Policy manager volunteer roles in manchester

We are seeking volunteer Trustee to join the Board of Trustees at WORTH to collectively oversee the administration and financial governance of the charity. The board is our governing body, providing strategy and direction and ensuring WORTH is run according to the rules. 

We are particularly looking for applications from individuals able to fill the role of Secretary or Treasurer.

About WORTH

WORTH is a charity providing long term aftercare to women affected by Domestic Abuse. We offer clients 1-1 support and a range of wellbeing groups including art, writing, music, and self-defence to help rebuild their confidence and self-esteem.

We provide a safe space for clients to share experiences, give, and receive practical and emotional support, learn new skills, reduce isolation, build friendships, and give women their voice back. It is a space where women can focus on their future and we can support our clients in their healing, post abuse.

To be able to provide this support we rely on a wonderful team of volunteers with a wide skill set and a whole lot of passion to enable our services to work effectively.

Our Board of Trustees play a vital role in making sure that WORTH achieves its core purpose. They oversee the overall management, administration, and governance of the charity. They also ensure that WORTH has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as importantly, they support and challenge the CEO to enable WORTH to grow and thrive and support more women in need.

Trustee Duties:

• Support and provide advice on WORTH's purpose, vision, goals, and activities.
• Approve operational strategies and policies and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Oversee WORTH's financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored, and controlled effectively.
• Review and approve WORTH's financial statements.
• Provide support and challenge to WORTH's CEO in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
• Keep abreast of changes in WORTH's operating environment.
• Contribute to regular reviews of WORTH's own governance.
• Attend regular Trustee Board meetings and be adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
• Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect WORTH's interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.
• Contribute to the broader promotion of WORTH's objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge, and contacts.
• The secretary will be responsible for record taking, including writing, and distributing minutes of trustee meetings, putting together agendas for meetings and sending these out with notice of the next meeting.
• The Secretary will work closely with the Chair to enable the smooth running of meetings.
• The Treasurer will be responsible for overseeing and presenting the accounts to the Trustee meetings. We have an accountant doing the day-to-day management of our finances.
• The treasurer will work closely with the CEO in putting together the budget and monitoring the accounts.

As a small charity, there will be times when trustees will need to be actively involved beyond Trustee Board meetings. This may involve scrutinising meeting papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

What we are looking for

We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking and skills on our Board of Trustees. We are particularly interested in candidates with business, finance, and fundraising experience.

Previous governance experience is preferable but not essential. The role is open to remote and local applicants.

Applicant minimum age is 18.

Personal skills and qualities

• Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as a Board of Trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.
• Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
• A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Enthusiasm for our vision and mission.
• Willingness to lead according to the values of WORTH.
• Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.
• Knowledge and experience of business, finance, and/or fundraising.
• An understanding of Domestic Abuse is an advantage but not essential as training will be provided.
• An understanding of client confidentiality, safeguarding, diversity, and inclusivity in the services provided by WORTH.

Terms of office

• Trustees will be appointed for a two-year term of office, with eligibility to renew and serve for two further terms to a maximum of six years.
• This is a voluntary unpaid position.

Time commitment

• Attending a minimum of six trustee board meetings annually, meetings are held remotely via Zoom once every two to three months.
• Attendance at ad hoc trustee meetings in addition to the minimum six annual meetings.
• Some emails between meetings

About

blink blink mental health is a registered charity in England and Wales, and we are on a mission to help hundreds of thousands more people get timely, appropriate, and personalised mental health support.

We do this by:

• increasing access to support, making sure financial barriers aren’t a limitation

• providing personalised support when it’s needed, not limited by waiting lists

• normalising talking about mental health, reducing the stigma and taboo

• creating supportive and inclusive spaces at events and festivals across the UK, where people can be heard, connect with others, and reconnect with themselves.

blink is a small volunteer-powered organisation with three trustees, around 150 volunteers, and no paid staff. We’re growing, both in reach and in ambition, and we’re looking to expand our Trustee board to help guide us through this next chapter.

Our services at UK festivals:

Free, instant-access talking therapy with a fully-qualified therapist Up to 50-minutes with an experienced therapist who can support and guide people in the ways that feel most useful to them - like signposting, giving advice or simply offering an open, non-judgemental space to talk.

A calm, inclusive space to chill out and chat openly Whether festival-goers want a quiet space to switch off and nap, a place to connect with others, to explore the benefits of therapy or share the emotional weight they’re carrying, or just a safe-haven for a while – our bell tents are ready. Lined with comfortable bean bags and cosy blankets, we create the perfect environment to relax in.

Mindfulness activities facilitated by volunteers Puzzles and colouring books are available to unwind from the busy-ness outside. Our Wellbeing Support Volunteers are always available to have conversations, book therapy sessions, and signpost those who may be struggling or need some extra support.

Long term blink aims

Our work at festivals is hugely successful, and we are changing hundreds of lives a year. In the future, we hope to build on this experience and success by developing a programme of pop-up mental health workshops, events and free personalised therapy in other settings across the country.

Time Commitment

• Approx 5-10 hours per month. A greater time commitment may be required in the initial months to enable a smooth induction period

• Approx. 6–8 Board meetings per year

• Quarterly meetings with the Clinical Lead

• Additional time for reading and preparation

• Occasional involvement in urgent safeguarding matters or training.

• Optional opportunity to volunteer at festivals with blink, if that’s of interest Optional additional involvement blink is a small but growing mental health charity with huge ambition.

As we continue to develop, there is an opportunity for trustees to take a more ‘hands-on role’, if this is of interest. This could include things like, supporting volunteer recruitment, delivering training, helping with specific projects, or joining us at festivals. That said, this level of involvement is entirely optional. We know everyone’s capacity is different, and we want trustees to contribute in ways that feel sustainable and enjoyable for them.

Lead Safeguarding Trustee Purpose of the Role

The Lead Safeguarding Trustee plays a pivotal role in ensuring that blink upholds the highest standards of safeguarding for everyone it works with, including volunteers and members of the public. This trustee leads the Board's oversight of safeguarding policies, practices, and culture, ensuring that safeguarding remains a priority for the charity.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Oversight: Champion safeguarding in all blink’s activities, ensuring the charity maintains a proactive and preventative approach to safeguarding risks. Advise the Board on safeguarding trends, risks, and implications for strategic decision making.

 • Governance & Compliance: Ensure that blink complies with all relevant legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice in safeguarding. Work closely with other trustees and key volunteers to ensure safeguarding governance arrangements are robust and effective.

• Culture & Accountability: Champion a positive culture of safety, wellbeing and inclusion, where transparency, learning, and continuous improvement in safeguarding practice is encouraged. Support the blink team to ensure safeguarding is embedded in service delivery, policy, recruitment, and training.

• Risk & Incident Management: Work closely with key volunteers to provide appropriate support, challenge and scrutiny regarding how safeguarding concerns or incidents are reported, escalated, and managed. Monitor safeguarding reports and trends, ensuring that systemic risks are identified and mitigated.

• Support & Collaboration: Act as a point of contact for other trustees on safeguarding matters. Engage with external stakeholders, regulators, or legal advisors when appropriate to ensure the charity is responding appropriately to safeguarding challenges. Person Specification This is blink’s ‘wish list’, but we don’t expect you to tick every single box in order to apply. We welcome applicants with diverse lived and learned experiences and are particularly keen to hear from individuals from marginalised and minoritised communities.

Experience:

• Direct professional senior-level experience of safeguarding for example in a charity, social care, health, education, youth work, or a related field.

• Prior experience as a trustee or non-executive board member desirable. Knowledge and understanding:
• Understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and reputational impact for safeguarding within a charity. • Commitment to blink’s vision, mission and values.

• Demonstrable commitment to social justice, anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion.

 Skills:

• Able to distil complex information and bring a pragmatic approach to its application.

• Ability to engage with complex or sensitive safeguarding issues in a supportive and trauma-informed way.

• A collaborative, calm, and reflective approach to team working, with the ability to inspire trust and confidence quickly. • Empowering and coaching interpersonal style to support & develop the blink team.

• A proactive approach to CPD.

What difference will you make?

• Play a key role in ensuring blink is protecting everyone who comes into contact with the charity

• Support and influence the charity to thrive, building our reputation and impact.

• Have a direct positive impact on thousands of people’s lives

What's in it for you?

You will have the opportunity to:

• Be part of a friendly, passionate and values-driven team

• Shape and improve safeguarding practice in a grassroots mental health charity
• Guide and lead blink’s development at a time of exciting growth

• Deepen your skills and experience by applying this to a different sector and/or organisation

• Develop leadership skills in supporting and empowering both volunteers and wider trustees in a key role on the board

• Represent blink at charity sector events

• Benefit from a structured induction and ongoing support, training and networking opportunities

To Apply

If you’re interested in joining blink as a trustee, please apply through here with a short expression of interest, outlining your experience and why this role feels like a good fit for you.

We are happy to receive applications in word or PDF (no more than 2 A4 sides), or video presentation.

You are welcome to contact us for an informal chat before applying, and to let us know if you have any support or accessibility needs. 

Role Title  

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Board/Committee

Board of Trustees 

Remuneration  

Travel and subsistence will be paid for attendance at meetings in accordance with the ARFID Awareness expenses policy where required. Board members are not remunerated for their Board/trustee work.

Responsible to 

Board of Trustees

Regular liaison with 

· Board of Trustees

· Executive Directors

Duration of appointment 

Three-year term (with a possible extension of a further three years)

Overview

Established in 2019 and supporting a community of over 30,000 families ARFID Awareness UK is the only registered UK charity dedicated to raising awareness and further information about Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder.  As a not-for-profit, we provide individuals, parents, carers and medical professionals with up-to-date relevant information, research and support.

We are equally committed to supporting medical professionals across varying specialities, by equipping them with the information they need to ensure that their patients receive an early diagnosis and have access to appropriate care.

Our charitable aims are to:

1) Raising awareness about the condition within the medical and associated professions and the general public in such ways as the trustees shall determine;

2) Providing advice and information in such ways as the trustees shall determine to enable and empower parents and carers to advocate for the children in their care;

3) Facilitating research into the condition, the useful results of which will be published for the public benefit;

4) Potentially providing grants of financial assistance to enable economically disadvantaged families to obtain necessary treatment and medication unavailable via the NHS.

5) Advancing the education of the public in the subject of ARFID.

With regards to our structure, we are a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). As a CIO, our Charity Trustees are protected with limited liability, and whilst they are responsible for helping to manage the organisation, they do not hold dual roles of Company Director as they might with other charity structures.

Our mission is to remove the uncertainty, ambiguity and frustrations experienced by parents, carers and individuals over obtaining a diagnosis and treatment by providing general advice that may improve their journey.

Time Commitment

Trustees meet twice a year virtually. Meetings last approximately 2 hours.

The Remuneration Committee meets once per year virtually. Meetings last approximately 1 hour.

In addition, Trustees are expected to allow time for reading of papers and preparation for meetings, attending events training and induction.  As a small charity there may also be a requirement for additional input of approximately 1-2 hours per month specific to your professional background and expertise as we continue through a period of growth.

Purpose of the role: 

Board of Trustees

The Board of trustees (‘the Board’) is the body with the legal duty to protect the mission and vision of ARFID Awareness UK and to ensure that it is run in accordance with legal requirements.

The role of the Board is to provide good governance and leadership by: 

· Shaping ARFID Awareness UK’s organisational strategy 

· Approving organisational statutory policy

· Ensuring the organisation’s financial stability and sustainability 

· Appointing the Executive Director/s (overseen by the Chair of the Board on behalf of the Board) 

· Providing support and constructive challenge to the Executive Director/s and their staff

· Setting and monitoring procedures for assessing and managing risk 

· Taking advice from Board members and external specialist advisors 

· Monitoring strategy performance 

· Representing ARFID Awareness UK externally where necessary

As a charity CIO, Board members are charity trustees only. They do not represent any group or organisation in this role and they must act in good faith and in the best interests of ARFID Awareness UK.

Chair duties:

· Chair and facilitate board meetings

· Provide inclusive leadership to the organisation and the Board by ensuring that everyone remains focused on the delivery of ARFID Awareness UK purpose and delivering strategic and charitable aims

· Ensure that the Board is effective in its task of setting and implementing the organisation’s direction and strategy

· Support each trustee to fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of ARFID Awareness UK

· Support and constructively challenge the Executive Director/s to ensure that ARFID Awareness UK operates in line with statutory and legal requirements and is effective in its outputs

· Ensure financial probity and that all resources are focussed on achieving the aims and objectives of the organisation for the benefit of the membership and delivery of charitable objects

· Appoint the Executive Directors

· Appoint and support the ARFID Awareness UK Treasurer

· Act as an ambassador of ARFID Awareness UK

· Ensure the smooth running of Board meetings, fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment

· Ensure robust and compliant governance arrangements in adherence with charity and statutory regulation

· Lead Board development activities

Alongside the Executive Director:

· Planning the annual cycle of board meetings and other meetings where required

· Developing the board of trustees including induction, training, appraisal and succession planning

· Addressing conflict within the board and within the organisation,

Where staff are employed:

· Liaising with the Executive Director/s to oversee the organisation’s affairs and to provide support as appropriate

· Leading the process of supporting and appraising the performance of the Executive Director/s

Person Specification

Essential:

· Significant experience of charity governance and trusteeship, demonstrating understanding of best practice and regulatory compliance

· Proven experience of chairing boards, committees or senior leadership teams effectively

· Track record of supporting small to medium organisations through periods of growth, change and development

· Strong strategic thinking and planning skills with ability to provide vision and direction

· Excellent facilitation and interpersonal skills, able to build consensus and manage diverse perspectives

· Confident and effective communication skills including active listening and constructive challenge

· Ability to work effectively as a member of a diverse team whilst maintaining independence and accountability as Chair

· Understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of charity trusteeship and Chair role

Desirable:

· Senior leadership experience in the charity or non-profit sector

· Experience of supporting and appraising Executive Directors or senior leaders

· Knowledge of the healthcare sector and/or ARFID

· Understanding of charity finance, risk management and compliance frameworks

To apply please email your CV and covering letter to XXXXX by 17 November 2025.  Interviews are likely to take place the first week of December.