Service manager volunteer roles in hackney, ceredigion

Lifelites is looking for a new trustee to join our Board at a pivotal and exciting time of growth and change. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of a small but ambitious charity, making a real difference to the lives of children with life-limiting conditions.

About the role

As a trustee, you will play a vital part in overseeing our work, supporting our strategic direction, and helping us deliver on our Mission. We are particularly keen to hear from people with experience in:

• Marketing
• Communications
• Fundraising or sales

These skills could come from your professional background or from voluntary work. Direct experience in the charity sector is not essential – we’re looking for people whose skills are transferrable and whose values align with ours.

Above all, we’re seeking someone who shares our passion for improving the lives of children and families, and can bring their expertise to help us deliver our Mission.

Why join us?

Lifelites believes that every child with a life-limiting condition should be able to enjoy a childhood filled with joy, connection, and special moments with their families.

Using assistive and sensory technology, we empower children in palliative care settings to play, learn, communicate, and connect with their families. We currently reach around 13,500 children across Britain and Ireland – and we want to do even more.

We have launched a bold seven-year strategy to reach many more of the 99,000 children and young people living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions in the UK.

As a trustee, you’ll help us achieve that goal by guiding our growth, increasing awareness, and improving our sustainability.

What’s involved?

• The Board meets in person at least four times a year, plus an annual away day.
• Trustees are also expected to join one of our committees and may occasionally support specific projects.
• Most additional meetings take place online.
• This is a voluntary role, but reasonable expenses are covered.

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion. These words are engrained in our services and our culture. As an organisation that seeks to empower children and young people with life-limiting conditions and complex disabilities, we are similarly committed to these values in the way we recruit and develop our people, build our teams, work in partnership and cultivate success. We actively welcome, nurture and celebrate the different abilities, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith, and gender of candidates, existing staff, stakeholders and volunteers.

Help shape the future of Merton’s vibrant voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

Merton Connected is seeking two to three new trustees to join our experienced board at an exciting time of growth. We’re looking for people who bring curiosity, strategic thinking, and a commitment to inclusive community development; whether this is your first governance role or you’ve supported other organisations before.

You’ll help shape our strategy, strengthen good governance, and champion the voices of local organisations and residents. You’ll be part of a collaborative board that works closely with our leadership team to support a thriving voluntary, community and faith sector in Merton.

We’re particularly keen to hear from individuals with insight or experience in:

• Marketing and communications

• Digital and AI operations

• Income generation and fundraising

• Impact and performance measurement

We also welcome diverse lived experience, fresh perspectives, and strong local connection to Merton.

What you’ll gain:

• A chance to influence local priorities and make a meaningful difference to people’s lives

• Insight into the workings of a well-connected, values-driven infrastructure charity

• Opportunities to share your knowledge and develop your strategic and leadership skills

• A welcoming, inclusive board committed to learning and collective impact

Time commitment: 4–6 meetings per year (including strategy days), with occasional subgroups or events
Support offered: Full induction provided, with out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed

We’re taking a flexible, phased approach to recruitment to make it easier for people to apply over the summer, while encouraging early applications where possible.

About CARAS:

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About the CARAS ESOL Team:

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to adults at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling people to attend college and access other services in the future.

About the Role:

CARAS is looking for volunteer ESOL Teaching Assistants to support our face-to-face adult ESOL classes in Tooting. Volunteers in this role are required to commit to at least one 2-hour session every Wednesday during these times: 

• Mondays ESOL 9:30 to 13:30

• Tuesday 9:30 to 11:30

• Tuesday One-to-one employability and language learning support 15:00 to 17:00 

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities:

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within ESOL classes; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources;

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential: 

• To be 18 years or older; 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• An interest in education and English language teaching; 

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds; 

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Excellent communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• The ability to volunteer on Mondays or Wednesdays during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of three months; 

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• *Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; 

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role. 

 *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK. 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies; 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

Spectra is a Community Interest Company (CIC), working to improve the choices, health, and well-being of structurally excluded communities across London, particularly in relation to their sexual health, emotional resilience, and well-being, and to combat isolation and minimise risk.

Under the steer of its Chief Executive and Board of Directors, Spectra’s outstanding staff team provides supportive, knowledgeable, and non-judgemental services, all of which are peer-led, meaning they are delivered by people with lived and learned experience. Spectra strives to proactively identify the needs of all its service users, supporting them appropriately and effectively.

We are now seeking suitably experienced and committed individuals to join our Board as Directors of the CIC.

Director with Fundraising Experience: You will provide strategic direction for the organisation around fundraising, including helping to shape and support our fundraising strategy around diversifying our funds and growing our individual giving. You will support Spectra’s delivery of statutory and grant-funded services, help us in advancing our vision, and provide constructive scrutiny and oversight of the Chief Executive and the work of Spectra’s staff.

Director with Communications, Marketing, and PR Experience: You will provide strategic direction for the organisation around communications, marketing, and PR. You will support our plans to increase our reach and brand, further our communications work and strategy, including social media marketing and campaigning, and enhance our PR opportunities. You will support Spectra’s delivery of statutory and grant-funded services, help us in advancing our vision, and provide constructive scrutiny and oversight of the Chief Executive and the work of Spectra’s staff.

Spectra is based in Vauxhall, South London. It is expected that you will attend five meetings (in the evening, currently online on a Monday evening) and two SMT/Board Away Days each year (currently in person). In addition, it is envisaged that you will contribute your expertise outside of Board meetings on occasion, e.g., to review service or planning reports, to input into a focus group, etc.

Re-Vision is a small charity based in Queen’s Park, London, founded in 1988. We run professionally accredited part-time courses for adults to train as Counsellors and Psychotherapists and are looking for Trustees to join our Board.

Who we are

Re-Vision is a registered charity. It is a small, not for profit counselling and psychotherapy training organisation providing outstanding, in-depth training with a soulful perspective. We also offer a low cost community counselling service to enable access to mental health services for those who might otherwise not find this affordable.

The role

We are juggling a number of important strategic imperatives. We have highlighted the need to improve resilience, to look ahead at future plans for our physical environment, to continue to provide an inclusive and rewarding experience for our students, trainers and staff, to maintain and build on the unique soulfulness and richness of our training, and to build our bursary fund to help to increase accessibility to our training.

We are keen to find trustees willing to help us with these challenges. We are particularly keen to involve people with financial or marketing skills, and people who have been involved in facilitating or helping small organisations faced with the challenge of retaining core values during periods of change. This is an exciting period of change for Re-Vision and could be a good time for those with experience in strategic planning or change management to get involved, even if only for a fixed term.

We are currently looking to recruit Trustees with experience in:

• Finance and financial strategies – able to contribute to scrutiny of financial information, understand accounts and budgets.
• Diversity and inclusion policy and implementation
• Marketing and website expertise
• Facilities and property management
• Strategic planning or change management experience would be desirable

You might have previous non-exec or trustee experience, or you might be looking for your first Board/Trustee role, possibly as you think about moving on to paid non-exec roles in the future. Whatever your situation, you will be keen to make an important contribution by supporting a really worthwhile organisation. You will care about understanding our culture and values and enjoy the challenge of helping this organisation continue to thrive.

We are delighted to have secured funding to deliver a 24-month befriending programme. This exciting opportunity will support the delivery of our ambitious five-year strategy by:

- Promoting Independence - ensuring more older people can stay independent for longer

- Providing Connection - enabling friendship and social connection for older People

The befriending service will be provided through 2 different strands which aim to support older people in different ways based on the needs identified via an assessment. Clients will enter the strand that is most appropriate to their needs.

- Strand A: We will offer a local face-to-face service of up to 1 hour for 26 weeks. Strand A provision would be appropriate for older people who have experienced a recent life event, such as a hospital admission, bereavement or home move and who need time limited support and guidance to connect with suitable services and activities.

- Strands B: We will offer ongoing support either face-to- face of up to 1 hour or by telephone between 30 minutes and 1 hour. Strand B provision is for older people leaving Strand A that require long term support or for those who are identified as needing ongoing face-to-face or local telephone befriending support on entry to the programme. As a befriender you will be asked to select your type of volunteering preference.

Purpose of Role 

• Provide companionship, emotional support, and a listening ear to people who may be lonely or isolated. 

• Provide monthly reports to the Volunteer Manager on your client. 

Key tasks 

• Make a regular weekly visit or phone call to a client who has been matched to you, at a time suitable to the older person.

• Provide conversation and company. 

• Spend time chatting with the client, talking with them about their current and past life experiences. 

• Report any emerging issues or concerns that the older person has agreed to be shared with us such as safeguarding issues or a change in personal circumstance or health. 

• Make the client aware of any other services across AUKEL they may benefit from. 

• Maintain records of client contact and send this to the Volunteer Manager on a monthly basis. 

• Regularly meet with your befriending peers and supervisor, to share experiences, get support and reflect. 

Skills and attributes 

• Understanding loneliness and social isolation. 

• Good communication skills with a friendly approachable manner. 

• Keen on building a strong befriending relationship. 

• A desire to learn more about an individual and their interests and their past, and life history. 

• Consistency and reliability.

• Understanding of Confidentiality. 

• Understanding of and empathy with the needs of older people. 

• Patience and Sensitivity. 

• Confidence to deal with emergencies. 

• Record keeping.

• Basic IT skills. 

Support Provided 

• You will be inducted in cohorts with other volunteers. 

• Training for the role is provided including Safeguarding, Making Every Contact Count, Sexual Harassment and Building a positive volunteering experience and other more. 

• Ongoing support including regular supervision by the Volunteer Manager. 

• Goup supervision with other befrienders. Groups supervision is a safe place where you can share experiences, challenges, and successes, process emotion and learn from each other. 

• Reimbursement of agreed expenses.

• Access to an AGE UK Discount portal provided by Aon.  

• Monthly volunteer newsletter 

We hold an annual Volunteer Award event where we celebrate and recognise the contribution of our Volunteers! 

Benefits 

• Making a Difference: Volunteering allows you to have a tangible impact on someone's life, particularly those in vulnerable situations. Helping older people can provide a strong sense of accomplishment and purpose. 

• Emotional Rewards 

• Intergenerational Connections 

• Learning and Skill Development 

• Enhancing Career Prospects 

• Building Empathy and Compassion 

• Giving Back to the Community 

• Social and celebration events 

Commitment 

• We expect a minimum of 6 months commitment but would ideally prefer more of a longer-term commitment.

• Weekly commitment is between 30 minutes to 1 hour for client plus one/two hours monthly for reporting. 

Information and Advice Service: The Information and Advice service for older people provides a free, confidential, and independent service for anyone aged 65+ living in Bromley and 50 + in Greenwich. Our advisors provide general advice on a range of subjects: employment rights, welfare benefits, housing, consumer rights and adult social care.

Role Summary: Provide information and signposting to older people living in Bromley and Greenwich and provide admin support to the Information and Advice Team, helping to keep the information resources up to date.

What will I be involved in?

• Answering calls and basic enquiries coming into our Information and Advice Service, full training is provided. Present and discuss information with the client in an accessible manner.
• Committed to researching and providing up to date information to vulnerable older people using the internet and other resources.
• Identify and research information relevant to the user’s situation, drawing on resources available.
• Being online and knowledgeable of Microsoft packages and the use of emails
• Liase closely with the Advice Case Supervisor, other advisors, and wider staff team. Seeking guidance and support where required.
• Successfully complete online training courses for Age UK Bromley and Greenwich volunteers.
• Participate in volunteer support meetings with the Advice Case Supervisor and any training on safeguarding adults and appropriate boundaries.
• At all times work in accordance with the organisation’s policies regarding Health & Safety, Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and Confidentiality & Data Protection. Lone working.
• Represent the professional standards of Age UK Bromley and Greenwich and ensure that you wear your volunteer id badge whilst volunteering.   

What skills and qualities will I need to have?

• Enjoys talking and helping our clients, 65+ living in Bromley and 50 + in Greenwich from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Good communication skills and confident at speaking to clients on the telephone
• Able to prioritise tasks with good time management skills.
• A commitment to ensuring that customers are provided with accurate relevant information and support. Interested in finding out more about social welfare law advice e.g. housing and welfare benefits.
• Be a good listener and have empathy with older people, being approachable and welcoming.
• Interested in learning and developing new skills required of the role. Demonstrate that you are interested in what the client has to say by communicating respect and warmth.
• Demonstrate a non-judgmental approach. The listener may personally disagree with the client’s opinions or actions but attempts to understand the client’s point of view and shows that they still value the client.
• Being able to maintain client confidentiality, understand the importance of keeping within the parameters of the role and have a good understanding of GDPR and Data Protection.

Benefits of getting involved:

• Being part of a team who are passionate about helping clients 65+ living in Bromley and 50+ in Greenwich
• Committed to supporting the Information and Advice service deliver a difference to all their clients.
• Ongoing support and role training with feedback given.
• Opportunities for networking with other volunteers and being part of a wider volunteer team.
• Awareness of Age UK Bromley and Greenwich social events, services, and projects

Other information: Prospective volunteers will complete a recruitment process and be required to provide details of two references and agree to submit details for and undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check. All our volunteer roles are 18+, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Age UK Bromley & Greenwich will reimburse all expenditure reasonably incurred. Receipts to be provided with expenditure claims.

Community engagement charity Sobus is looking for talented, passionate individuals to join our Board of Trustees.  We are looking for a new Trustee Treasurer to help guide the charity through a time of exciting opportunity and development.

It's an exciting time for Sobus, as we look to refresh our service offer, and maximise the investment opportunity following the disposal of a property in 2024.

Our overarching aim is to “strengthen local communities”, through the provision of infrastructure support to the local voluntary sector in the borough of Hammersmith & Fulham and supporting business communities around our North Kensington hub. 

Our work is focussed on five main areas:

• Voice & Representation
• Information & Intelligence
• Brokerage & Partnerships
• Capacity Building & Business Support
• Affordable Premises (through the provision of our business hubs in Fulham and North Kensington)

Trustee Treasurer: We are seeking a committed individual with a proven, professional track record of financial management and leadership at the highest level, and a sound understanding and experience of the voluntary sector.  We need someone with significant experience of leading long-term strategic development and driving financial sustainability.

You will share our vision and want to take a leading role in our journey to be recognised as an outstanding organisation. It would be a significant advantage if you have an understanding or experience of working in the voluntary and community sector, and even more so if you are a current or former resident of Hammersmith & Fulham or have a tangible, established and current connection with the area.

Sobus was formed in 2014 following a merger between the Community & Voluntary Sector Association and Fulham Community Partnership Trust. However, we were first established as the local CVS in Hammersmith & Fulham in 1998. 

Sobus is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity to ensure that we reflect the full breadth of the people that we support. We therefore warmly welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Selection process:

Candidates are requested to complete an application and a equalities monitoring form., and if shortlisted, an interview with our outgoing Treasurer, Chair of the Board of Trustees and the CEO.  t

For an informal discussion about the position, of for the Job Description and application form, contact the Sobus CEO, Sue Spiller

CHIPS is looking for new trustees to support our peacemaking work internationally.

About CHIPS

CHIPS (Christian International Peace Service) aims to bring about peace and reconciliation in areas of conflict or tension. We have over 59 years’ experience helping communities in the UK, Cyprus, India, the Philippines, Northern Ireland and Uganda; with our current projects being in Northern Ghana and Brixton, UK. We help communities build futures free from violent conflict through practical projects that both tackle the root causes of the division and bring the sides together to build trust and healthy relationships.

Our Vision: Our vision is for a world where conflict is met with peacemaking, division gives way to reconciliation, and communities work together to build sustainable peace.

Our Mission: Rooted in Jesus' example of peace and reconciliation, we accompany communities affected by violent conflict, fostering relationships, taking practical action, and building a foundation for lasting peace.

Our Philosophy:

• We go where we are invited
• We live in the heart of the conflict
• We take sides. Both sides.
• We are committed for the long term

About Being a Trustee

CHIPS (Christian International Peace Service) trustees play a crucial role in advancing peace in communities worldwide. Working collaboratively as part of the Board, they provide strategic oversight to the organisation, helping to strengthen its impact and sustainability by bringing their unique expertise and skills to the team. We're particularly looking for a trustee with a strong background in finance, accounting or bookkeeping in order to help support our Director and Board in there oversight of financial matters.

We hope that the experience of being a trustee for CHIPS will be rewarding. As well as making a difference to the communities that we support, we hope you will gain satisfaction from generously giving of your time. We want to have a Board of Trustees who are diverse in their experience and knowledge so that impact can be sustained. Whilst specific roles may vary, the overall duties are:

• Ensuring that CHIPS pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its constitution, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy in coordination with CHIPS staff and project teams
• Ensuring that CHIPS complies with its constitution, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• Ensuring that CHIPS applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects for the benefit of the public
• Ensuring that CHIPS defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets
• Safeguarding the good name and values of CHIPS
• Ensuring the effective and efficient governance of CHIPS, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
• Ensuring the financial stability of CHIPS
• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds
• Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the senior leadership of CHIPS
• Communicating on behalf of the organisation, if necessary
• Facilitating any feedback or complaints so that any issues are addressed swiftly

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Finance Trustee specific role

• Reviewing quarterly management accounts and highlighting any variances or financial risks to the board.
• Supporting the annual budgeting process by advising on assumptions, cost control, and sustainability.
• Overseeing the preparation of annual accounts with CHIPS staff and working with the auditor or independent examiner as needed.
• Helping develop and monitor financial policies such as reserves, investments, and internal controls.
• Providing strategic financial insight to guide decision-making on fundraising, staffing, or new initiatives.

Person specification
CHIPS is particularly looking for new trustees who have strong backgrounds in finance to support the Director and team members. However, CHIPS is also looking to more generally increase the number of trustees so if you feel you have expertise which could benefit CHIPS, please still get in touch.

• A commitment to and passion for CHIPS and its objects and vision
• A commitment to CHIPS’ statement of faith
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
• Strategic vision
• Good, independent judgement and a willingness to speak their mind
• An ability to think creatively
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
• A committed Christian willing to contribute to the spiritual life and development of CHIPS
• Experience or knowledge specific to the area in which they will oversee

If you're interested to join as a trustee, but want to find out more first - do get in contact with us.

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. 

We are looking for dedicated and experienced individuals to join our team at Sharewear Clothing Scheme as volunteer Trustees. In particular we are seeking to recruit a Chair of the Board of Trustees and are also interested in members of the Board of Trustees. Those with expertise in marketing, fundraising, financial management, safeguarding, people management or operational delivery would be particularly welcome. We are looking for individuals with previous experience as a trustee or other applicable skills to contribute through this volunteer role to our continued growth and achieving our mission.

INDEPENDENT READING GROUP VOLUNTEER (FACE-TO-FACE) 

CARAS Youth ESOL Programme – Monday, Wednesday mornings  

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About Youth ESOL: 

Our award-winning ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

• CARAS is looking for Reading Group Volunteer to support our face-to-face study programme for young people.
• The reading group is in Tooting and is an important element of a study programme for young people aged 14 to 18 who are out of formal education.
• Students will be supported to read at length and complete challenges that are adapted to their ability level.
• The reading group aims to foster independence and a joy of reading among the young people and requires volunteers to learn about the young peoples' interests in order to help them select an appropriate text.
• The ESOL teacher will provide volunteers with tips to support reading and understanding for emerging learners of English, such as phonics and elicitation strategies.
• Volunteers will work with 1-5 students, mostly reading out loud with them or helping them to decode unfamiliar language.
• Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates. 

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities: 

• Providing learners with one-to-one or small group support within the Reading Group sessions; 

• Helping to set up the classroom and provide learners with classroom resources; 

• Contributing to debriefs to inform the ESOL teacher how each student found the lesson/task and the students’ areas of greatest challenge and success;  

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session; 

• Making use of any community languages you may know to help students during the class; 

• Working collaboratively as a team and helping to shape the project; 

• Supporting people to develop their knowledge and skills, encouraging and inspiring participants to reach their full potential; 

• Assisting participants to recognise and celebrate their achievements; 

• Listening and supporting students to select, read and understand a text; Showing flexibility to the wide range of ability levels in the classroom; 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management and all other policies as relevant.  

Requirements: 

Essential

• To be 18 years or older; 

• An interest in education and English language teaching;

• Currently resident in the UK; has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• * Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses, and willing to undergo a DBS check; *DBS and proof of residency is not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK.  

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to start of role 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (food and travel expenses can be reimbursed); 

• To be non-judgemental and able to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds; 

• To be reliable and punctual; 

• Good communication skills, especially with people who are new to English; 

• An interest in books and stories, writing and poetry 

• The ability to volunteer on Wednesday during Wandsworth term time for a minimum of four months; 

Desirable: 

• Knowledge of community languages, such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali or Spanish; 

• Experience of reading with young people or learners of English, or teaching ESOL or phonics. 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies such as literacy and phonics strategies for emerging learners of English; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering. 

A fantastic opportunity has arisen to join the Smart Works Board of Trustees.  

Our Trustees support all aspects of our work, with the aim of providing strategic support, governance and assurance that enables us to continue to deliver our core service and increase the number of women we can support into work by dressing and coaching women for interview and job success.

The time commitment for this voluntary, unpaid role is an average of a day a month, with more time given at busy periods of the year. There will be a requirement to attend board meetings, with some trustees also sitting on subcommittees that meet around 4 times a year. In addition, there are events to attend and occasional additional duties to support our wider work. 

If you feel you have valuable experience and skills to contribute to the Smart Works mission and would like to use your professional experience for good, we would love to hear from you. 

Please see the job pack attached for full details and apply via the portal by 31st July 2025.

We are seeking four additional experienced professionals to join our warm and welcoming Board of Trustees as we look to grow and expand.

What will you be doing?

Our charity is forming as the National Health Service seeks closer integration of services and tighter cooperation between health, local government, local businesses and communities and the voluntary and charitable sector. In our Northwest London patch we are positioning as a voice for the sector, able to respond to, to challenge, to coordinate and partner with the integrated care board. We stand ready to bring to the table projects and streams of voluntary work, acting as a sort of business manager on behalf of community groups and a co-strategist alongside NHS trusts and councils.

This will be an exciting time to join our dynamic and collaborative board as we support the delivery of a broad range of Health and Wellbeing services across North West London. We are seeking four additional experienced professionals to join our warm and welcoming Board of Trustees, bringing expertise in one or more of the following areas:

•  Procurement and Contract Management, 
• Human Resources, and 
• Governance

What are we looking for?

What we need, above all, are people interested in London, perhaps living, working or having some knowledge of the boroughs that make up the Northwest of the capital. You will have senior-level experience in either Human Resources, Procurement, or Governance within the public, private, or voluntary sector. 

You will bring experience of health, business, education, charitable work that informs your wide vision of the causes of ill health, the wellbeing of populations and future patterns of social care – along side the resilience of people and communities, their drive and optimism.

What difference will you make?

By contributing to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation that achieves impact delivering a broad range of Health and Wellbeing services alongside a dedicated community development function, you will have a rewarding opportunity to apply your skills and experience in accounting and finance, for the good of communities across North West London.

As part of a trusted CIO, you will play a vital role in local healthcare delivery, recognised for its consistent quality and strong professional reputation.

3ST is very fortunate to benefit from a collegiate Board with a strong mix of professional backgrounds, lived experience and skills. There is a great deal to learn as well as actively contribute to in terms of delivering change and innovation in health services and on the frontline.