Assistant fundraising director volunteer roles

Role description

The Open Spaces Society, Britain's oldest conservation body, needs additional trustees to broaden our reach.If you are keen to develop strategy and policy for creating, defending, and maintaining commons, greens, and paths, and to develop new approaches to make open spaces available to all, this role is for you. 

Trustees may be co-opted by the present board, but are expected to offer themselves for election by the membership at the first available opportunity.

Working collectively, trustees have three main responsibilities. These are to:

1 set a direction for the society,

2 ensure the society’s plans are carried out appropriately,

3 ensure the society meets its legal responsibilities.

The duties of a trustee are to:

4 ensure the society complies with its articles of association, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations,

5 ensure that the society pursues its objects as defined in its articles of association,

6 ensure that the society directs its resources exclusively towards its objects,

7 in association with the general secretary, ensure that the organisation is adequately staffed, and that the staff and volunteers have appropriate support and resources to pursue organisational goals,

8 contribute actively to the board’s role of developing strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets,

9 safeguard the reputation and values of the society,

10 ensure effective and efficient administration and financial stability, 1

1 appoint the general secretary and monitor her performance,

12 act in the best interests of the society at all times.

Person specification

• Commitment to the society’s mission

• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship

• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort

• Strategic vision

• Objective and insightful judgement

• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team

• Adherence to Nolan’s seven principles of public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership).

Do you believe that every person has a right to a full life, with friendship, belonging and chances to contribute their gifts? Do you want to support a global movement that shares the struggle of people with learning disabilities for voice, rights and community? If so, you could make a profound contribution to L’Arche through joining our Board of Trustees.

This is a pivotal time for L’Arche as, after 50 years in the UK, we work to deliver our 2030 Strategy for Beautiful Community, Brilliant Care and Effective Organisation. We are now looking for three to four new Trustees who can bring a depth of professional and personal experience to diversify the voices and expertise on our Board, in support of our vision to show that everyone belongs.

In particular, we would welcome people who can bring expertise in Fundraising, PR and Marketing, in Learning Disability Services and Commissioning, in Housing and Health & Safety, or Legal Expertise. We also want to strengthen the representation on the Board of people, for example in terms of age, ethnicity, lived experience of disability, gender and LGBTQ representation.

L’Arche in the UK is part of a worldwide movement of people with and without learning disabilities building community together. We aim to be a beacon for our society - of what social care can be, what life with learning disabilities can be, and what a more human society can be.

Our 11 Communities in England, Scotland and Wales offer a varied mix of adult supported living, registered care, and day services. We focus on building mutual relationships and going beyond traditional care models to celebrate the value of every individual.

L’Arche was first founded on Christian principles. These principles mean we stand for radical inclusion, and for the right of every person to flourish in their spirituality, whatever their background. To find out more about spirituality in L’Arche, have a look at our website to see what people said in our Big Conversation on Spirituality.

For further information about the role and context, including full details of how to apply, please see our Appointment Details Pack which can be downloaded from the supporting documents section below. Application is by submission of CV and cover letter via email to Laura Bagley at Macaulay Search (please see Appointment Details Pack for contact details).

The closing date for applications is Monday 11th May 2026.

Inclusive Boards is delighted to be working with Sheffield Hospitals Charity in their search for a new Chair!

Sheffield Hospitals Charity provides additional funding to Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust who support people at every stage on life’s journey. From welcoming babies into the world on the Jessop Wing, supporting cancer care at Weston Park, specialist care at the Royal Hallamshire, Charles Clifford and the Northern General, to improving the mental, physical and social wellbeing of people in our communities. The support provided by Sheffield Hospitals Charity helps to improve the lives of people across Sheffield from patients and their families to our NHS staff who take care of them.

The Chair plays an important role in the governance of the charity, providing leadership to the Board of Trustees to work together, reach good collective decisions, and manage any conflicts. The responsibilities of our Chair are as follows:

Oversight and governance 

• Lead the Board of Trustees to support development of and approve the charity’s strategy and corresponding plan. 

• Lead the Board to make key strategic decisions in the organisation’s best interests and in line with its charitable objects. 

• Lead the Board in ensuring there is financial strategy oversight, and the organisation’s resources are managed responsibly. 

• Ensure the organisation is operating in line with charity law, charity regulation and its own governing document. 

• Build an effective, diverse board that can work well together for the good of the organisation. 

Working with trustees 

• Support trustees with development and annual one-to-one reviews. 

• Help the Board work as a team, drawing on specific expertise, lived experience, and diversity of thought across the Board. 

• Chair board meetings and work with the CEO and EA to ensure they are well planned and minuted and that actions are circulated and followed up. 

• Ensure trustees are given the information they need to make decisions effectively. 

• Support the recruitment of trustees, identifying any skills or knowledge gaps. 

• Build a diverse board that functions in an accessible and inclusive way. The

Chair-CEO relationship 

• Manage the relationship with the CEO, providing appropriate challenge and support to help them effectively lead the charity. 

• Conduct the CEO appraisals and reviews and support their leadership development. Lead on CEO recruitment. 

• Relate any concerns of the Board to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team. 

• Work with the CEO to make sure the Board has all the information required, in a timely manner, to make strategic decisions. 

Ambassadorial responsibilities 

• The Chair may be required, from time to time, to act as a champion and ambassador for the Charity. 

Person specification

Candidates will need to demonstrate that they have the necessary experience and will need to demonstrate the following skills, experience, and attributes. 

Essential 

• Passion for the National Health Service and an understanding of the role of health charities. 

• An ongoing and meaningful connection to Sheffield and good standing within the city. 

• Experience as a board member, trustee, non-executive director, or chair. 

• Strong comprehension of charity law, regulation, and the roles and responsibilities of a charity chair and trustee. 

• Skilled in strategic planning, financial management, risk management, and organisational performance. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage, influence, and negotiate with a range of senior stakeholders diverse in sector and profession. 

• Capable of building and maintaining relationships in a complex stakeholder environment with competing priorities. 

• Robust communication skills, both written and verbal, and the ability to communicate complex information to a range of diverse stakeholders. 

• The ability to lead effectively and inclusively during times of transformational change within and beyond an organisation. 

Desirable 

• Previous chairing experience at the non-executive level. 

• Experience in working within the health and social care and/or charity sectors – either as an employee or appointee. 

• Experience in charity fundraising, income generation, marketing and communications. 

• Understanding of health-related research and innovation and impact assessment skills. 

• Well versed in people management, wellbeing and learning and development.

How to apply

The recruitment process is being undertaken by Inclusive Boards on behalf of Sheffield Hospitals Charity. If you wish to apply, please supply the following by 11:59pm on 10/05/2026: 

• A detailed CV setting out your career history including responsibilities and achievements. 

• A cover letter (maximum two sides of A4) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the person specification. Please note, your cover letter is an important part of your application and will be assessed. 

• Details of two professional referees together with a brief statement of their relationship to you and over what period of time they have known you. Referees will not be contacted without your prior consent. 

Please consider filling out our diversity monitoring form. The information provided to us is confidential, stored securely and separately from your application, and is only used to ensure we are meeting our obligations for equal opportunities under the Equality Act 2010. 

For more information, visit Inclusive Boards' website. 

What Will You Be Doing?

As a Trustee of Autism Together, you can make a very real difference to the lives of the people we support.

The Board is looking to add to the existing Trustee team, to support Autism Together with its ideas for growth and implementation of its ongoing strategic business plan. As a new Trustee, you can play a pivotal role in driving new pathways to grow our charity and further improve support for the people in our care.

Successful applicants will be joining the board of one of the UK's leading specialist service providers, a charitable organisation which directly supports over 400 autistic adults, through a workforce of more than 900 staff.

Founded in Wirral, Merseyside, in 1968 by a group of pioneering parents, today the charity ranks among the top 1,500 charities by turnover in the UK.

Autism Together is a complex, stimulating, award-winning organisation with an annual income of over £33m and a substantial property portfolio. The charity provides Residential care, Supported Living, Day Services, specialist autism training, and offers advice and support to families across the region.

The organisation manages two farms, an expansive woodland, three cafés, and a rock band led by people the charity supports.

As a charity, our mission is to help autistic people develop to their full potential, and to educate and develop their community around them.

Our Charity Values Are:

• To promote positive communication.
• Be person-centred.
• Promote learning.
• Be respectful.
• Enhance community connection.

Autism affects everyone differently, so we work with each individual to help them overcome the difficulties the condition presents them with, helping them to lead a more active, creative, and fulfilling life.

As a Trustee, you will help us to maintain our missions, values, and ethos as we work towards our strategic goals.

What Are We Looking For?
We are seeking Trustees who will bring relevant skills and experience in at least one of the following areas:

• Community-led development and action.
• Financial management.
• Legal and HR experience in the field of commercial and charity law.
• Communications experience.
• IT and governance structures.
• Property and Estates.
• Governance and/or knowledge of quality assurance.

Beyond technical and strategic abilities, we are looking for individuals who are committed to our mission and values, with strong interpersonal skills to constructively challenge the Board and the Executives in the best interests of the people we support.

Joining the Board of a leading national provider of services to autistic people, you will work alongside the current Board of Trustees and the Executive Team to provide a sector-leading service to propel the organisation into a bright, secure and successful future, supporting autistic people and their families to live rich and fulfilling lives.

We look forward to hearing from you.

What Difference Will You Make?

This is an exciting time to be joining our organisation, as we start to see the fruits of our ongoing strategic business plan and continue to expand our portfolio of estates.

This Trustee position is key to supporting the governance of Autism Together, helping guide the organisation in the right direction, while giving our staff the tools and opportunities to provide the best possible care for the people we support.

The Board plays a key role in the running of Autism Together. It sets out the organisational strategy and is responsible for agreeing the direction and values of the charity, while overseeing the finances and managing risk.

With the recent appointment of a new interim CEO, it is an important time for our Trustees to support our existing plans for growth, while looking towards the future of our charity. We need individuals who can offer professional and practical experience, in order to bolster our Board as they undertake key governance decisions in the best interests of the organisation.

Our Trustees contribute significantly to the strategic planning and direction of Autism Together and successful candidates will need to demonstrate experience in governance and good communication, while conforming to our Trustee Code.

The Board recognises that diversity of Trustees is vital if we are to operate with excellence, and we warmly welcome applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds.

Trustees are expected to attend 8 board meetings per year, become actively involved in at least one quarterly sub-committee, and to familiarise themselves with all aspects of the charity's work.

Interested in the Position?

Please apply via this site, letting us know why you wish to become a trustee of Autism Together and what skills you believe you will bring to this position.

All applications will considered by the Board’s Nominations Committee. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted for an informal chat with a trustee, the CEO or a member of the Executive Team and a visit to view some of our facilities to gain a better understanding of the services. Following this, a mutually convenient date for interview will be arranged.