Team manager volunteer roles in holywood, north down

Are you passionate about the natural world and inspiring others to engage with it?

Join us as a Trustee at the Field Studies Council and help shape the future of environmental education.

• You can be based anywhere in the UK
• You’ll need to commit approx. 10 days a year
• It’s a voluntary position but reasonable expenses are reimbursed

About Us

Field Studies Council is an environmental education charity. For over 80 years, we've been inspiring people to understand and care for the natural world. Through our network of centres across the UK, we provide fieldwork and outdoor learning experiences for all ages — from school groups and university students to families and lifelong learners.

We are a leader in biodiversity training, the publisher of best-selling wildlife ID guides, and a champion for accessible outdoor education, particularly for disadvantaged young people. Our mission is simple but vital: to create outstanding opportunities that inspire everyone to engage with and care for the environment.

Your Opportunity to Make a Difference

We’re currently looking to appoint four new Trustees to bring fresh perspectives and help us grow in diversity, representation and expertise. As a Trustee, you'll help guide and shape our charity’s future.

While the day-to-day running of our charity is handled by our staff and volunteers, the Board of Trustees plays a key role in making sure everything stays on track.

That includes overseeing our work, making big-picture decisions, and ensuring we meet our legal and regulatory responsibilities. It’s an important role, but you won’t be doing it alone. You will:

• Provide strategic oversight and guidance to support our mission and values
• Use your insight and experience to influence decisions that impact tens of thousands of learners annually
• Act as an ambassador for environmental education and social inclusion
• Contribute to Board and committee meetings, and participate in key annual activities including visiting one of our field centres each year to see our work in action
• Use your knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to help us innovate, grow, and reach more people

Who We’re Looking For

You don’t need to be an academic, ecologist or environmentalist to join us or have charity trustee, company director or equivalent experience — we welcome applicants from all walks of life. We are especially interested in candidates with skills in:

• Charity governance
• Finance (qualified professionals – potential Honorary Treasurer role)
• Fundraising & stakeholder engagement
• Marketing & communications

Above all, we want individuals who are:

• Passionate about equal access to outdoor learning
• Ready to speak up and bring a new perspective
• Willing to give their time and energy to support the Field Studies Council

We’re committed to building a Trustee board that is inclusive, representative, and reflective of the diverse communities we serve.

We warmly encourage applications from individuals who are underrepresented in charity governance — including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQIA+ communities, young people, and those with lived experience of social or economic disadvantage.

If you're excited by our mission and ready to help others experience the power of nature, we’d love to hear from you.
 

What’s Involved

• Approx. 10 days per year commitment for an initial 3-year term (this includes board and committee meetings, and a centre visit)
• Most meetings are held virtually, with one in-person event annually
• All reasonable expenses are covered
• Appropriate training and support will be provided

Please download the Trustee Candidate Information Pack to learn more and take the next step in helping us connect people with the natural world

Hope Springs Health Foundation Uganda

Hope Springs Health Foundation Uganda promotes community health equity among young people in underserved communities within Uganda

Hope Springs Health Foundation (HSH) Uganda addresses a range of pressing social and health challenges affecting vulnerable groups, particularly children, adolescents, and women in low-resource settings.

One of the core issues is the high HIV prevalence and teenage pregnancy in Mayuge District, where HIV rates are at 7% and teenage pregnancy stands at 27%, both higher than national averages. These challenges are often driven by transactional sex, early sexual debut, misinformation, and power imbalances in relationships particularly with older men. Adolescent girls face limited access to accurate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, increasing their vulnerability to exploitation and disease.

Another persistent challenge is menstrual hygiene management (MHM). Nearly half of Ugandan girls miss up to three days of school each month due to lack of menstrual products and adequate sanitation. This leads to increased absenteeism and school dropout rates, ultimately compromising their educational and economic futures.

Additionally, gender-based violence (GBV) remains widespread in Uganda, with women and girls disproportionately affected. Many communities lack the capacity to identify, report, and prevent GBV, leading to unreported cases and prolonged cycles of abuse.

For children living with chronic illnesses such as Type 1 Diabetes, limited awareness and lack of access to proper nutrition and physical activity pose serious health risks, especially in low-resource rural settings.

Hope Springs Health (HSH) Foundation responds to these intersecting challenges with innovative and community-centered health promotion interventions.

To combat HIV/AID and teenage pregnancies, HSH works with communities to implement UNICEF’s evidence-based intervention; “Sugar Daddy Awareness Classes” in schools. These sessions empower adolescent girls with knowledge about the dangers of cross-generational relationships and equip them to advocate among peers, promoting informed choices and reducing risky behaviors.

On the menstrual health front, HSH trains girls to make, use, and distribute reusable sanitary pads. This not only addresses a critical hygiene need but also provides a source of income and resilience for the girls. Environmentally, the use of reusable pads reduces plastic waste, contributing to greener communities. Socially, this empowers girls to stay in school, confident and informed.

To address gender-based violence (GBV), HSH conducts trainings targeting community stakeholders such as local leaders, religious leaders, police, health workers among others. These trainings strengthen the capacity of community members to detect, respond to, and prevent GBV through coordinated referral systems and advocacy.

For children with Type 1 Diabetes, the “Active Hearts, Healthy Lives” program supports them through community education on physical activity and nutrition. This program helps improve their quality of life by promoting healthier lifestyles in contexts where resources are scarce.

Finance Volunteer

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

Finance Volunteer – Hope Springs Health Foundation Uganda

Responsibilities:

Support resource mobilization and fundraising through donor outreach and networking

Assist in writing grant proposals and funding applications

Research and identify potential funding opportunities

Help maintain donor records and communications

Provide administrative and finance-related support to the team

Weekly Time Commitment

4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

6+ months

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

We would particularly welcome applications from individuals with business, finance and fundraising experience in corporate or charity sectors to join us.

About WORTH

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

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

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

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

Trustee Duties:

• Support and provide advice on WORTH's purpose, vision, goals and activities.
• Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
• Oversee WORTH's financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
• Review and approve WORTH's financial statements.
• Provide support and challenge to WORTH's CEO in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs.
• Keep abreast of changes in WORTH's operating environment.
• Contribute to regular reviews of WORTH's own governance.
• Attend regular Trustee Board meetings and be adequately prepared to contribute to  discussions.
• Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect WORTH's interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third party interests.
• Contribute to the broader promotion of WORTH's objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.

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

What we are looking for

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

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

Applicant minimum age is 18.

Personal skills and qualities

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

Terms of office

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

Time commitment

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