Volunteer roles in west yorkshire

Chair of the Board of Trustees

The Well Women Centre is a local charity that offers mental health, support and wellbeing services to women and girls in the Wakefield District. We have a long history of enabling women and their families to turn their lives around.

Volunteers play an important role within the centre and we have a diverse, hard-working Board of Trustees who guide and support the Well Women Centre.

Due to retirement, we are looking for a Chair of our Board of Trustees, to help continue the effective working of the current board and maintain the good relationship with the CEO, staff and volunteers at the centre.

We are looking for someone with the following skills and experience:

• Experience of effectively Chairing meetings; in a professional, public or third sector setting
• Knowledge of the Third Sector in Wakefield District
• Strategic Planning
• Understanding of financial statements and budgeting to support overseeing the charity's finances

Time commitment:

• 8 board meetings a year, in-person
• Teams sub group meetings; 8 a year
• Adhoc WWC events

What we can offer you:

• Full induction to centre; board level and operational level
• Training and COD opportunities 
• Travel expenses
• Giving back to the community

Closing date: 31st August

Please note that it is a genuine occupational qualification that a female takes on this role, and the post is exempt under section 7 (2) (e) of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975

We are looking for a friendly and enthusiastic Residential Volunteer to assist our Community Engagement Officer and Volunteer Coordinator across the Aire Valley, at RSPB Fairburn Ings, and RSPB St Aidan’s.

Volunteers can expect training and experience in a broad range of skills including the following:

• Working with the Community Engagement Officer to create, plan, and deliver community engagement events onsite at RSPB St Aidan’s.

• Support offsite community engagement events and outreach activities.

• Work with the Community Engagement Officer to help manage, expand, and develop the Community Engagement and Ranger Volunteer Team.

• Provide support to the work of the Community Engagement Officer.

• Work closely with the Volunteer Coordinator to help develop a bespoke training programme for volunteer development across the Aire Valley.

• Support volunteer recruitment at site open days and offsite engagement events.

• Assist with the marketing of volunteer roles and community engagement events.

• Provide support to the work of the Volunteer Coordinator.

• Become a point of contact for volunteers regarding the use of Assemble (our online volunteer platform).

• Contribute to the wider reserve operations as and when required.

• This role will require some weekend and evening working.

3 months over this summer. Exact start dates are flexible. Currently recruiting for immediate start.

What’s in it for you

You will be joining a great team working for nature in the Aire Valley, getting first-hand experience of the environmental charity sector. During your stay you will play a key role connecting people to nature and will gain a wealth of experience in community engagement and volunteer management skills, working alongside experienced staff and volunteers.

Free accommodation and utilities can be provided for the whole of your placement. Access to your own transport will be essential. 

Requirements

• 18+.

• We need a flexible volunteer, who is keen to assist with all areas of the work, with an enthusiasm for wildlife and a passion for the RSPB’s work.

• Friendly and approachable with an ability to engage with a wide range of people face to face.

• Comfortable working outside in all weather conditions.

• Happy to work alone and as part of a team.

• Willingness to work flexibly.

• Ability to think creatively.

• Confident using a range of computer programs including Word and Excel.

• Experience using social media platforms.

Do you want a career in the Charity Sector? Why not take part in our Virtual Career Taster Week!

The British Red Cross is offering a Career Taster week which will give you an insight into the world of work with world’s biggest humanitarian organisation and the charity sector. The week will include workshops, training and a virtual networking event at the end of the week!

The sessions will be online via Teams. Work experience volunteers will need to have access to teams for the full week.

The placement will run from the 7th July to 11th July from 10am to 1pm each day.

The scheme is predominantly open to young people aged 15- 18 year olds and there are 30 places available.

The week will cover the following:

Induction to the British Red Cross: You will learn about the history of the movement, our work and fundamental principles as well as gaining First Aid skills.

Career Development Workshop: In this workshop you will learn about career opportunities, be able to develop your CV and application writing skills as well as learn interview skills.

Digital Media: You will learn about how to keep yourself safe online and what different annotations me in the social media world.

International Humanitarian Law: You will learn about humanitarian law and what it means in today’s society

Networking Event: You will meet staff members from different teams and learn about their career journeys!

This is a great opportunity to learn more about the British Red Cross and develop key skills needed to support your career choices.

CoachActivism

CoachActivism provides high-quality, pro-bono coaching to humanitarian workers and volunteers.

We are a group of committed professionals with a dedication to offering mental health coaching and leadership support to organisations and individuals in the humanitarian sphere.

Our coaches work with our clients on their unique personal and/or team challenges, individuals receive up to 6 hours of free coaching, from a professional, certified coach. Our coaches will support our clients as they navigate challenges in the area of burnout reduction, self-care, stress and time-management, building resilience and more effective team communication.

We're excited to hear from you and create some amazing results together. We are currently open to accepting a new additional steering committee members, so if you are passionate about humanitarian aid and coaching and willing to help, reach out any time!

Strategic Planning Workshop Facilitator

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

We are seeking a skilled volunteer to design and facilitate a strategic planning workshop that will help our team clarify priorities, align goals, and create a roadmap for the future.

Key Responsibilities:

Collaborate with leadership to understand organizational goals and current challenges

Design an engaging and effective strategic planning session (2-4 hours long)

Facilitate the workshop, ensuring full participation and clear outcomes

Summarize key insights and proposed next steps in a short follow-up report

Ideal Candidate:

Experience facilitating strategy or planning sessions (nonprofit or small business experience a plus)

Strong communication and group facilitation skills

Ability to remain neutral while guiding decision-making

Strategic thinker with a collaborative mindset

Ability to conduct the session online in time favourable to GMT+2

Weekly Time Commitment

2-3 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

One-off project

Over Easy Solar

Over Easy Solar plans to revolutionize solar installations with our vertical PV units that is easier and faster to install on all flat roof tops due to its lightweight design which is also suitable for green roofs.

At Over Easy Solar, we focus on the challenge of underutilized spaces for solar energy, particularly rooftops, which are often overlooked due to concerns about maintenance, energy efficiency, and potential damage from conventional solar panels. As solar energy is a cornerstone of the transition to a sustainable energy future, we address these concerns by providing innovative, eco-friendly solar panel solutions that integrate seamlessly with flat rooftops and green roofs, unlocking their full potential without disruption. This approach supports EU energy goals for rooftop PV installations, contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

Over Easy Solar’s vertical bifacial solar panel offers an innovative solution to underutilized rooftop spaces for solar installations. Designed to revolutionize flat roof setups, it speeds up deployment up to ten times faster than conventional systems, thanks to its prefabricated design that simplifies planning, logistics, and reduces costs. The vertical design also captures more sunlight during peak demand times, including mornings, evenings, and winter, maximizing energy output when it’s needed most. Its maintenance-friendly design ensures easy access without disassembling the array, and its unique geometry allows it to rest securely on rooftops without heavy ballast, minimizing structural load. Compatible with various roofing materials, including green roofs, our product delivers an efficient, sustainable, and versatile solar solution that meets the demand for accessible renewable energy.

Graphic Designer

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

Over Easy Solar is a provider of vertical bifacial solar units for green and flat roofs, based in Valencia and Oslo. Our prefabricated VPV solar units offer a lightweight, ballast-free solution for rooftops, delivering high-value energy production. We envision a future where all flat roofs generate locally produced, clean, renewable energy.

We are looking for a Volunteer Graphic Designer to help us bring our brand and product communications to the next level with professional, creative, and impactful designs.

�� What You'll Do

Design brochures, flyers, and presentation templates for brand and product communication

Create compelling visuals for use across social media, website, and customer-facing materials

Support the preparation of exciting new initiatives (to be revealed soon)

Potentially develop simple video content or animations to promote our solutions

✅ We’re Looking For Someone Who: Has proven experience in graphic design (portfolio required)

Is confident with tools such as Canva

Has a creative but critical mindset, giving constructive input on design direction

Can align visuals with brand guidelines while proposing innovative ideas

⏳ Time Commitment 5–10 hours per week for 2–3 months Fully remote and flexible

Help us amplify our impact with professional design that inspires partners and customers to transform rooftops into clean energy assets. We’d love to have your creativity on board!

Weekly Time Commitment

7-9 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

1-2 months

Eco-Stylist

We are a go-to resource to find and shop sustainable clothing brands.

The fashion industry has a massive sustainability problem: less than 5% of clothing makers earn a living wage, 60% of clothes are made from fossil fuel based fabrics like polyester, and because of fast fashion, half of new clothes end up in a landfill in less than one year. Sustainable fashion brands are challenging these problems but “it’s hard to find sustainable brands and trust them.”

Eco-Stylist is the trusted go-to resource to find and shop sustainable clothing brands. Our Certified brands are different: 78% of our brands are making progress on living wages, with 61% already ensuring most of their clothing makers earn a living wage. 92% of our brands use a majority of more sustainable fabrics like hemp, tencel, and organic cotton. 0% of our brands are fast fashion.

We have a brand directory of 100+ certified brands, a marketplace of 1,400+ items, and a blog with shopping guides and educational content.

Social Media Manager

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

The Social Media Manager will focus on engaging and growing our social media presence. Currently focusing on Instagram and Tiktok. This is an exciting opportunity to gain experience with potential for massive results.

We currently have 5600+ IG followers, 900+ FB, 1100+ LinkedIn, 7.8k+ Pinterest, and just starting on Tiktok. It will be your job to grow and engage this audience, regularly analyzing performance, identifying opportunities, and tweaking your strategy.

Prior experience not required but must have strong interests in sustainability, fashion, and gaining marketing experience. Must also be excited about social media and the opportunities it presents for both growth, engagement, and storytelling.

Looking for entrepreneurial candidates who are extremely driven and self-motivated.

Benefits: includes mentoring. At the end of your 3-6 month internship we will assist you in your next career steps: informational interviews, jobs, letters of recommendation, grad school applications, etc.

Eco-Stylist is a growing startup and social enterprise, with a mission to make sustainable fashion the norm.

Our handle is @yourecostylist.

Weekly Time Commitment

4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

3-5 months

Eco-Stylist

We are a go-to resource to find and shop sustainable clothing brands.

The fashion industry has a massive sustainability problem: less than 5% of clothing makers earn a living wage, 60% of clothes are made from fossil fuel based fabrics like polyester, and because of fast fashion, half of new clothes end up in a landfill in less than one year. Sustainable fashion brands are challenging these problems but “it’s hard to find sustainable brands and trust them.”

Eco-Stylist is the trusted go-to resource to find and shop sustainable clothing brands. Our Certified brands are different: 78% of our brands are making progress on living wages, with 61% already ensuring most of their clothing makers earn a living wage. 92% of our brands use a majority of more sustainable fabrics like hemp, tencel, and organic cotton. 0% of our brands are fast fashion.

We have a brand directory of 100+ certified brands, a marketplace of 1,400+ items, and a blog with shopping guides and educational content.

Sustainability Analyst

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

The Sustainability Analyst's primary role will be to research sustainable brands weekly using a clearly defined sustainability criteria we developed. The ideal candidate loves sustainability and human rights, and is seeking work that will have a real and direct impact.

Interest in these topics is a plus: sustainable/ethical fashion, fashion, sustainable living, and sustainability research.

Looking for entrepreneurial candidates who are extremely driven and self-motivated. Internships have the potential to turn into a paid position if you're able to drive results and contribute to the growth of our startup.

Benefits: includes mentoring. At the end of your 3-6 month internship we will assist you in your next career steps: informational interviews, jobs, letters of recommendation, grad school applications, etc.

Eco-Stylist is a growing startup and social enterprise, with a mission to make sustainable fashion the norm.

Our handle is @yourecostylist.

Weekly Time Commitment

4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

3-5 months

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a rare, genetic neuromuscular condition causing progressive muscle wasting (atrophy) and weakness leading to loss of movement.

Our current chair has been in the position for 6 years and after serving their maximum term, we are seeking a new Chair to lead the charity and help us deliver our four year strategic plan ‘Building a future together’.

The chair provides a pivotal role in ensuring the charity has a well governed organisation, strong staff team and board with clearly defined roles and responsibilities, with one shared goal of working towards the organisational mission underpinned by our values and principles.

The chair will support the CEO and ensure that the board functions as a unit and works closely with the senior leadership team to achieve agreed objectives. From time to time the chair will act as an ambassador and the public face of the charity in partnership with the CEO. An effective chairperson is a key player in ensuring effective governance for the charity. 

We are currently seeking an independent committee member possessing an accounting qualification and high-level expertise in audit, risk, and financial governance to join the Audit and Risk Committee of STAR Academies, a nationally-renowned Trust of 36 schools. While the Trust is centred in Lancashire, the successful applicant may be based elsewhere in the country and able to undertake the role in a largely remote fashion.
 

Star Academies is one of the country’s leading multi-academy Trusts (MATs), operating 36 schools across Lancashire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the Midlands and London. The Trust includes primary, secondary, and all-through schools, with a strong track record of delivering exceptional educational outcomes. Almost half of Star’s schools have been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, while the majority of the remaining schools are rated ‘Good’. A small number are undergoing improvement, including a school that joined the Trust in November 2024 after being rated as requiring special measures.

Star Academies has a well-earned reputation for excellence. It originally established and ran outstanding Muslim faith schools before expanding into non-faith schools and sponsoring underperforming schools, leading them to significant improvement. The Trust operates its own teaching school, providing training and development for teachers and school leaders at all levels.

Founded in Blackburn, Star Academies has strategically expanded to support communities across London, the West Midlands, West Yorkshire, Lancashire and Liverpool. The Trust was invited by the Department for Education (DfE) to expand into new regions, reflecting its national reputation for high standards.

Sir Hamid Patel CBE, Star Academies’ Chief Executive, has been a key figure in national education leadership. Knighted in 2021, he serves on several influential boards and committees, most recently as the interim Chair of Ofsted. His leadership has positioned Star Academies at the forefront of educational improvement and governance excellence.

Star Academies employs rigorous governance structures to maintain its financial and operational integrity. The Trust engages Beever and Struthers (external auditors) and RSM (internal auditors) to ensure financial compliance. Prospective candidates should ensure there are no conflicts of interest that may affect their ability to provide independent scrutiny.

The Trust’s Requirements

Star Academies is seeking to appoint an Independent Committee Member to join its Audit & Risk (A&R) Committee. This individual will not serve as a Trustee but will work closely with existing Trustees, executives and auditors to provide scrutiny, challenge and oversight of the Trust’s audit and risk management processes.

The A&R Committee plays a critical role in governance, overseeing the Trust’s financial systems, risk management, and regulatory compliance. While financial oversight is the responsibility of a separate Finance Committee, the A&R Committee ensures that risk and internal control processes meet the highest standards. It also serves as the first governance checkpoint for any new schools joining the Trust. Minutes, reports and recommendations from the A&R Committee are shared with the Finance Committee and Trust Board, ensuring a cohesive approach to governance and compliance.

The Independent Committee Member will bring high-level expertise in audit, risk, and financial governance. Star Academies is particularly seeking a qualified accountant with demonstrable experience in managing risk within an organisation or group of companies with a significant turnover. Candidates should be comfortable operating in a highly professional and strategic environment, where they will be expected to challenge, question and support executives and auditors in a robust yet constructive manner.

Meetings are well-structured and efficient, with all papers provided in advance via an online portal. Committee Members are expected to read these materials ahead of time to ensure discussions are focused, strategic and impactful. The preparation for each meeting is estimated to take around 90 minutes.

The Audit & Risk Committee meets three times per year, typically around Christmas, Easter and the summer break. Meetings are scheduled on Thursdays from 5.00–7.00 PM but often conclude within one hour. While there is an annual opportunity to visit the Trust and meet the team, all committee meetings are conducted remotely via video conferencing, with in-person meetings arranged if necessary for induction purposes.

This is a rare opportunity to work with one of the UK’s most respected Multi-Academy Trusts, contributing to strong governance and strategic oversight. The role offers a high level of engagement with minimal time commitment, making it ideal for a senior finance professional looking to contribute to the education sector or an experienced MAT Trustee wishing to support a leading national Trust.

Do you want to co-ordinate vegan volunteering?

As an Organiser, you would be the caretaker of your local area. This is the more time-intensive role but so rewarding! Tasks would be emailed to you directly every month by our Volunteering Coordinator, who would be your main point of contact here at The Vegan Society. It would then be your job to send out the task to Advocates in your local area and get feedback from them. You'll also be able to ask your Advocates for help with any stalls and lobbying. Every Organiser receives an outreach pack, including a table runner, leaflets and banners. We make sure you are fully supported with an Organisers' WhatsApp group for socialising and ideas. We also have a monthly gathering on video.

What does the Organiser role involve? 

Every month, you will be sent a collection of tasks to choose from. We create these from our programme of campaigns. You would be the point of contact for Advocates in your area, sharing these tasks and coordinating activities, such as stalls and lobbying councillors. We will provide you with a campaign toolkit and be in regular contact with you to ensure you have everything you need. You will also be invited to our private Facebook group and WhatsApp chat.

We would expect you to provide any updates from your group and give feedback on each task. It's vital that we measure the impact that we are having, in terms of positive conversations and leaflets handed out. You can also give us ideas you have for future outreach tasks or campaigning. Many Organisers find a huge sense of satisfaction, improvement in self-esteem and enjoy the social side of volunteering in this role.

You will also be responsible for welcoming new Advocates in your area. We will let you know when somebody new applies, and you will help them to get involved with any activities. As the main contact for Advocates, this role does require some awareness of safeguarding and data protection procedures and policy. There will be full training on your role in this, as well as a handbook and ongoing guidance and support. 

What training and support is available? 

There will be a full induction to the role, with a gradual introduction of new tasks and responsibilities. To start with, we will provide an initial training session to cover the basics of community organising, communication skills and event planning. This will be done remotely from wherever you are. Along with this, we will provide a full pack of resources that covers a range of work that we do. 

From there, there will be regular conversations and reviews, where we can discuss other training requirements. Staff are always available to Organisers for any questions, via phone or email. 

What skills would be useful in doing this role? 

• Great organisational skills
• Experience of coordinating people
• Experience of working to specific dates and deadlines
• Good time keeping
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to motivate people around the topic of veganism
• Ability to stick to branding
• Ability to read emails in a timely manner and translate tasks into actions quickly
• Ability to report back on activities
• Excellent knowledge of vegan issues

How much time do I need to invest?

You should be able to commit around two days a month to carry out actions, and this is usually spread out across the month. We also expect timely responses to emails. When a new Advocate applies to work with you, we would like them to be contacted within seven days via email.

Summary of the role of Trustee

Trustees are individually, and as part of the Board, the ‘guardians of charitable purpose’, making sure that all Board and Board Committee decisions put the needs of the beneficiaries first; safeguard the charity’s assets – both physical assets, including property, and intangible ones, such as its reputation ensuring these assets are used well, and in ensuring that the charity is run sustainably.

But this specific role requires the Trustee to Chair the crucial Board’s Income Generation Committee (IGC).

Like other hospices, in the context of Government decisions about tax and minimum wages and in the generally challenging environment for most donors, we are not able to purely fund our work from current donations, meaning we have been drawing from our reserves.

This has to change if we are to survive and satisfy the ever -increasing demands for palliative care.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Chair the Income Generation Committee, which has the following key priorities:

• Review and constructively challenge the annual fundraising (FR) plans and budget

• Maintain an overview of current fundraising initiatives and their return on investments, working in partnership with the FR team

• Evaluate the risks to achieving projected income streams and advise the FR team and Board accordingly

• In conjunction with the FR team, creatively develop new and potentially high return initiatives that are intended to deliver significant additional income, in excess of current FR budgets

• As part of the Board of Trustees:

• set and maintain vision, mission and values

• ensure plans are in place to deliver income/cost levels that can at least fund current expenditure

• Develop strategy, set overall policy, define strategic objectives and evaluating performance against agreed targets

• Assure continuous compliance with the legal and regulatory standards governing the operation ofthe charity, the charity governing document and any other relevant legislation, updating the articles of association as required.

• Assure proper financial control and ensure the application of resources is exclusively in pursuance of the charitable objects i.e. the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are

• Assure the effective and efficient administration of the charity including funding, insurance and premises

• Assure that The Hospice of St Francis pursues its objects as defined in its governing document (e.g. the promotion of any charitable purpose for the benefit of the community in the district of providing palliative care at the Hospice, at patients home, in our Spring Centre and in the community, and in particular the advancement of education, the protection of health and the relief of distress and sickness)

• Assure employment procedures and policy and proceduresfor volunteering are compliant with legislation and regulation, subject to regular review and support the fulfilment of strategic objectives

• Assure risk assessments for all aspects of the business are carried out including accurate and timely reporting using the format of risk registers

• To contribute to, assure and maintain effective performance of the Board and Committees, including systems and processes for external assessment of these arrangements

• Support the CEO and Executive Team to fulfil their delegated responsibilities and hold them to account for delivery of strategic objectives

• To attend Board meetings quarterly, up to two Board awaydays annually and serve as a member of up to two Committees.

• Able to be registered as a Directors of the Charity at Companies House, sharing ultimate responsibility for governing the charity and directing how it is managed and run.

• Act as an ambassador supporting the work of the Hospice in generating income and in its relationship with the communities served.

We are currently seeking two trustees and a member – a role akin to that of a shareholder – to join the respective boards of Achieve and Learnt Trust, a trust of two schools, with an annual budget of £14m.

Achieve and Learn is a two-school trust that grew out of Altrincham College (an 11–18 academy in Trafford) and Reddish Vale High School (an 11–16 academy in Stockport). Achieve and Learn Trust is going through a period of change, making this an ideal time to join and make a real difference to the trust’s future, particularly in supporting improvements at Reddish Vale High School. You are likely to join the trustees or members along with others, meaning there would be mutual support as you gain an understanding of this developing trust. The expansion of Altrincham College is a relatively rare opportunity to oversee future developments. The trust is developing its central team and the services it provides, giving new Trustees the chance to contribute to strategic decisions that will shape the trust’s future over the next few years.

Altrincham College is a very popular school that is consistently oversubscribed (last judged by Ofsted as ‘Good’ in May 2022). Trafford Local Authority is keen for the school to grow further, and there are plans for an extension costing approximately £16 million for potentially two to three additional forms of entry. This expansion would take place over several years as pupils move up through the year groups. Current plans suggest the extension will open in 2026, but due to delays with the Department for Education (DfE), this date may be pushed back.

Achieve and Learn Trust also supports Reddish Vale High School, which was placed in special measures in June 2024. The trust has implemented several changes to improve the overall quality of education and leadership, including changes in school leadership and substantial reforms to local governance. The DfE has issued the trust with a Termination Warning Notice (TWN) regarding Reddish Vale. This is a common step when an academy is judged ‘Inadequate’ by Ofsted, warning that the DfE may terminate the school’s funding agreement and rebroker it to another trust. The TWN was issued in September 2024, and trust leaders have met with the DfE to discuss the targeted support being provided. The trust remains committed to improving the school and strongly believes progress is being made. Ofsted inspectors are due to conduct a monitoring visit later this year.

The trust is keen to grow further but is unlikely to expand until Reddish Vale High School has demonstrated suitable improvement. There are other schools in the area that may consider joining Achieve and Learn in the future, though there are no immediate expansion plans. This represents an opportunity for new Trustees to contribute to strategic planning and decision-making. The trust has an annual income of approximately £14 million, and budgets are balanced, with suitable reserves in line with DfE recommendations. The trust has also received additional support for Reddish Vale’s improvement journey through collaboration with a strong trust brokered by the DfE. An independent, external review of governance has been commissioned via the Confederation of School Trusts (CST), with a report expected later in the spring.

The Trust’s requirements

Achieve and Learn Trust is looking to recruit at least two trustees and one member to join the trust. Trustee candidates will ideally have a background in business, governance, finance, or estates/engineering. Member candidates should have general business experience and may have previous director or non-executive director experience.

Trustees joining at this time are likely to be part of a small group joining the board simultaneously, expanding the skills and capacity of the current board. There is likely to be an opportunity for the right candidate to move into a leadership role, such as committee chair or vice chair, as part of the trust’s succession plans. The current chair is a retired headteacher from another school in the region and took on the role in summer 2024. The vice chair has served the trust for a considerable time, ensuring a mix of experience and healthy turnover.

All meetings are planned well in advance. Trust board meetings are held six times a year (once per half term) on Tuesdays from 6pm – 8pm, in person at Altrincham College. Finance, Risk, and Audit Committee meetings are held three times a year (once per term) on Tuesdays from 6pm – 8pm, also in person at the college. It is anticipated that Candidates with the relevant professional experience will be asked to join the Finance, Risk, and Audit Committee as well as the trust board. Candidates from other backgrounds are also welcome to express an interest in joining this committee.

The members meet for the AGM once a year but may also be convened for additional updates, up to three times annually, including the AGM.

All new Trustees and Members will receive an induction from the trust. This includes online training from the trust and external partners, assignment of a ‘buddy,’ and access to online forums such as National College and The Key. Additionally, all new trustees will receive access to Governors for Schools’ ‘The First 100 Days as a Trustee’ eLearning module, an immersive resource accredited by CPD.

About Us

My Black Dog is a charity that offers anonymous, peer to peer mental health support through our web-chat service. We are committed to making a positive impact on mental health in the UK as we tackle an epidemic that millions of people face.

We were founded on the motto "talk to someone who gets it". We want to connect people who share lived experiences to provide an empathetic, non-judgmental space where everybody understands how it feels to experience mental health struggles.

Position Overview

Our web-chat service is run by our Volunteer Pack, each of whom have their own lived experience of mental health challenges. In addition, each shift has a 'Leader' and a 'Mentor'. These are Volunteers who carry out specific roles during the shift and, together, ensure its success:

• Leaders - Managers of the shift. There to ensure the shift runs as it should. They support and guide Volunteers through chats and follow safeguarding processes when an alert is raised. They escalate safeguarding alerts to the shift’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (a trained professional). They also complete a 'Shift Handover' document once the shift is completed.
• Mentors - There to support and guide Volunteers through chats. Will take over from the Leader if there are safeguarding issues that need the Leader's attention and/or if the Leader needs a break.

As My Black Dog looks to expand our opening hours, we are looking to recruit additional Leaders who can run shifts and provide cover when necessary.

Leaders will be assigned a shift based on your availability and preference. The expectation is that Leaders and Mentors will form a ‘pair’ and, together, will do one shift at the same time each week. This is to provide stability, predictability and to encourage community-building between Volunteers. Shifts are usually 3 hours long. We may ask you to cover another shift when we are short, but you will never do more than 6 hours per week.

Training will be provided and you will be supported on shift by a Designated Safeguarding Lead, who will manage all safeguarding issues.

The work you will do as Leaders will ensure we provide the best possible service to our Guests. You will also be helping our Volunteer Pack to do what we do best: helping those in need by speaking to someone who 'gets it'.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for people who have experienced their own journey with mental health and are in a strong position to support others. We ask that our Leaders:

• Are strongly committed to helping others
• Have experienced mental health issues in order to relate to those seeking help
• Are collaborative and enjoy working with others
• Are encouraging and supportive
• Are organised and can monitor several things at once
• Can remain calm and focused during busy times and when safeguarding alerts are raised
• Are 18 years and over 
• Can commit the time to a regular weekly shift

We are particularly interested in hearing from people who are available to run a shift on the following days/hours:

• Monday to Sunday, 5pm-7pm
• Thursday to Saturday, 7pm-10pm

Role Responsibilities

1. Supervise and support Volunteers whilst on shift with general enquiries, positive feedback and signposting.
2. Assist with general volunteering enquiries whilst on shift. Provide time for guidance, instruction and de-briefing for Volunteers if required.
3. Follow Leaders processes including unexpected absence reporting, Volunteer check-in and check-out, and completing Shift Handovers.
4. Monitor web-chat conversations and ensure all chats are tagged.
5. Maintain ability to listen, remain calm and provide intervention if necessary.
6. Be able to have difficult and often complex conversations about mental health, including Guests experiencing crisis and first-stage intervention support.
7. Work alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) when safeguarding risks are identified.
8. Exercise discretion in handling confidential situations and information, conveying sensitive information in a timely manner to necessary individuals.
9. Provide written follow up of shifts via handover, ensuring all necessary information is handed over at the end of the shift.
10. Adhere to all standards, policies and procedures of My Black Dog.

Please note: An Enhanced DBS Certificate is required for this role. If you do not have one, My Black Dog will arrange the DBS Check for you.

www.myblackdog.co

Across the UK, our 270 local groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS. They provide sense of belonging, unity and friendship. And they deliver services and support for their local MS community.

We are looking to recruit a Communications Volunteer for the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Group. As our Communications Volunteer you’ll make sure people know they have a local MS Society group to turn to.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your writing skills, and gain an experience of communicating across a range of digital channels. 

Time commitment

We estimate this role will need around 2 hours a week. Our roles are flexible and aim to fit around you. Time commitments for this role may vary depending on your activities. This is an ongoing role.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience within a large charity and develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you

You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be confident using Microsoft Office, the internet and email. You’ll be able to apply disability, equality and inclusion practices and understand and apply our risk management system. Ideally you’ll understand the local area and organisations that provide local services.

You will be reliable and easy to contact and you need to live in or near the area the group to carry out this role.

Apply 

1. Read through the role description carefully

2. Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.