11 Social club volunteers volunteer volunteer roles in Bristol

About us: 

Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil C.I.C is a pioneering Podcast/YouTube Channel and healing membership organisation. We provide a platform for survivors and whistleblowers to share their lived experiences, highlight systemic frustrations and offer solutions rooted in culturally trauma-informed care.

Our membership offers young people and survivors a path to heal, learn digital skills and interactively participate in our Alchemic 369 Book Club, where members engage in weekly interactive discussions, debates and critical analysis of African, Caribbean and world history, Ifa, classics and political thought. Members will sharpen their reading, reasoning and imagination skills, with opportunities to discuss works directly with authors, highly subsidised plant-based transformative retreats and join a community designed to empower and educate.

We are a mission-driven, collective-focused C.I.C building a movement that combines healing, re-education and empowerment.

Our content focuses on:

• Survivors of CSA, RSA, CT, CA stories

• Whistleblowers and retired experts

• Generational trauma and healing

• Youth empowerment and education

• Community transformation through honest storytelling

Our mission is to challenge generational cycles, expose hidden truths, fight for justice and create a platform rooted in authenticity, deep healing, and transformation.

Job Purpose:

To actively identify, locate, and surface potential real-world stories, individuals, and lived experiences that align with the organisation’s mission, ensuring a continuous pipeline of high-quality, relevant story leads for the Story Intelligence Team.

This role exists to function as the organisation’s primary “frontline discovery engine,” scanning a wide range of public sources—including media platforms, social networks, interviews, documentaries, podcasts, books, advocacy spaces, and community forums—to uncover individuals who have either publicly shared their experiences or are visibly positioned within ongoing social, cultural, or institutional narratives.

The Research Story Scout is responsible for recognising not just individual stories, but also broader story ecosystems, including repeated patterns of lived experience, underrepresented voices, emerging testimonies, and whistleblower disclosures that may not yet have been formally documented or widely circulated.

A key purpose of this role is to convert scattered public information into structured, actionable story leads that can be passed efficiently to the Outreach Team for ethical and appropriate engagement.

The role also ensures that potential stories are identified early, before they become widely saturated or lost in mainstream attention cycles, enabling the organisation to engage responsibly, respectfully, and at the right stage of the individual’s willingness to share.

Ultimately, this role ensures the organisation maintains a consistent flow of credible, relevant, and timely story opportunities by continuously scanning the public landscape and translating discovery into structured, usable intelligence for outreach and engagement.

About the role:

Story Scouts spend their time locating individuals who have publicly shared their experiences or indicated a willingness to discuss their story.

Sources may include:

• Podcasts

• YouTube interviews

• Social media platforms

• Survivor groups

• Charity websites

• News reports

• Books

• Blogs

• Conferences

• Public speaking events

Once identified, the scout prepares a short lead profile and passes it to outreach for them to make contact, sign consent forms and safeguarding checks, schedule call with guest and host hand over to host. (PPTeam).

Ideal Candidate

• Extremely resourceful.

• Strong online research skills.

• Curious and persistent.

• Enjoys finding information.

• Comfortable working independently.

Experience Required

• Internet research.

• Community management.

• Journalism.

• Talent sourcing.

• Recruitment sourcing.

• Social media research.

What You Will Gain

• Real-world hosting and interviewing experience

• Opportunity to build a public profile and media presence

• Portfolio-building opportunities across podcasting and storytelling

• Networking and relationship-building opportunities

• Experience working within a growing media and advocacy platform

• Creative freedom and personal growth opportunities

• Leadership and media mentorship

• Opportunity to develop your own audience and storytelling identity

• Potential future paid opportunities and long-term media career pathways

• Direct pathway into a future paid role

• The chance to help build a nationally recognised media and survivor-support platform

• COS opportunities for top performing staff members 

This role is designed as a long-term pathway opportunity to a paid position and lifestyle transformation.

We don’t operate on individualism—we build through collectivism, meaning:
  As the platform grows, your role, influence, and opportunities grow with it

Additional Notes

This role is not suitable if you:

• Prefer low-responsibility volunteer work

• Avoid handling sensitive data or detailed reporting

• Are seeking immediate paid employment

• Are uncomfortable applying analysis to strategic decisions

To Apply

Please send:

• Your CV, portfolio, or LinkedIn profile (if available)

• A short introduction about yourself

• Why this mission resonates with you

• Any relevant experience, skills, ideas, or vision you would bring to the role

We welcome individuals who are passionate about helping create platforms that inspire healing, justice, truth, education, empowerment, and lasting community impact. That see themselves transforming their lifestyles to maintain the above for the generations to come.

Age UK Bucks ‘Age Better Bucks’ volunteers will support local older people to achieve personal goals – by helping them navigate and take advantage of a Support Plan devised by as community worker, that is designed to help them meet the challenges of older age.

This could be by phoning them to provide encouragement, explanation and support, and to check on progress, and also to help them with attendance at appointments and going to new groups or activities.

What do Age Better Bucks Volunteers do?

• Work with the Community Support Connector from Age UK Bucks to accept a client and understand their goals and support plan – and which services they have been referred to for support
• Contact the client to introduce yourself, and explain what you can help them with and if that’s OK with them
• Agree how your support is best provided – e.g. weekly calls for progress and encouragement, or help with something specific on their plan. That could be a home visit (if appropriate) to help them make a call or prepare for an appointment; attend a group or activity with them; or help them take a bus etc.
• Report back to the Community Support Connector if there are any issues or concerns and agree when your support can stop
• Ideally, you’d support a few clients each week or month, depending on how much time you have

The role is to support and help the client to access the referrals and support put in place for them – and not to support them with care or specific needs yourself. Referrals might be to local care services, to local groups or clubs, or to an occupational therapist for home adaptations, other voluntary organisations and support groups etc.

Our Age Better Bucks Service

Age Better Bucks supports over 65s who could benefit from extra support to manage their well being and remain independent. It is for older people experiencing challenges or need extra support to stay independent and well – for example increasing loneliness/isolation; bereavement; health/mobility decline; mood change.

Our team of support workers will assess their needs and circumstances specific to them, and develop an action plan with them to ensure more support and help can be arranged. We check in with the client after 6 weeks to see how they are getting on, and after 6 months to see how they are and check if anything has changed, got worse or improved.

The service is designed to give people the tools, contacts and support to make positive changes and especially to tackle the impact of loneliness and isolation.

An action plan, or support plan, will be devised with all clients, identifying their main goals based on their individual needs and challenges, and referring them, with their consent only, to other services and support we agree can help. At this stage we’ll assess if a volunteer like you can help then take full advantage of this support.

What you will get out of it

• Join an enthusiastic team of people who want to make a difference
• It's a great way to support older people making a real difference to their lives
• You'll be giving something back to your community
• You get to be part of Age UK Buckinghamshire's volunteer team
• We will reimburse reasonable, approved out of pocket expenses
• Volunteers tell us they find Volunteering really rewarding and get lots out of it themselves
• You will be fully supported by our Team and wider Age UK Buckinghamshire support.

What is expected of me?

We tell you about each client and ask if you’d like to take it up. You would then arrange and complete the call or visit when convenient. The work you do is conducted in line with guidance we provide and you must comply with necessary procedures including Data Protection/Confidentiality and Personal Safety.

After the visit/contact you will complete and submit a contact form. Volunteers complete relevant training, provide references and complete a DBS check.

Key skills and requirements

• Good listener, clear communicator and able to maintain confidentiality. A good conversationalist!
• Ability to lead the conversation, provide feedback to the team and summarise the conversation.
• Non-judgmental. Able to respect others’ differences and choices
• Patient, flexible and reliable
• Able to work independently with guidance and support
• Ability to travel around the area to visit people
• A regular commitment to give 1-2 hours a week would be appreciated but the role is flexible, you can work from home, do visits, only make calls, whatever works for you.
• An interest in helping older people live the lives they want

Why we want you

As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community to ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

This role is diverse and allows for you to focus on the areas that you have skills or interests in. The role has flexibility and can work around your other commitments.

Below are some examples of possible activities you can take on or be a part of as a SSAFA Community Engagement Volunteer.

What you will be doing

• Activity Organisers - Love planning? Help coordinate amazing events like charity dinners, carol concerts, and local fairs.
• Event Champions - Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
• Promoting SSAFA Services - Help provide a warm, welcoming presence at Veterans Breakfast clubs, cafes or hubs - offering information about SSAFA services and signposting as appropriate.
• SSAFA Storytellers -Deliver engaging talks to organisations and groups, sharing SSAFA’s incredible history and mission.
• Community Connectors - Collaborating with the Community Engagement Manager to establish a local network, promote SSAFA's services, and respond to community opportunities such as gardening projects.
• Fundraising Heroes - Whether it’s rallying local businesses, organising events, or getting creative with unique fundraising ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping SSAFA’s support going strong.
• Administrators - Are you detail-oriented and love keeping things organised? Assist with branch and event administration, manage schedules and branch calendars, and ensure everything runs smoothly currently being undertaken.

The skills you need

• Be friendly and approachable.
• Confident to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face.
• Reliable attitude, staying connected with your Branch and/or Community Engagement Manager about your availability.
• Access to public transport or a car to get to events if necessary.
• Basic IT skills would be an advantage.

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others and make a difference.
• Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising awareness of SSAFA.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and SSAFA Community Engagement Manager.
• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

Why we want you

As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community to ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

This role is diverse and allows for you to focus on the areas that you have skills or interests in. The role has flexibility and can work around your other commitments.

Below are some examples of possible activities you can take on or be a part of as a SSAFA Community Engagement Volunteer.

What you will be doing

• Activity Organisers - Love planning? Help coordinate amazing events like charity dinners, carol concerts, and local fairs.
• Event Champions - Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
• Promoting SSAFA Services - Help provide a warm, welcoming presence at Veterans Breakfast clubs, cafes or hubs - offering information about SSAFA services and signposting as appropriate.
• SSAFA Storytellers -Deliver engaging talks to organisations and groups, sharing SSAFA’s incredible history and mission.
• Community Connectors - Collaborating with the Community Engagement Manager to establish a local network, promote SSAFA's services, and respond to community opportunities such as gardening projects.
• Fundraising Heroes - Whether it’s rallying local businesses, organising events, or getting creative with unique fundraising ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping SSAFA’s support going strong.
• Administrators - Are you detail-oriented and love keeping things organised? Assist with branch and event administration, manage schedules and branch calendars, and ensure everything runs smoothly currently being undertaken.

The skills you need

• Be friendly and approachable.
• Confident to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face.
• Reliable attitude, staying connected with your Branch and/or Community Engagement Manager about your availability.
• Access to public transport or a car to get to events if necessary.
• Basic IT skills would be an advantage.

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others and make a difference.
• Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising awareness of SSAFA.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and SSAFA Community Engagement Manager.
• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

Why we want you

As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community to ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

This role is diverse and allows for you to focus on the areas that you have skills or interests in. The role has flexibility and can work around your other commitments.

Below are some examples of possible activities you can take on or be a part of as a SSAFA Community Engagement Volunteer.

What you will be doing

• Activity Organisers - Love planning? Help coordinate amazing events like charity dinners, carol concerts, and local fairs.
• Event Champions - Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
• Promoting SSAFA Services - Help provide a warm, welcoming presence at Veterans Breakfast clubs, cafes or hubs - offering information about SSAFA services and signposting as appropriate.
• SSAFA Storytellers -Deliver engaging talks to organisations and groups, sharing SSAFA’s incredible history and mission.
• Community Connectors - Collaborating with the Community Engagement Manager to establish a local network, promote SSAFA's services, and respond to community opportunities such as gardening projects.
• Fundraising Heroes - Whether it’s rallying local businesses, organising events, or getting creative with unique fundraising ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping SSAFA’s support going strong.
• Administrators - Are you detail-oriented and love keeping things organised? Assist with branch and event administration, manage schedules and branch calendars, and ensure everything runs smoothly currently being undertaken.

The skills you need

• Be friendly and approachable.
• Confident to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face.
• Reliable attitude, staying connected with your Branch and/or Community Engagement Manager about your availability.
• Access to public transport or a car to get to events if necessary.
• Basic IT skills would be an advantage.

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others and make a difference.
• Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising awareness of SSAFA.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and SSAFA Community Engagement Manager.
• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

Why we want you

As a community engagement volunteer you and your fellow branch members will create a range of activities to help spread the word about SSAFA within your community to ensure that that our Armed Forces community know that SSAFA are here to help and that we need the public’s support to continue offering our services.

This role is diverse and allows for you to focus on the areas that you have skills or interests in. The role has flexibility and can work around your other commitments.

Below are some examples of possible activities you can take on or be a part of as a SSAFA Community Engagement Volunteer.

What you will be doing

• Activity Organisers - Love planning? Help coordinate amazing events like charity dinners, carol concerts, and local fairs.
• Event Champions - Be the friendly face of SSAFA! Help at events, chat with visitors, sell merchandise, and spread the word about our work.
• Promoting SSAFA Services - Help provide a warm, welcoming presence at Veterans Breakfast clubs, cafes or hubs - offering information about SSAFA services and signposting as appropriate.
• SSAFA Storytellers -Deliver engaging talks to organisations and groups, sharing SSAFA’s incredible history and mission.
• Community Connectors - Collaborating with the Community Engagement Manager to establish a local network, promote SSAFA's services, and respond to community opportunities such as gardening projects.
• Fundraising Heroes - Whether it’s rallying local businesses, organising events, or getting creative with unique fundraising ideas, you’ll play a crucial role in keeping SSAFA’s support going strong.
• Administrators - Are you detail-oriented and love keeping things organised? Assist with branch and event administration, manage schedules and branch calendars, and ensure everything runs smoothly currently being undertaken.

The skills you need

• Be friendly and approachable.
• Confident to engage with the public, potential clients, volunteers and SSAFA colleagues face-to-face.
• Reliable attitude, staying connected with your Branch and/or Community Engagement Manager about your availability.
• Access to public transport or a car to get to events if necessary.
• Basic IT skills would be an advantage.

What's in it for you

• Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others and make a difference.
• Give tangible and practical support to your local branch by raising awareness of SSAFA.
• Support from your local SSAFA branch and SSAFA Community Engagement Manager.
• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

Disclaimer

SSAFA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all those involved in our work and expects volunteers to share this commitment.

About Us

Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil C.I.C. is a survivor-led podcast, YouTube channel, and healing membership organisation. We provide a platform for survivors and whistleblowers to share lived experiences, expose systemic issues, and promote solutions rooted in culturally trauma-informed care.

Our membership supports young people and survivors through healing, education, and digital skills development. Members participate in our Alchemic 369 Book Club, engaging in discussions and critical analysis of African, Caribbean, and world history, Ifa, classics, and political thought. Members also benefit from author discussions, subsidised plant-based retreats, and a supportive community focused on empowerment and growth.

We are a mission-driven organisation combining healing, education, truth-telling, and community empowerment.

Our Content Focuses On:

• Survivor stories (CSA, RSA, CT, CA)
• Whistleblowers and retired experts
• Generational trauma and healing
• Youth empowerment and education
• Community transformation through honest storytelling

Our mission is to challenge harmful cycles, expose hidden truths, fight for justice, and create lasting social change.

Job Purpose

To design and build the digital management systems that will serve as the operational backbone of the IFA Retreat, enabling effective management of procurement, inventory, staffing, suppliers, budgets, projects, maintenance, and reporting through a centralised platform.

About the Role

As a Volunteer Business Systems Developer, you will design and implement the retreat's management infrastructure using platforms such as Airtable, Notion, ClickUp, Monday, Odoo, or similar database solutions.

Working alongside the Operations and Procurement Consultants, you will translate operational requirements into practical digital systems that support the retreat from development through to full operation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build databases and operational dashboards
• Create workflows and automation systems
• Develop reporting and approval processes
• Design supplier directories and inventory registers
• Create staffing and project management systems
• Build operational tracking and performance tools
• Support scalable, transparent, and efficient operations

This role is essential to ensuring accountability, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who:

• Enjoys building systems that solve real-world problems
• Is organised, analytical, and process-driven
• Can translate complex operations into user-friendly workflows
• Communicates effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Is interested in African cultural development projects
• Is committed to long-term involvement and continuous improvement
• Is open to learning about Yoruba culture and the retreat's mission

Skills & Experience

• Experience with Airtable, Notion, ClickUp, Monday, Odoo, or similar platforms
• Experience creating workflow automation and reporting dashboards
• Strong database design and information architecture skills
• Experience documenting business processes and procedures
• Knowledge of procurement, inventory, project management, and operational reporting systems
• Ability to integrate multiple operational functions into a single platform

Desirable:

• Experience supporting hospitality, tourism, construction, or non-profit projects
• Knowledge of African development, cultural, or heritage initiatives

What You Will Gain

• Practical systems-development experience
• Portfolio-building opportunities
• Leadership mentorship and professional development
• Networking opportunities within a growing organisation
• Experience contributing to a purpose-driven project
• Creative freedom and personal growth
• Potential future paid opportunities
• Direct pathway to future leadership and operational roles
• Opportunity to help build a nationally recognised healing and education platform
• COS opportunities for top-performing team members

This role is designed as a long-term pathway into greater responsibility, professional growth, and potential paid opportunities as the organisation expands.

We believe in collectivism rather than individualism—as the platform grows, so do your opportunities, influence, and impact.

Additional Notes

This role may not be suitable if you:

• Prefer low-responsibility volunteering
• Dislike detailed reporting or systems work
• Are seeking immediate paid employment
• Prefer not to contribute to strategic decision-making

To Apply

Please send:

• Your CV, portfolio, or LinkedIn profile (if available)
• A short introduction about yourself
• Why this mission resonates with you
• Any relevant experience, ideas, or vision you would bring to the role

We welcome people passionate about healing, justice, education, empowerment, and creating lasting community impact.

Earth Stewards Travel Club | an Ecosy Travel initiative

We help travellers and accommodations plan, share, and transparently report low‑carbon flight‑free holidays.

Earth Stewards Travel Club is a grassroots climate action community for travellers and tourism professionals who believe exploring the world and protecting it go hand in hand. We organise guided events across London combining sightseeing with environmental action: canal clean-ups, forest garden volunteering, citizen science, wild swims, wetland walks, and more, and we're building a network of volunteer destination leaders to take the model to locations around the world.

We're a certified B Corp and registered social enterprise at an early and exciting stage. We've run our first trial event in London and are working on building the community before we scale. This is an opportunity to shape how an emerging climate action community delivers impact.

The role

We're looking for a proactive, personable, and organised volunteer to build and manage the distribution partnerships that get Earth Steward's events in front of the right people. You'll identify, approach, and develop relationships with hotels, hostels, and visitor accommodation in London, as well as tourism organisations, sustainable travel communities, and visitor-facing platforms whose audiences overlap with ours.

This is fundamentally a business development and relationship management role. You'll be representing Earth Stewards Travel Club externally, opening doors, and building the network of partners who help us grow without paid advertising.

This role suits someone with a background or interest in sales, business development, tourism, hospitality, or partnership management, and who wants to apply those skills to a purpose-driven business.

What you'll do
Hotel & accommodation partnerships

• Identify independent hotels, boutique stays, eco-friendly properties, hostels, and B&Bs in London whose guests are likely to be interested in our events
• Reach out to concierge teams, guest experience managers, and hotel marketing contacts to propose distributing Earth Stewards event information to their guests, via leaflets, digital displays, concierge recommendations, or inclusion in welcome packs
• Build and maintain ongoing relationships with accommodation partners, keeping them updated on upcoming events and new tour routes
• Explore reciprocal opportunities where relevant, promoting partner properties to our community in return

Tourism organisation partnerships

• Identify and approach tourism organisations, destination management organisations, sustainable travel networks, and visitor guides whose audience matches our community of eco-conscious travellers
• Pitch co-promotion arrangements: newsletter features, social media cross-promotion, event listings in partner channels, or collaborative event programming
• Develop relationships with organisations already working at the intersection of tourism and sustainability including B Corp networks, social enterprise communities, and green travel platforms

Partnership management

• Maintain a simple CRM or partnership tracker to record outreach, conversations, and active relationships
• Brief the founder regularly on pipeline and active partnerships
• Work with the Community & events marketing coordinator to ensure partner co-promotion is joined up with our own content calendar
• Identify new distribution opportunities as the event programme grows and new routes launch

Who we're looking for

Essential

• Genuine passion for sustainability, climate action, or conscious travel
• Confident communicator: comfortable reaching out cold, following up, and building relationships with people you haven't met before
• Organised and self-directed: able to manage a pipeline of outreach without close supervision
• Professional written communication skills: you'll be representing Earth Stewards externally in emails and proposals

Desirable

• Background or experience in sales, business development, account management, hospitality, or tourism
• Existing knowledge of or contacts within the London hotel, hostel, or sustainable tourism sector
• Experience with partnership or sponsorship outreach
• Familiarity with sustainable travel organisations, B Corp networks, or social enterprise communities

Minimum Hours per Week:

10+ hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

As the Guild has grown in the past few years, our risk management, financial controls, and body of policies and procedures have also matured. Following the scheduled departure of two trustees earlier this year, the Guild’s Finance Subcommittee is seeking to welcome an independent member with relevant skills to attend meetings and advise on financial matters to help us make good decisions effectively.

This voluntary role supports trustees and staff by providing independent insight, constructive scrutiny, and professional expertise on financial planning, budgeting, risk, and long-term sustainability. As a guest to Finance Subcommittee meetings, you will review financial information, contribute to discussions, and help ensure resources are used effectively to maximise our charitable impact for students.

The Finance Subcommittee currently consists of two elected Officers, two external Trustees, and may include a student trustee in future. Papers and reports are ordinarily provided by the Guild Director, who is a non-voting guest to Subcommittee meetings. The Subcommittee normally meets four times per year for around two hours.

Students’ Union experience is not essential, but we are seeking a volunteer able to operate within our distinctive context. We are particularly interested in applicants with experience in finance, accounting, audit, charity governance, or business management.

What we do

Respair Therapy C.I.C. began in 2023 with a simple belief: dance belongs to everybody, and every body. Like many of the people we work with, Respair does not fit neatly into one box. Our work exists on a spectrum, from the gloriously frivolous to the deeply serious.

At one end, we hire out silent disco equipment so that people can turn their living room, kitchen or garden into a dancefloor. We create joyful events where people can put on a pair of headphones, choose their music and dance together without worrying about what they look like. Income from silent disco hire goes back into Respair, so a party in someone’s garden can help another person access psychological support.

At the other end is Dance Movement Psychotherapy, or DMP. This is not a dance class or an informal wellbeing activity. It is a recognised form of psychotherapy in which movement, the body and the relationship between client and therapist are central to the clinical work.

In the UK, Dance Movement Psychotherapists complete postgraduate training at Master’s degree level, including clinical placements, personal therapy, supervised practice and academic research. Qualified practitioners register with the Association for Dance Movement Psychotherapy UK and work to professional and ethical standards. DMP is used within NHS services, as well as in schools, mental health services, social care, charities and private practice. It is serious clinical work that can support people experiencing trauma, abuse, anxiety, depression, loss, relationship difficulties and other forms of psychological distress.

Between these two ends are projects such as Babe Club, our silent disco for parents, carers and babies; therapeutic movement in schools; and work with neurodivergent people, adults with learning disabilities and people living with dementia.

Our work is inclusive, trauma informed and anti oppressive. Whether we are helping somebody throw a brilliant party or supporting a person through specialist psychotherapy, we are creating more opportunities for people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities to experience movement, connection and psychological support.

How do we what we do

Respair is run by a Founding Director and team of Supporting Directors who volunteer their time. The Founding Director is also the Lead Psychotherapist and Facilitator. We meet quarterly to discuss the finance, legal and compliance aspects of the work. We have an accountant and a book keeper and we use Quickbooks to keep everything in one place. We apply for funding from local and national funding bodies. We have been successful in securing over £24,000 in restricted funds, and we have plans to apply for more. 

What we need

Respair is a creative and responsive organisation, so new ideas and opportunities can appear quickly. We need a Finance Director who can help us pause, understand the numbers and decide what is realistic.

The right person will be financially experienced, practical and approachable. They will look beyond whether the figures add up to help us understand what they mean, ask difficult questions and give clear advice.

Essential skills and qualities

The successful candidate will:

• Have substantial experience using QuickBooks.
• Have experience working with a charity, Community Interest Company, social enterprise or other small mission driven organisation.
• Understand restricted grants, funder budgets and financial reporting.
• Be able to prepare and interpret annual budgets, project budgets, cash flow forecasts and management accounts.
• Compare actual income and expenditure against agreed budgets, identify significant differences and recommend action.
• Assess the financial impact of new projects, contracts, staffing decisions and significant purchases.
• Develop proportionate financial policies and controls, including reserves policies and spending limits.
• Read annual accounts and ask sensible questions before they are approved.
• Explain financial information clearly to people without a finance background.
• Give honest, independent advice and offer thoughtful challenge, including when the Managing Director or Board may have hoped for a different answer.
• Be trustworthy, reliable and able to handle sensitive information confidentially.
• Support Respair’s commitment to inclusion, fairness and accessible mental health support.

The Finance Director will work closely with Debbie, our Founding Director, so a warm, straightforward and respectful working relationship will be important.

Desirable skills and qualities

It would be helpful if the candidate also has:

• A recognised finance qualification, such as ACA, ACCA, CIMA or AAT.
• Previous experience as a finance director, treasurer or board member.
• Knowledge of payroll, PAYE, pensions, Corporation Tax and Companies House reporting.
• Experience working constructively with bookkeepers and external accountants.
• An interest in mental health, therapy, community work or the creative arts.

We do not expect one person to know every answer. We do expect them to recognise the limits of their knowledge, ask questions and seek specialist advice when needed. A sense of humour and an understanding of the slightly unpredictable nature of a small, growing organisation would also be very welcome.