Sure Steps Peer Support Volunteer Volunteer Roles

Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that Upbeat Communities achieves its core purpose. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity, and they also ensure we have a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as importantly, they support and challenge the leadership team to enable Upbeat Communities to grow and thrive, and through this, empower refugees to thrive.

Through regular meetings, strategy days and written reports provided to the board, trustees are able to set the direction of the organisation, develop its strategic objectives and support and keep the staff team accountable in delivering on these
strategic goals.

Trustee meetings are currently held every 2 months either in person in Derby or online (hybrid). We have an annual strategy away day and trustees are also invited to be part of our sub-committees. Trustees are requested to be available to attend occasional ‘unscheduled’ meetings or engage in email communications which address urgent business as it arises, join working groups when needed and spend time preparing for meetings by reading and considering the papers circulated before meetings.

Benefits of Being a Trustee

We believe being a trustee of Upbeat Communities offers a number of fantastic
benefits:

• Strategic decision-making that positively impacts the lives of over a thousand
• asylum seekers and refugees every year
• Supporting an innovative, talented and passionate staff team as they develop
• our work and explore new services and ways of working
• Being part of a committed and focused trustee team working to see the charity
• grow
• Using your skills, experience and passion to contribute to an effective and wellfunctioning
• board
• Opportunities to learn new skills and experiences to contribute to your own
• personal development

Duties

Any individual acting as a trustee for Upbeat Communities would be required to
carry out the following:

• Promote the vision, mission and values of the charity
• Ensure Upbeat Communities and its representatives function within all legal and
• regulatory requirements applicable, and in line with its constitution, continually
• striving for best practice in governance
• Determine the overall direction and development of Upbeat Communities
• through good governance and clear strategic planning
• Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their
• implementation
• Oversee Upbeat Communities’ financial plans and budgets and monitor and
• evaluate progress
• Review and approve the charity’s financial statements
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively
• Provide support and challenge to Upbeat Communities’ Chief Executive in the
• exercise of their delegated authority and affairs
• Contribute to regular reviews of Upbeat Communities’ own governance.
• Attend Board meetings, and be adequately prepared to contribute to
• discussions.
• Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and
• protect the charity’s interests, avoiding any personal conflict of interests
• Take appropriate professional advice in all matters where there may be a
• material risk to the charity
• Maintain confidentiality about all aspects of the trustee’s business

Finance Specific Duties

• Lead on the strategic financial management of the charity at board level
• Liaise with our outsourced finance team (including our Finance Director)
• Chair the finance sub-committee (which meets 6 times per year ahead of every
• board meeting)
• Maintain a clear grasp of the charity’s financial position and ensure full and
• timely financial transparency and information disclosure to the board
• Support the board of trustees in financial decision making processes
• Review and approve annual budgets
• Advise on banking and investments
• Take an active role in the financial audit process
• Contribute to the financial management of our trading subsidiary (Upbeat
• Enterprises Limited)

At Teenage Helpline, we are a tight-knit community of people who are passionate about make a difference in the lives of young people across the UK �� 

Teenage Helpline is an online peer-to-peer mentoring service for young people. We can act as the first stepping-stone for young people who do not feel comfortable seeking support for themselves, or who need a listening ear to help them cope with personal issues. 

All of our volunteers and employees are remote workers. We have great systems in place to allow our employees and volunteers to get to know each other, work effectively together and do great work! 

We are a flexible organisation that values the contributions of everyone. We will never ask more from our volunteers and employees than they can give, but we are sure to celebrate and recognise their efforts. 

About the role

The Digital Innovations Team Lead is responsible for overseeing the delivery of value for Teenage Helpline through research of emerging technologies, development of proof of concepts and the delivery of new solutions through technology identified. The role involves communication with other Teenage Helpline team leads; managing team workload; creating an opportunities-based technology plan for the charity; researching technology opportunities; overseeing communication and awareness of technology; liaising with departments to develop use cases and developing solutions.

You’ll be at the forefront of our digital transformation journey. You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams to design, develop, and implement innovative solutions that enhance user experiences, streamline processes, introduce new workflows and ultimately drive charity growth.

Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with IT Project Managers to ensure digital innovations projects are assigned, worked on and project requirements are understood.
• Exploring new opportunities with low/no code products such as those in the Microsoft portfolio, making the most of opportunities to provide more value for the charity. 
• Forecasting work through research and creation of development plans.
• Promote best practices such as adhering to the project's software development lifecycle requirements.
• Planning initiatives and tracking associated timelines.
• Management of Digital Innovations Team, ensuring work is allocated, managed and tracked effectively.
• Reporting key updates and results to the CIO.
• Identify opportunities for new solutions and improvements in Teenage Helpline’s IT infrastructure and operations.
• Willingness to advise on the direction of development through clear reasoning and justification.
• Explore emerging trends, tools, and frameworks to drive continuous improvement. 
• Participate in brainstorming sessions and contribute fresh ideas to solve complex challenges. 
• Ensure code quality, scalability, and security across all projects.

Skills 

• Enthusiasm and willingness to learn about Teenage Helpline’s IT systems and processes.
• Passion for research and development and how it can create value for Teenage Helpline’s operations.
• Excited about the possibilities of implementing new technology.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Organisational skills and the ability to ensure set tasks are delivered on time.
• Ability to plan and manage time effectively.
• Experience working with others and leading a team.
• Understanding of relevant software engineering and security by design principles such as the Software Development Lifecycle and OWASP.
• Strong familiarity with and use of Microsoft 365 and Azure products.

Our mission is to make Teenage Helpline the best charity in the UK. To build inclusive processes, we need to build an inclusive team. Please know that this list is indicative and that we would still love to hear from you even if you feel you only are a 75% match. Skills can be learned, but diversity cannot. We promote a diverse and inclusive culture at TeenageHelpline.

The Process

Our hiring process typically has three stages 

1. Video or Written Application (when applicable) 
2. Interview with the Talent Team
3. Interview with the Hiring Manager 

Some roles will have extra stages but we’ll let you know as early as possible if so.

Please let us know if you require any accommodations for the interview process, and we’ll do our best to assist.

At Teenage Helpline, we are a tight-knit community of people who are passionate about make a difference in the lives of young people across the UK �� 

Teenage Helpline is an online peer-to-peer mentoring service for young people. We can act as the first stepping-stone for young people who do not feel comfortable seeking support for themselves, or who need a listening ear to help them cope with personal issues. 

All of our volunteers and employees are remote workers. We have great systems in place to allow our employees and volunteers to get to know each other, work effectively together and do great work! 

We are a flexible organisation that values the contributions of everyone. We will never ask more from our volunteers and employees than they can give, but we are sure to celebrate and recognise their efforts. 

About the role

As a Digital Innovations Developer, you’ll be part of our dynamic team dedicated to uncovering the next big digital breakthroughs.

The role involves communication with other Teenage Helpline team members; researching new technologies; reviewing and updating existing application portfolio; prototyping; developing solutions; creating technology education and awareness material for volunteers and cross-team collaboration.

Responsibilities 

• Turn concepts into reality. Build prototypes, test hypotheses, and iterate.
• Strong familiarity with and use of Microsoft 365 and Azure products.
• Exploring new opportunities with low/no code products such as those in the Microsoft portfolio, making the most of opportunities to provide more value for the charity.
• Investigate emerging technologies that could have a use case within our charity, primarily supporting our volunteers.
• Develop and maintain web and mobile solutions using cutting-edge technologies. 
• Create responsive, user-friendly interfaces.
• Develop technology use cases and collaborate with stakeholders to implement solutions and update existing applications and processes.
• Create awareness around new technologies being adopted by the charity, highlighting value.
• Engage in cross-disciplinary discussions, brainstorming sessions.
• Promote best practices such as adhering to the project's software development lifecycle requirements.
• Reporting key updates and results to the Digital Innovations Development Team Lead.
• Identify opportunities for new solutions and improvements in Teenage Helpline’s IT infrastructure and operations.

Skills 

• Enthusiasm and willingness to learn about Teenage Helpline’s IT systems and processes.
• Passion for researching new technologies, presenting how they can create value for Teenage Helpline’s operations through use cases.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Organisational skills and the ability to ensure set tasks are delivered on time.
• Ability to plan and manage time effectively.
• Experience working with others in a team.
• Software engineering, programming, website development and software development understanding.
• Strong familiarity with and use of Microsoft 365 and Azure products.
• Understanding of relevant software engineering and security by design principles such as the Software Development Lifecycle and OWASP.

Our mission is to make Teenage Helpline the best charity in the UK. To build inclusive processes, we need to build an inclusive team. Please know that this list is indicative and that we would still love to hear from you even if you feel you only are a 75% match. Skills can be learned, but diversity cannot. We promote a diverse and inclusive culture at TeenageHelpline.

The Process

Our hiring process typically has three stages 

1. Video or Written Application (when applicable) 
2. Interview with the Talent Team
3. Interview with the Hiring Manager 

Some roles will have extra stages but we’ll let you know as early as possible if so.

Please let us know if you require any accommodations for the interview process, and we’ll do our best to assist.

At Teenage Helpline, we are a tight-knit community of people who are passionate about make a difference in the lives of young people across the UK �� 

Teenage Helpline is an online peer-to-peer mentoring service for young people. We can act as the first stepping-stone for young people who do not feel comfortable seeking support for themselves, or who need a listening ear to help them cope with personal issues. 

All of our volunteers and employees are remote workers. We have great systems in place to allow our employees and volunteers to get to know each other, work effectively together and do great work! 

We are a flexible organisation that values the contributions of everyone. We will never ask more from our volunteers and employees than they can give, but we are sure to celebrate and recognise their efforts. 

About the role

The CFO holds the overall responsibility of the financial health of Teenage Helpline. Their role is to drive growth in income and manage expenditure to a high level, whilst holding the team to account for their actions. Your role is to maintain professional customs, enforce ethical practices, meet targets, and manage organisation budgets.

Responsibilities 

• Act as a Director of Teenage Helpline with direct oversight of the Board of Directors. Your key responsibility is always to protect and uphold the reputation and principles of the organisation. 

• Delegate job activities effectively to ensure optimal performance of all operations departments.
• Design roles as needed and ensure the effective recruitment of individuals to fill those roles successfully.
• Analyse, review, and develop organisation strategies to ensure their ongoing effectiveness and improvement.
• Develop and drive key performance indicators that evaluate the success and effectiveness of Teenage Helpline finances.
• Hold all departments responsible for the financial health of Teenage Helpline accountable for their results.
• Think at a strategic level with the intent to continuously improve and grow the financial health and position of Teenage Helpline and drive industry best practices. Strategic thinking should involve both continuous development and a growth mindset.
• Continue to define the roles and responsibilities of the finance departments at all time to ensure they are suitable for the context that Teenage Helpline is operating in.
• Ensure that all statutory and regulatory reporting is completed.

Skills 

• All directors should be overachievers, successful in business and strong capable, leaders.
• Exceptional leadership, business, and interpersonal proficiency.
• Prior thriving managerial experience.
• Be able to set business/financial targets, timelines and plans.
• Be able to stimulate and motivate the finance department.
• Demonstrate a sound ability to network, negotiate and lead.
• Demonstrate a sound ability to be successful, self-directed, flexible and tactical.
• Excellent computer and technology skills.
• Be a visionary and inspirational leader and pioneer the organisation from the top.
• Demonstrate sound communication and presentation skills.

Our mission is to make Teenage Helpline the best charity in the UK. To build inclusive processes, we need to build an inclusive team. Please know that this list is indicative and that we would still love to hear from you even if you feel you only are a 75% match. Skills can be learned, but diversity cannot. We promote a diverse and inclusive culture at TeenageHelpline.

The Process

Our hiring process typically has three stages 

1. Video or Written Application (when applicable) 
2. Interview with the Talent Team
3. Interview with the Hiring Manager 

Some roles will have extra stages but we’ll let you know as early as possible if so.

Please let us know if you require any accommodations for the interview process, and we’ll do our best to assist.

Join our Board of Trustees

Application timings

Closing date: Friday 10 May 2024, 5pm

Interviews: Tuesday 21 May 2024

About the National Emergencies Trust

Founded in 2019, the National Emergencies Trust is an independent charity that supports those affected by UK disasters. When a national emergency arises, we act fast to raise funds for those impacted to help with their physical, psychological, and practical needs. Our first appeal, the Coronavirus Appeal raised £100 million for those affected by the pandemic.

Outside of emergencies, we work closely with those affected by past disasters to understand the historic challenges they have faced and take action to improve outcomes for future survivors and their loved ones. Through our listening approach, we have evolved our funding model, secured two changes to UK legislation to date and created unique insights that are informing the work of Government, our charity sector peers and wider response and resilience stakeholders. We are proud to be supported by our major corporate patrons, as well as our Royal Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales.

Becoming a trustee

Our trustees play a vital role in making sure the National Emergencies Trust has a clear strategy, achieves our goals, and demonstrates excellence in all areas of governance.

Key duties

• Demonstrate an interest and commitment to the work, values, and vision of the National Emergencies Trust
• Understand and enforce legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship (training and mentorship is available)
• Devote the necessary time to the role

Key tasks

• Act at all times in the interests of beneficiaries, considering guidance from our Advisory Groups
• Participate in quarterly board meetings, reading papers in advance
• Work jointly with other trustees, attend the Trust’s Committees and/or Advisory Groups as applicable (usually online) and/or directly support the Chair, Chief Executive or team, in line with your background and skills to achieve their objectives
• Provide advice to the Chief Executive and other board members according to your expertise and in line with the Trust’s Constitution
• Sign off the Trust’s annual financial accounts, safeguarding the good name and values of the charity, and acting within the law
• Support the Chief Executive and team in the event of a national emergency.

The Charity Commission for England and Wales’ summary of key trustee responsibilities can be read here. Or alternatively you can find this information from the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) here.

Who we are looking for

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Demonstrate an interest and commitment to the work, values and vision of the National Emergencies Trust
• Understand and enforce legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship (training and mentorship is available).
• Devote the necessary time to the role.

We’re looking for someone with skills or experience in at least one of the following areas:

• Campaign creation and management
• Significant experience at board level
• Social media & emergent technology
• Financial and associated financial services
• Fundraising
• Public Affairs

How you will benefit

Being a trustee can be very rewarding. You will have the opportunity to:

• Shape the strategic direction of our charity
• Gain new skills
• Network with senior professionals
• Influence key projects
• Crucially, have the chance to improve the lives of disaster survivors

Terms of appointment

Terms

• Terms are three years. Trustees can serve a maximum of three terms
• This is an unpaid, voluntary role but all reasonable out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed

Time commitment

• You must be able to commit to quarterly Board Meetings. These will usually be held in person with a dial-in option available as an exception. Papers are circulated in advance for consideration.
• We ask trustees to support at least one of the Trust’s Committees or Advisory Groups, providing direct support to the Chair, Chief Executive or team, in line with their background and skills. You can find out more about these Committees and Groups here.

We’re committed to diversity and inclusion 

Equity, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of everything we do at the Trust because during disasters it is vital that we leave no-one behind. We feel that our Board of Trustees should be representative of the people and communities we serve so welcome applications from everyone. Whether you are an experienced trustee or wanting to take your first step at Board level, we would love to hear from you.

How to apply

Step 1 – Find out more

• Watch a short video about who we are (YouTube video)
• Visit our website to find out more about what we do.
• Find out more about some of our work with survivors of emergencies (read our website and watch this YouTube video)
• Download our latest Annual Report to understand our activities and impact in the last Financial Year. 

For an informal chat with a member of the Nominations Committee please contact us at with your preferred date and time.

Step 2 – Apply by the closing date: Friday 10 May 2024, 5pm 

If you would like to apply, please:

• Submit a short covering letter outlining why you are interested in being a trustee and how you think your skills or experience would benefit the Trust. This can be provided in document, video, or audio format. Or do get in touch if you require additional formats or support with your application.
• Submit your CV
• Complete an optional equal opportunities monitoring form which you can find here.

Please email your application with subject line ‘Trustee application’.

Step 3 – Interview date: Tuesday 21 May 2024

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by our Nominations Committee on Tuesday 21 May. Please let us know if you require any specific arrangements or adjustments when you are applying.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.