Researcher volunteer roles in bruton, somerset

This is an exciting opportunity to join a charity at the very start and to make a difference in shaping how we move forward.

Living Reasons – What we are planning, who we are and where we are now:

What is the plan?

The person who is starting the charity up is autistic, has ADHD, CPTSD and also multiple physical conditions that effect daily life and is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has faced a lot of issues in life because of these things.

Living Reasons is being created to fix what we think is a challenging situation that is getting harder to achieve every week, month and year in the current economic, political, environmental and societal landscape. It is not easily defined but we hope the charity objects below will help put context to what we want to achieve, what we can say is that below are the issues we are trying to address, how we do this will change as quickly as society does, but the issues we want to tackle are these:

1) Outdated and damaging employment practices

2) Accessibility to services

3) Limited employment, training and education opportunities

4) Lack of support during times of crisis or need

5) Lack of equity and agency for many people in society

6) Institutional discrimination that is not challenged

7) Abuse of the legal system at all levels

8) Abuse of power in government bodies

9) Poor access to healthcare

10)  Unequal treatment of many people in society by large corporations

11)  Assumptions made by wider society based on incorrect, outdated or discriminatory rhetoric that is used in daily life

12)  Outdated company engagement with the public

13)  Lack of support that is not talked about and not being addressed

Who are we?

Well, it is a small operation at this point, there are three people that are working to set up the charity, but we are all neurodivergent and have disabling aspects to our lives and experienced lack of opportunity or presumed ideas based on others perception of us. We are just people who care in reality and want to make a true change in society for everyone we work with.

Where are we now?

We are ready to become a CIO; we want to go straight to a fully incorporated charity so that we are able gain the most support as possible and open up opportunities for growth from day one as well as ensure people know they can trust us.

We need 3 trustees to start and understandably, two of us don’t want to be trustees due to personal reasons, so we need at least another two, maybe more, trustees to start up. That is hopefully where you come in!

We have our governing document, and we are still completing the further documents we want to launch with. We hope that new trustees will add to the plan and bring fresh ways of us working and how communicate the message of the charity.

The charity objects

· To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society.

For the purpose of this clause ‘socially excluded’ means being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one or more of the following factors: unemployment; financial hardship; youth or old age; ill health (physical or mental); substance abuse or dependency including alcohol and drugs; discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability, ethnic origin, religion, belief, creed, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment; poor educational or skills attainment; relationship and family breakdown; poor housing (that is housing that does not meet basic habitable standards; crime (either as a victim of crime or as an offender rehabilitating into society).

· The relief of financial hardship, either generally or individually, of people living in England and Wales by making grants of money for providing or paying for items, services or facilities

· The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefit by conducting or commissioning research on equality and diversity issues and publishing the results to the public; advancing education and raising awareness in equality and diversity and promoting activities to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds.

Our Living Values -

Creativity

1) Imaginative Development (Individual)

2) Instilled Collaboration (Internal)

3) Changing The Status Quo (External)

Prospectivity

1) What Can You Do (Individual)

2) What Can We Do (Internal)

3) What Can They Do (External)

Revolutionary 

1) Inspire With Confidence (Individual)

2) Boundaryless Innovation (Internal)

3) Challenge Traditions (External)

Attentivity

1) Analyse and Redesign (Individual)

2) Rebel and Reform (Internal)

3) Enquire and Reimagine (External)

So, who are we looking for?

The answer to this is complex. What we are looking for in a trustee is someone who is passionate about creating equity for everyone while sustaining equality, someone that has lived experiences that would mean they can relate to the objects of the charity, whether that be personally, as a support for someone that does or has struggled to be given equity in society or someone that works or has worked in an industry that has played a part in restricting others in society and want that to make real change.

We think this covers a large number of people.

The role of trustee in Living Reasons will always be a remote role, meetings will be held online as standard as we would like to have trustees that are from all areas of the UK and that anyone can be a trustee, regardless of any accessibility requirements.

Additionally, to the personal experiences, the below are also necessary for all trustees of all charities:

1) Must not have an unspent conviction

2) Must not be barred from working with children or vulnerable adults

3) Must not be in undischarged bankruptcy, or other debt management programme

4) Must not be barred from being a trustee or company director

The requirements of skills and understanding of the undertaking of trusteeship with Living Reasons:

1) Being a trustee comes with requirements and responsibilities in terms of acting in the best interest of the charity at all times in line with the law and the charity’s governing document, which will be supplied to all trustees before agreeing to be a trustee and will be discussed with any person selected to be a trustee before they agree to be a trustee.

2) An understanding of financial information is required, this is to ensure that financial reports are assessed correctly and that any anomalies are highlighted, this does not mean you need to have in depth accounting or finance experience by any means, but it is important that you are able to analyse financial reports and risk as they arise.

3) Specific to Living Reasons, you will need to be someone that thinks creatively and is not scared of challenging traditions and pre-existing ideas and open to hear from a wide audience to make informed but innovative changes that are sustainable, realistic but also dynamic and challenging the current societal norms.

We are seeking a new Chair to provide strategic leadership at a time when demand for our advice services is at an all-time high. Help shape our vision, champion our mission, and make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing challenges.

About Citizens Advice East Berkshire
Citizens Advice East Berkshire offers crucial help and advice when people need it most. No one but Citizens Advice sees so many people with so many different kinds of problems, and that gives us a unique insight into the challenges people are facing today. 

What will you be doing?
We are at an important stage in our development and we are seeking a new Chair to replace our current Chair who will be standing down as her term finishes. We have ambitious plans for our future and we are looking for a Chair who can help drive our mission forward.

Building on our successes to date, we want a new Chair to lead us through the next exciting phase of our journey. You will have a strong background and track record of providing leadership at board and/or senior executive level and will have a passion for supporting people facing tough life challenges. You should have the judgement and vision to operate effectively at strategic level and you should demonstrate the skills and expertise to help drive our mission forward. We are looking for someone with 3 years+ professional experience in one of the fields of Fundraising strategy, Governance, Operations management or Advice / Advocacy. 

We are looking for someone who has:

• Experience of operating at a senior strategic leadership level within an organisation
• Successful track record of achievement through their career
• Experience of charity governance and working with or as part of a Board of Trustees
• Passion for supporting people facing tough life challenges
• Ideally has served as a Chair or Vice Chair and is familiar with leading a Board

What are we looking for?

You’ll need to:

• Understand the type of work undertaken by a local Citizens Advice and the Citizens Advice network
• Understand and accept the responsibilities and liabilities of a trustee
• Be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
• Have a good basis of leadership skills (and preferably you have served within a Board, ideally as Chair or Vice Chair or led a Committee)
• Have the ability to facilitate and lead meetings
• Have good interpersonal skills
• Have good listening, verbal and written communication skills
• Be able to exercise good independent judgment
• Have good numeracy skills to understand accounts with the support of the treasurer
• Be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
• Be willing to undertake mandatory training in your role
• Line manage and support the Chief Executive Officer

What difference will you make?
Citizens Advice East Berkshire makes transformational differences to people who need support when facing life crises. As Chair you will play a significant part in ensuring we are able to expand and grown our services to make a significant difference to many more individuals and families. 

The Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) was set up in June 2005 in memory of legendary campaigner, Sheila McKechnie.Campaigning is vital to a healthy society. We help campaigners to thrive. In a free and hopeful society, people need to know they have the power to make a difference: that they are able to envisage change and can push for that change to happen. For nearly two decades, we have helped all sorts of individuals, causes and charities to find their power as changemakers – as campaigners. We support, connect and champion these campaigners, equipping them to go after the social change they seek.

The Chair will hold the Board and staff team to account for SMK’s mission and vision, provide inclusive leadership to the Board and ensure that Board members fulfil their duties and responsibilities for the effective governance of SMK. The Chair will line manage and support the Chief Executive and ensure that the Board functions as a unit and works closely with the Chief Executive and staff team to achieve agreed objectives. They may also be asked to act as an ambassador and a public face of SMK in partnership with the Chief Executive and the Board.

For further information, see our website and the recruitment pack. 

Do you want your work to have an impact? Use your skills in a meaningful way? Professors Without Borders is growing and is looking for talented volunteers with a passion for education to join our community. 

Summary

Professors Without Borders is a UK and Luxembourg registered charity with a mission to improve access to quality education (SDG4) for all. 

We are always looking for volunteers to contribute to our fast growth and help us reach communities around the world.

This is a voluntary, remote opportunity with flexible responsibilities. It’s an ideal position for those looking to learn new skills, grow their network, and give back by contributing their expertise to a meaningful cause. You will align with our core values, believe passionately in the power of education, and uphold our ethical standards.

We are particularly looking for individuals with experience in one or more of the following roles:

• Monitoring and Evaluation

• Grant Writing and Fundraising

• Project Management and Logistics

• Content Writing/Copywriting

• Marketing and Communications

• SEO expertise

• French Localiser 

• Web Design/Developer

• Graphic Designer

This is not a teaching role and we cannot assist with visas.

We look forward to hearing from you!

We are seeking a remote, creative & proactive Content Creator to join our Communications team on an unpaid, volunteer basis, providing 8 or more hours per week support on average to our International WASH programmes. . 

EQUAL AQUA is an award-winning NGO providing equal access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Uganda. Equal Aqua is managed by an international team of 30+ volunteers, based mainly in the UK and Uganda, but spanning over 10 countries.We are looking to expand and diversify our team of volunteers – seeking candidates with knowledge and skills in various fields, and a deep passion for our cause. 

JOB SUMMARY: 

Join us as part of our Communications team to help deliver powerful content for our internal & external communications strategy. You will be working alongside the Communications Manager & Communications Officer to develop our digital content & increase our presence on social media platforms.  Provide creative support for enhancing donor prospects, generating demand & increasing engagement through compelling narratives to support EAU projects & fundraising initiatives. 

ROLE & RESPONSBILITIES 

• Write engaging, accessible copy for social media posts, blogs, and newsletter updates. 

• Develop storytelling materials, such as case studies and fundraising spotlights, aligned with EAU’s brand voice. 

• Ensure alignment with the EA communications calendar and major WASH/sector events. 

• Design on-brand visuals for social media posts, including carousels, infographics, and WASH project graphics. 

• Assist with basic video editing and formatting of short clips for social media and the website. 

• Work within established brand and content guidelines to ensure consistency. 

• Work to project briefs and meet agreed timelines; maintain clear communication with other volunteers. 

• Understand how data and analytics informs content performance. 

KEY REQUIREMENTS  

ESSENTIAL: 

Experience: 

• Proven ability in creation of high-quality social media content and graphics. 

• Skilled at video editing (e.g. Canva, or Adobe Premiere Pro). 

• Strong copywriting, research and storytelling skills (long-from and short-form). 

• General understanding of social media best practices. 

• An eye for visual consistency and experience working with brand guidelines/briefs. 

• A proactive, collaborative, flexible, and self-directed approach to volunteering 

Skills: 

• Familiarity with tools such as Monday, Google Analytics, Notion, or Mailchimp. 

• Knowledge of tools like Monday/Buffer to track tasks and maintain project visibility. 

DESIRABLE: 

• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, and to travel as needed. 

• Previous experience within the voluntary or charity sector is advantageous. 

• Experience working with virtual teams. 

COMPETENCIES  

• Strong written and verbal communication abilities. 

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects. 

• Excellent time management and organizational skills. 

• Creative thinker who can develop innovative solutions.

• Detail-oriented with commitment to accuracy and quality. 

• Strong technical and data awareness. 

BENEFITS 

• At EAU all volunteers work remotely & flexibly, enabling you to balance work, holiday & personal commitments anywhere in the world.

• Join a diverse international community & gain a sense of fulfilment by contributing directly to impactful programmes that EAU delivers.

• Increase your opportunities for personal growth through exposure to new skills, experiences & perspectives that working for an NGO can bring.

• We also offer opportunities for networking, internships, mentoring & training to support you in your role.

Our Vision: To become a leading organisation in Uganda in addressing inequalities in WASH, and interrelated issues of gender and sustainability 

Our Mission: We will achieve this by working with partners and local communities to develop the required WASH skills, knowledge and practical interventions

Objectives: 

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

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

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

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: 

• 32,866 people with improved access to safe water 

• 11,044 people with improved sanitation 

• 11,755 people with improved WASH knowledge and skills 

• 3,877 people with improved menstrual hygiene knowledge 

• British High Commission award winner 

VALUES:

At Equal Aqua we champion bottom-up grassroots development. To make this possible, we have created a proactive and friendly environment, which strives to create practical and lasting solutions to WASH-related issues. Each member of Equal Aqua is passionate about WASH inequalities, and our values are a central basis for inspiration and the culture of the organisation. 

Why volunteer for EAU? 

By volunteering for EAU you will directly contribute to making tangible and positive changes to people’s lives in Uganda. Your efforts will help us to grow and empower our team of international volunteers, enabling us to reach more communities and transform more lives. You will also get to meet & collaborate with a great team of volunteers from all over the world.  If you like the sound of this role, we encourage you to apply even if you aren’t confident that you meet all of the requirements – you may be just who we’re looking for.

Please note that all members of Equal Aqua work remotely and on a voluntary basis. We ask that volunteers contribute on average 1 day per week and commit to the role for 12 months as a minimum. 

Interviews will take place via MS Teams where you will meet an informal panel of volunteers.  

Data Protection and Privacy: 

As a non-profit organization, we are committed to safeguarding the privacy and security of all applicants' personal information. We process your personal data in line with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) where relevant. 

Any information you share with us during the recruitment process will be used solely for assessing your suitability for the position and will be handled confidentially. Your data will be stored securely, accessed only by authorized staff, and retained only for as long as necessary for recruitment purposes. 

You have the right to access, correct, or request the deletion of your personal data at any time. By applying, you consent to the processing of your information in accordance with these principles. 

DEI statement: 

EAU is committed to offering equal opportunities and treatment to all its volunteers. We see diversity as a strength and anyone seeking volunteering at Equal Aqua is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We don’t regard colour, religion, ethnicity, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status.

We are extremely proud to be an equal opportunity employer and actively encourage applications from all backgrounds. To make your recruitment experience with us accessible to you, we encourage you to let us know if you have any individual requirements.

Equal Aqua is a registered Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in the UK; it operates equally and in unison with Equal Aqua Uganda, a registered Community Based Organisation (CBO) in Uganda (EAU refers to both). 

We are looking for trustees who will offer challenges, experience, and expert knowledge to help us think differently. We are looking for individuals who will take an active role in the governance of the Charity and support our expansion objectives - to remain financially stable whilst actively growing our volunteer network, our geographical coverage and our paid services to increase the number of families and young people we can support each year.

Person specification:

• Good, independent judgement and strategic vision.

• Commitment to the organisation and a willingness and ability to devote the necessary time & effort to the role.

• An understanding of, or interest in, special educational needs and disability affecting children and young people and their families.

• Skills to analyse proposals, examine their strategic consequences and make concise recommendations as part of the Board.

• Ability to cooperatively work with the whole team of trustees, and with employees and volunteers.

• Willingness to speak your mind and appropriately challenge other trustees and employees; but also listen to the views of different people before reaching a decision.

• Secure personal access to digital communication technology with an ability to competently and efficiently use those resources.

• Willingness to be available to employees for advice and enquiries on a scheduled or ad-hoc basis.

The ideal applicant would also possess the following:

• Extensive networks, and a willingness to draw on contacts as appropriate.

• Experience of working at a senior management / leadership level.

We are keen to hear from anyone who has a passion for our cause and feels that their experiences and expertise could be beneficial to our Board.

If you would like to be considered, please contact us for an application form link and provide a copy of your CV.

The application process will comprise of a two-stage interview, followed by referencing. We anticipate that successful applicants will be invited to join the Board in Autumn 2025.

We look forward to hearing from you.

We are looking for a new Young Trustee!

At ThinkForward, we exist to support young people to create better and brighter futures. We want them to be able to identify, realise and shape their aspirations, and be ready to make a successful transition into work. Our FutureMe programme provides five years of personalised coaching and employability activities to get young people ready for the world of work. Coaches build trusted relationships, supporting young people to take control, find solutions to challenges, develop skills and create a positive vision for their future.

As a Young Trustee, you will learn more about the charity sector and influence decisions within ThinkForward. You will represent the voice of young people in decision-making processes at the board level.

You do NOT need to know everything about being a trustee in order to apply. If you are accepted, you will undergo a 6-month training period to see if you enjoy the role. After 6 months, you can decide whether or not you want to continue as a trustee.

If you are looking for a way to develop your skills, share your voice and support young people through working with ThinkForward, this opportunity is for you!

To apply for this role, please read the job pack attached to this ad for more details. Then, apply with your CV and your answers to the following questions:

• Why does this opportunity interest you? (max 200 words)

• Describe a time where you have advocated for an underrepresented group of people? (max 200 words)

• Describe a time where you have had to be organised to complete tasks. OR Describe a time where you have shown commitment to a role despite competing priorities? (max 200 words).

We look forward to hearing from you!

Rainforest Foundation UK (RFUK) is seeking a dynamic and well-connected professional with experience in fundraising, marketing and relationship building to join its Board of Trustees.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a unique and growing organisation working at the nexus of human rights, rainforests and climate change, and to use your skills and passion to deliver impact for Indigenous Peoples and other local communities on the frontline of the fight against tropical deforestation.

The role of the Board is to provide strategic vision, direction and leadership, to support the financial and operational stability needed to advance RFUK’s mission, and to promote the organisation’s continued effectiveness.

We are looking for a Trustee with experience and skills in one or more of the following areas:

• Philanthropic giving
• Charitable foundation grants
• High net worth giving
• Corporate partnerships and CSR fundraising
• Individual giving and legacies
• Networking and profile raising
• Marketing, PR and communications

The Finance Trustee will engage in all aspects of our governance, with a particular focus on financial strategy and governance.They will use their sound financial skills & experience to support the Board’s understanding & interpretation & to ensure legislative compliance.  

• To support the Board to oversee & to ensure appropriate presentation of budgets, accounts, management accounts and financial statements.
• To ensure appropriate presentation of accounts and records, ensuring that financial resources are spent in accordance with the charity’s policies, good governance, legal & regulatory requirements.
• Liaising, where applicable, with the Chair/ other appropriate members of staff and supporting on financial matters
• Supporting the Board to monitor the financial viability of the charity.
• Creating, in conjunction with relevant trustees and staff, sound financial processes and procedures for the control of the charity’s assets.
• Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan.
• Reviewing the annual accounts and, where applicable, liaising with the charity’s external auditor to ensure the accounts are compliant with the current charities’ SORP.
• Ensuring that sound financial management is maintained and ensuring expenditure is in line with the charity’s objects.

We are looking for women who hold feminist values and principles and who are passionate about the mission and values of TRC. We are particularly looking for Trustees who have relevant qualifications and/or experience in the following areas:

• Safeguarding, offering support to the chair and safeguarding leads with the management of safeguarding cases and keeping up to date with best practice
• Legal and Governance, including strategic planning and understanding of the wider political Greater Manchester landscape
• Human resources and personnel management, including a knowledge of employment legislation
• Financial management, planning and budgeting
• Public Relations, Marketing and fundraising, including awareness raising and campaigning through social media
• Capacity building and training, especially for volunteers
• Women’s health and mental health, outreach and partnership work with local services

TRC was set up in 2010 to provide a free, confidential and non-judgemental specialist support service run by women for women and girls who have experienced any form of rape, sexual abuse or sexual violence at any time in their lives. We are a feminist organisation and we actively challenge the values, beliefs and behaviours that contribute to women’s
oppression. Our mission is to raise awareness about sexual violence through providing training, guidance and information and working in partnership with local service providers and communities to promote the values of TRC.

Join Us as a Trustee and Help Tackle Food Poverty in Hackney

We are a dynamic, mission-driven charity with a turnover of £1.5 million, working at the heart of East London to address food poverty and support our richly diverse community. Our work is impactful, community-led, and more vital than ever.

We are now seeking two new Trustees to join our dedicated Board.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for individuals who are:

• Passionate about social justice and food insecurity and committed to making a meaningful difference in East London.
• Able to dedicate time for 5 Board meetings per year (including one all-day away day), as well as 4–5 committee meetings annually.
• Willing to engage actively between meetings, contributing to decision-making, strategic guidance, and supporting our staff and volunteers.

We are particularly keen to appoint trustees with expertise in:

• Legal affairs, to help us navigate governance, compliance, and contractual matters.
• Human Resources / Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), to support us in ensuring our organisation reflects and serves our community with integrity and care.

However, we welcome applicants with other relevant skills or lived experience that could enrich our work.

Why Join Us?

As a trustee, you’ll be part of a committed, forward-thinking team, helping to shape the strategic direction of a charity that has a direct, positive impact on people’s lives. This is an opportunity to apply your knowledge, grow your experience, and support a cause that matters.

If you share our values and are ready to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.
Closing date 11th August.