtually or in-person) to provide mentorship, challenge, and alignment on priorities.

Partnership & Representation

• Build and maintain a strong, transparent relationship with Sweaty Betty, our founding partner.
• Represent the Foundation externally when required and help build relationships across the sector.
• Visit grantee partners and actively engage with the Girls Panel, ensuring their voice informs all decisions.

Board & Committee Engagement

• Foster a collaborative and productive environment for diverse perspectives within the Board.
• Sit on one or both standing committees: Finance & Risk; Partnership & Grant-Making.

Person Specification:

• We are seeking a Chair who is passionate about creating an active future for teenage girls and brings:
• A track record of getting things done – strategic, proactive, and outcome-focused.
• Outstanding relationship-building skills – trusted by partners, funders, staff, and peers alike.
• Collaborative leadership – able to chair with empathy, ensure all voices are heard, and guide the Board to consensus.
• A commitment to equity and diversity – especially in recruitment, funding, and engagement.
• Strong governance knowledge and confidence overseeing charitable operations (experience as a trustee or chair is helpful).
• Understanding of or strong interest in the youth, sport, health or gender equity sectors.

A message from our current Chair Of The Board

“It has been an incredible privilege to serve as Chair of the Sweaty Betty Foundation and to witness the progress we’ve made together in supporting girls to get active and feel confident. I am so proud of the impact the Foundation has had so far, and of the strong foundations we’ve built for the future. After a hugely rewarding term, I have decided to step back into a trustee role to make space for fresh perspectives and new leadership at this exciting stage in the charity’s journey. I do so with complete confidence in the Foundation’s future, and with huge enthusiasm for welcoming a new Chair to guide it through the next chapter of growth and impact.” – Tamara Hill-Norton

About nurtureuk

At nurtureuk, we believe that every child and young person deserves to feel safe, understood and supported to flourish at school, emotionally, socially, and academically. But for many, school can be a difficult place, especially for those who’ve experienced trauma, adversity or unmet emotional needs.

For over 50 years, we’ve been pioneers in nurturing approaches to support social emotional development, using a tried-and-tested framework that helps children and young people build the confidence, resilience, and sense of belonging they need to succeed in education and in life.

Our work transforms school environments so that they are truly inclusive, supportive and safe spaces. We train teachers and school leaders, and deliver evidence-based programmes that strengthen wellbeing across whole school communities, as well as improving attendance and reducing exclusions- because the children enjoy being in school!

At the core of our work is the Boxall Profile®, our unique, award winning and Department for Education recommended assessment tool. It helps teachers understand what lies behind a child’s behaviour; the hidden emotional needs, the gaps in development, the things a test score could never show. By shining a light on what each child needs to feel secure, the Boxall Profile empowers educators to respond with empathy, not punishment, and to nurture every child’s potential.

Behind every report and dataset is a story:
A child who finally feels safe and excited to walk into class.
A teacher who sees progress and growth where there used to be only frustration.
A family who begins to believe that things can get better. 

By joining us as a Volunteer Grant Support Officer, you’ll be helping make these stories possible, securing the funds that enable us to reach more schools, support more teachers, and change more children’s lives.

See our attached evidence brochure to learn more about the impact our work has.

The Role

We are seeking a passionate and skilled volunteer grant writer to help us increase our capacity to apply for funding from trusts and foundations.

You’ll work closely with the Income Generation staff in our Income and Partnerships team to research potential funders, write compelling proposals, and help us build long-term relationships that sustain our impact.

Key responsibilities include:

• Researching new funding opportunities aligned with nurtureuk’s mission and programmes

• Writing persuasive, high-quality funding applications and accompanying documents

• Maintaining a pipeline of opportunities and tracking application progress

• Helping to build a library of core fundraising materials and case studies

• Utilising our bank of supporting evidence, data and testimonials to strengthen proposals
   

About You

We’d love to hear from you if you’re:

• An excellent writer who enjoys crafting persuasive and engaging text, ideally with previous experience of writing successful grant or funding applications

• Organised, proactive and detail-oriented

• Confident researching and interpreting funders’ criteria

• Able to work collaboratively and independently

Desirable (but not essential):

• Familiarity with the UK charity funding landscape

• Experience in education, wellbeing, or social impact sectors

What You’ll Gain

• A chance to make a tangible impact on children’s lives across the UK

• The opportunity to develop or deepen your fundraising and bid-writing experience

• Insight into how a national education charity operates

• Optional free Boxall Profile training (1 day training worth £225 exc. VAT)

• Optional free Nurture Group training (3 day course worth £699 exc. VAT)

• Support from an experienced and friendly team

• Flexibility: You can volunteer remotely, at times that suit you

• Reimbursement for any agreed expenses

Time Commitment

Approx. 3–6 hours per week, with flexibility around other commitments.
Regular remote catch-ups with the nurtureuk team and fellow volunteers.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. For an informal chat, please contact Louisa on the email address supplied in the 'apply' area.