Caring services communications lead volunteer roles

The Coroners' Courts Support Service (CCSS) is a registered Charity whose trained volunteers give emotional and practical support to bereaved families and other witnesses attending an inquest.

We need volunteers to provide emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending Inquests at Coroners' Court. Our volunteers at court also provide help and assistance to the Coroners' Officers, as and when required.

We are looking for reliable, supportive people with excellent communication skills. A mature and calm attitude is needed in order to be able to talk to people during a sometimes bewildering and emotional experience. Volunteers must be willing to undergo a period of observations and shadowing, as well as attend a 3 day training course. A minimum of 2 court days per month attendance requiured. Training and mentoring is provided and travel expenses to the court are reimbursed.

New volunteers should possess good communication and listening skills and the ability to empathise with people they support.

The Coroners' Courts Support Service (CCSS) is a registered Charity whose trained volunteers give emotional and practical support to bereaved families and other witnesses attending an inquest.

This opportunity will be at both Crook and Durham so volunteers need to be willing to volunteer at both sites.

We need volunteers to provide emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending Inquests at Coroners' Court. Our volunteers at court also provide help and assistance to the Coroners' Officers, as and when required.

We are looking for reliable, supportive people with excellent communication skills. A mature and calm attitude is needed in order to be able to talk to people during a sometimes bewildering and emotional experience. Volunteers must be willing to undergo a period of observations and shadowing, as well as attend a 3 day training course. A minimum commitment of one day (9:00am - 5:00pm) per fortnight is asked for. Training and mentoring is provided and travel expenses to the court are reimbursed.

New volunteers should possess good communication and listening skills and the ability to empathise with people they support.

About Us

Our Vision is to be the leading provider of therapeutic care, education and treatment for children and young people who have experienced early childhood trauma.  ​

​​Our Mission is to transform the lives of children and young people who suffer severe emotional and psychological difficulties, so they can relate well to others and fulfil their potential. ​

​​Our Approach is a form of psychotherapeutic group living and learning modelled on healthy relationships, adapted to the developmental needs of children and young people suffering early childhood trauma. We call this Integrated Systemic Therapy (iST). ​

Role descriptions and person specification

Role description attached provides more information on the role and responsibilities.   For this Trustee role we are particularly seeking individuals with demonstrable  experience in Child protection from the perspective of the Family Court, in particular with insights into safeguarding.

For more details about Childhood First, please visit our website. 

Commitment

• Each year, our Trustees are expected to attend four regular board meetings, from 5 to 7 pm in Central London. In addition, Trustees would attend potentially four meetings of any sub-committee of which they are a member. Further time is required for reading of papers before meetings.
• You would also receive invitations to various Childhood First events in the communities, which are optional but strongly encouraged to help better understand the work and feel a connection to the charity.
• We are particularly cognisant of the need to be flexible in the demands we make of Trustee colleagues. Each year there is an opportunity to meet with the Chair for mutual feedback and to discuss ways in which Trustees might wish to develop their roles.​

Successful candidates will be invited to attend a board meeting will be on 15 September 2026 in Central London.

We hope you will consider making an application. If you have questions about the role and would like an informal conversation before applying please contact Michael Joseph, Director of Finance and Corporate Services.

All trustee roles will be subject to background vetting, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (which may include overseas checks) which will be maintained by Childhood First for the duration of their term.

We would also be grateful if you would complete the Equality and Diversity monitoring form on the online application process. This form is for monitoring purposes only and is not treated as part of your application.

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.

Cats are at the centre of everything we do, and our objectives are homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care.

We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, employees and supporters.

A bit about this role...

Every penny counts when it comes to improving the lives of the thousands of cats and kittens across the UK that need our help each year. Our Collection Box Volunteers help us raise vital funds by collecting and distributing collection boxes in their local area. Making a difference can mean as little as raising 20p, which is enough to feed one cat in our care for a day, to £150 which is the average cost of a cat in our care.

What can I expect to be doing?

As a flexible role, you have the choice to be involved in the following:

• Researching local shops, pubs and businesses to place Collection Boxes
• Delivering Collection Boxes to locations
• Recording donations and thanking local businesses and supporters
• Collecting and replacing Collection boxes when they're full
• Sharing your passion for cat welfare and promoting the work of Cats Protection

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge though Cats Protection’s learn online system, providing you with the skills to thrive as a fundraiser. You’ll also have the chance to meet new people and be part of a dedicated team of Volunteers.
Money raised by our volunteers enables us to put cats first. Cats are at the centre of all we do. We care for them, ensure their welfare, and help others to understand and better support them.

We're looking for someone with:

• Sympathy to cats and our values
• Good communication skills
• Confidence in speaking to members of the public
• Confidence in handling money

How much time is expected of me?

Our Collection Tin Volunteer role is very flexible and can be completed at your own pace, independently with our dedicated support.

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we encounter as part of our activities.

Thank you for your support and sharing in this commitment and for everything you will do during your time with Cats Protection!

MumsAid is an award-winning charity providing specialist mental health and wellbeing support for mothers during pregnancy and early motherhood. We offer counselling, group support, and practical help to ensure that local mums and their families have access to compassionate care and a strong community network. 

Purpose of Role 

We are looking for a creative and enthusiastic Digital Content and Social Media Volunteer to support MumsAid's marketing and communications activities. 

Working closely with our Marketing & Communications Lead, you'll help bring our stories, campaigns, events, and impact to life through engaging social media content. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys creating digital content, has an eye for design, and wants to use their skills to support a meaningful cause. 

This is a flexible, remote volunteering opportunity and an excellent chance to gain experience in charity communications, build a portfolio, and help raise awareness of maternal mental health and the support available through MumsAid. 

What will you be doing? 

• Creating engaging social media graphics and content using a content calendar provided by the Marketing & Communications Lead. 

• Designing visual assets that align with MumsAid's brand guidelines and campaign objectives. 

• Adapting content for different social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other channels as required. 

• Working collaboratively with the Marketing & Communications Lead to develop and refine content ideas. 

• Helping to communicate MumsAid's impact, services, events, campaigns, and fundraising activities. 

• Ensuring content is created and shared within agreed timeframes. 

• Contributing creative ideas to help increase engagement, reach, and awareness across our social media channels. 

• Following MumsAid's policies and procedures, including safeguarding, confidentiality, and data protection guidance. 

What skills and qualities can you bring? 

Essential 

• Creativity and enthusiasm for social media and digital communications. 

• Strong visual design skills and a good eye for layout, branding, and presentation. 

• Good written communication skills and attention to detail. 

• Ability to work independently and manage a small weekly workload. 

• Reliable and able to meet agreed deadlines. 

• Supportive of equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

• Respectful of confidentiality and personal boundaries. 

Desirable 

• Experience using Canva or similar design tools. 

• Understanding of social media platforms and current content trends. 

• Previous experience creating content for charities, community groups, organisations, or personal projects. 

• An interest in maternal mental health, family wellbeing, or the voluntary sector. 

What is in it for me? 

• Join a friendly, welcoming, and supportive volunteer team. 

• Gain valuable experience in charity marketing, communications, and content creation. 

• Build your portfolio with real-world content and campaigns. 

• Develop your creative, design, and digital marketing skills. 

• Receive induction, training, and ongoing support from the MumsAid team. 

• Gain experience working within an award-winning charity. 

• Written references available on request. 

• Reimbursement of agreed travel expenses where applicable (with receipts). 

• DBS check provided by MumsAid if required. 

Join the team! 
Help us tell the stories that matter. By volunteering as a Digital Content & Social Media Creator, you'll play an important role in raising awareness of maternal mental health and ensuring more mums and families know that support is available when they need it most.

Volunteer Delivery and Impact Manager

Design powerful services. Lead meaningful impact. Help Londoners transform their futures.

London is full of potential — but not everyone gets the chance to realise it. For many adults living in socio‑economically disadvantaged communities, confidence, opportunity and access to the workforce feel painfully out of reach.

Unlock YOUR Potential is here to change that.

We’re building a new charity dedicated to giving adults the skills, tools, opportunities and confidence they need to thrive long‑term in the workplace. And now, at this pivotal moment, we’re searching for a Volunteer Delivery and Impact Manager to help us build and run services that genuinely change lives.

This isn’t just a role. It’s your chance to shape the impact of a charity from day one.

Why This Role Matters

Our services will be the heart of our mission — the coaching, workshops, mentoring and support that help adults rebuild confidence, develop skills and access real opportunities.

To make this possible, we need someone who can:

• Design and deliver high‑quality, high‑impact programmes

• Build the systems and structures that ensure excellence

• Recruit and coordinate a talented pool of volunteers to deliver services

• Create KPIs and impact measures that show the difference we’re making

• Ensure every participant receives a consistent, empowering experience

Your leadership will ensure our services don’t just run — they transform.

What You’ll Do

As our Volunteer Delivery and Impact Manager, you will be responsible for shaping, launching and overseeing all of our programmes.

You will:

• Design and set up our core services, ensuring they are impactful, accessible and aligned with our mission

• Develop delivery frameworks, service models and quality standards

• Build and manage a pool of skilled volunteers to deliver coaching, workshops and mentoring

• Oversee day‑to‑day service delivery and ensure excellence across all programmes

• Create KPIs, monitoring tools and impact measurement systems

• Analyse data and feedback to continuously improve our services

• Work closely with the Founder to shape strategy, growth and long‑term service development

• Ensure our services reflect our values of empowerment, dignity and opportunity

This is a rare opportunity to build a service delivery model from scratch — and to shape the future of a charity with huge potential.

What You’ll Gain

This role offers purpose, leadership and professional growth in equal measure.

You’ll gain:

• Senior‑level experience in service design and delivery

• The chance to build impactful programmes from the ground up

• Experience in impact measurement, KPIs and quality assurance

• A close working relationship with the Founder and Executive Director

• A leadership role that strengthens your CV and future career

• The fulfilment of knowing your work directly changes lives

This is the kind of experience that defines careers — and transforms communities.

Who You Are

You’re someone who:

• Loves designing services that make a real difference

• Thrives on structure, quality and continuous improvement

• Has experience in service delivery, programme management or operations

• Enjoys leading people and coordinating volunteers

• Believes deeply in equality, opportunity and social justice

• Can give a few hours a week to help shape a charity with huge potential

You don’t need to be an expert in everything — just committed, thoughtful and ready to lead with purpose.

Your Impact

Your leadership will help create:

• Coaching programmes that rebuild confidence

• Skills workshops that open new career paths

• Mentoring relationships that change lives

• Wellbeing support that restores hope

• Opportunities that break cycles of disadvantage

• Measurable impact that proves what’s possible when people are given a chance

Your work becomes the engine that drives long‑term change for adults across London.

Ready to help build services that transform lives?

If you’re driven, compassionate and excited by the idea of helping launch a transformative organisation, we’d love to hear from you.

• Design the services.
• Lead the impact.
• Shape a legacy that will uplift communities for years to come.

Join us as our Volunteer Delivery and Impact Manager — and help London unlock its potential.

Will you share your counselling or psychotherapy skills as a counsellor or therapist to join an online counselling service for patients and families affected by a chronic pain condition (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)?

We're looking for 3 qualified counsellors, psychotherapists or psychologists volunteers ideally with some experience of working with chronic pain patients or lived experience of chronic illness, who may want to volunteer their skills supporting our adult service users (aged 18 & over) and help us to continue developing a mental health support service. 

As a Volunteer Counsellor/Therapist you’ll be providing remote counselling/therapy support services to adults aged 18 and over many of whom are isolated and in need of mental health services. You’ll be providing one-to-one counselling/therapy sessions online via Zoom or by phone. With your recognised counselling qualifications and experience you will be an asset to our small charity and to our services users.  

Depending on your qualifications, skills and experience, our volunteer counsellors / therapists provide person centred counselling (general talking counselling) or integrative counselling, or specialist services such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), ACT, CFT and EMDR for CRPS patients, or their families & close relatives.

People will be referred both by health or legal professionals as well as having patients and carers themselves referring into to the service.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your counselling and therapy skills, organisation, communication and team working skills.

Most importantly you’ll be providing essential services that help make sure no one has to face CRPS alone. Be the hope for CRPS.

What the role involves

This role may vary depending on needs, but is likely to include:

• Undertake client assessments following triage by Clinical Lead, followed by counselling / therapy (via Zoom or phone) to our clients, offering up to 20 sessions for each client plus a check in and 4 psychometric assessments

• Providing one-to-one counselling sessions to clients aged 18 & over

• Update our database with the client’s information, sessional notes and session attendance

• Maintain succinct, relevant session notes and store these confidentially and securely in acccordahce with GDPR

• Attending and participating in monthly group supervision support of 1.5 hours a month

• Attend CPD training to ensure your knowledge stays current

• Participating in volunteer meetings
• Maintaining client confidentiality, upholding data protection and equal opportunities principles

We can support you to develop the skills you need for this role, including a full induction. You will have a chance to discuss your role and any additional needs with us. We can offer you a supervisor as well as expenses for annual insurance and an external supervisor if required.

What you need for this role

Essential

• Be a member (including student membership) of one of the recognised membership organisations (see below)
• Level 4 Diploma level qualifications as a minimum (unfortunately no students at this time), Degree or Masters in Counselling, Counselling/Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, Art Therapy, EMDR 
• Minimum of 100 hours supervised
• Proof of professional indemnity insurance annually - we may consider paying this as an expense but commitment to the charity is required
• A valid DBS certificate (enhanced version), which is less than three years old and renewed every three years (the charity can provide where necessary)
• Able to keep people’s personal data safe

• Willing and able to provide counselling via Zoom from a private location with a stable WiFi connection

• Able to support a minimum of 3 clients a week, being three hours of your time for therapy sessions plus time for administration and attending group supervision for 1.5 hours a month. We ideally hope you to offer the charity a minimum commitment of six months.

Desirable

• Knowledge of chronic pain or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• Previous experience as a chronic pain or CRPS counsellor or psychologist 
• Committed to our values
• Willing to develop skills and experience
• Enjoy working as part of a team
• Effective administration skills, planning and organisation skills
• Approachable, presentable, enthusiastic

Once we’ve assessed your application, you may be invited for interview. If you are successful, we will arrange for you to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service DBS or Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check.

Recognised Organisations You Must Be A Member of:

• British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP)
• British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP)
• EMDR Association UK
• Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
• British Psychological Society
• General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR)
• British Society for Clinical Hypnotherapists (BSCH)
• National Council for Hypnotherapists (NCH)
• United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• The National Hypnotherapy Society (HS)
• National Counselling Society (NCS)
• Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• The Association for Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (APHP)
• National Register of Hypnotherapists & Psychotherapists (NRHP)

Making a difference

What impact will the opportunity have?

You will join the charity during a critical and challenging period where referrals are on the rise and your expert knowledge and experience will be invaluable to our success. You will have a key role in not only developing a counselling service for our clients but also ensure we provide counselling services and mental health support to our CRPS patients & their families who are in need of our support and inclusion on a regular basis. With your help we will expand our support and mental health services to ensure our service users receive mental health support that they may not have been offered.

What's in it for you as the volunteer? 

You would be a part of our small, friendly, forward-thinking charity team, focused on reaching people affected by this rare, painful and debilitating chronic pain condition and to provide them with psychological support whether they are patients, their partner, relatives, friends or carers. As this service is rapidly expanding, you would have a key role in developing our counselling and psychotherapy programme and to complement our support services that we offer. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a real difference in our clients' life which is already isolated and painful, who may not have received any psychological support.

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

 Every penny counts when it comes to improving the lives of the thousands of cats and kittens across the UK that need our help each year. Our collection box fundraising volunteers help our volunteer groups raise vital funds by collecting and distributing collection boxes in their local area. Making a difference can mean as little as raising 20p, which is enough to feed one cat in our care for a day, to £150 which is the average cost of a cat in our care.

You can expect us to

• make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities

 What we need from you

You’ll be:

· overseeing the collection and delivery of collection boxes in different locations

· recording donations and thanking local businesses and supporters

· researching local areas for collection box ‘hot spots’

· sharing fundraising ideas with other volunteers and putting these into practice 

· sharing your passion for cat welfare and promoting the work of Cats Protection

Time expectation

Our collection box fundraising volunteers usually spend 1 to 2 hours per week in this role, which is flexible and can be shared by more than one volunteer if needed.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

 We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

WANTED: Trustees to support over 3.5 million people living with genetic, rare and undiagnosed conditions.

Genetic Alliance UK is looking for three new trustees as well as a new chair due to existing board members having served the maximum time allowed.

About us

We are an alliance of over 220 charities and support groups with an ambitious strategy focused on working together to improve the lives of the 1 in 17 people in the UK affected by rare, genetic or undiagnosed conditions. We campaign for timely diagnosis, better coordinated care, and improvements in screening, testing, services and treatment.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking candidates with a personal or professional passion for driving these improvements, who can bring relevant skills and experience to help shape our work.  As part of the organisation’s work to foster diversity, equity and inclusion, we aim to have a broad and varied membership of the Board. We encourage applications from the devolved nations of the UK. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of rare, genetic or undiagnosed conditions either directly, via family and friends, or through a connection with one of our member organisations.

We are keen to recruit people with skills and knowledge in one or more of the following areas:

● Business development and income generation

● Human resources and people management

● Fundraising and philanthropy

● Media, communications and public relations

● Reproductive choice techniques and ethics

● Research in genetics or rare conditions.

What will you be doing?

Trustees play a key role in leading and supporting the charity. We ask them to:

● Attend four Board meetings each year (at least two meetings are held online, with one or two in-person Board meetings each year usually in central London)

● Attend one in-person Board Strategy Away Day each year (usually following one of the in-person Board meetings)

● Attend the one-hour Annual General Meeting in autumn each year

● Consider joining one of our sub-committees, with up to four online meetings each year.

The roles are voluntary (unpaid). We reimburse reasonable expenses necessary for attending meetings and taking part in Genetic Alliance UK activities. 

Most of our trustees are sponsored by our member organisations. If you have a connection with one of the charities in our alliance or the conditions they support, please mention this on your application.

We will provide full induction for successful candidates.

All postholders will be appointed for a first term of up to three years, with a possible further three years and up to a maximum nine years in exceptional circumstances.

Volunteer Delivery Driver needed to collect and deliver essential baby items to mums across the Greenwich Borough.
Flexible hours, training provided, and expenses reimbursed.

Purpose of Role 

Many of the mums we support cannot collect essential items themselves due to financial hardship, mobility issues, mental health challenges, or caring responsibilities. Volunteer Delivery Drivers help ensure essential donated items reach mums supported by MumsAid safely, respectfully, and with dignity. This role involves collecting goods from Mammakind Charity and delivering them directly to families, many of whom are experiencing hardship, isolation, or vulnerability. Due to the nature of this role, you will be in direct contact with vulnerable mums and their families, so a strong commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, and professional boundaries is essential. 

What will you be doing? 

• Liaise with MumsAid team about delivery schedules 

• Collect and safely transport donated items from Mammakind Charity 

• Deliver items sensitively to families 

• Maintain confidentiality and professional boundaries 

• Follow safeguarding guidance at all times 

• Report safeguarding or welfare concerns immediately to the MumsAid team 

• Promote and support equality, diversity and inclusion 

• Attend induction and role-specific training and take part in feedback sessions 

What skills and qualities can you bring? 

• Warm, welcoming personality; good at putting others at ease 

• Empathetic, non-judgemental nature 

• Some awareness of mental health challenges (especially maternal mental health) 

• Strong commitment to MumsAid values: empowering, safe, peer-led, inclusive, sustainable 

• Understanding of confidentiality and when safeguarding takes precedence, in line with MumsAid policies and procedures 

• Clear communication skills whilst maintaining professional boundaries 

• Ability to work independently while following procedures 

• Physically able to lift and transport items safely, following manual handling guidance 

• Ability to remain calm, respectful, and appropriate in sensitive situations 

• Reliable, with good timekeeping 

• Committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion 

• Openness to feedback 

• Willingness to complete volunteer induction 

• Willing to undergo DBS check 

What is in it for me? 

• Induction and training, including safeguarding training 

• Ongoing support and feedback 

• Reimbursement of travel expenses (with receipts) 

• Make a real difference to the lives of local mums and their families 

• Gain valuable experience in supporting vulnerable families 

• Develop active listening, communication, and safeguarding skills 

• Part of a welcoming volunteer team 

• Part of a supportive, community-focused charity 

• Written references provided on request 

• A DBS check paid for by MumsAid (if required) 

Requirements 

• Full, valid UK driving licence 

• Access to a suitable vehicle for deliveries 

• Valid vehicle insurance, MOT, and road tax 

• Volunteers must confirm with their insurer that their vehicle policy covers charity volunteering 

• Willingness to provide relevant documentation upon request 

• Physically able to lift and carry items, following manual handling guidance 

• DBS check (or willingness to apply, supported by MumsAid) 

• Agreement to follow all MumsAid policies and procedures 

MumsAid cannot accept responsibility for vehicle insurance, fines, or driving-related offences 

Hours: Flexible hours, with a minimum commitment of 3 hours per week, usually on a Thursday, in line with client and charity needs 

Caritas Young Parents’ Service offers accommodation-based support to young parents and their children who have experienced chaotic and/or unsafe lifestyles. We aim to keep families together and equip them with the tools they need to move on to independent living. We provide a safe space for parents to confidently parent their child.

We show parents how to play with their babies and toddlers to help them to develop new skills through guided play sessions and story times. We run skills and wellbeing sessions for the parents to help them develop independent living skills, such as how to cook on a budget.

We are excited to advertise for a new volunteer that can help deliver these activities, so if you have any skills that you are not utilising, you might be just who we are looking for.

What you will be doing

• Supporting the staff-led delivery of creative age-appropriate activities for the children, wellbeing-focused sessions for the parents and getting involved with the activities and sessions organised by staff.
• Supporting staff led activities focused on day-to-day tasks that will increase confidence, such as basic cookery sessions
• Empathising with young people experiencing parenthood for the first time.
• Volunteers are required to follow all Caritas safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries policies at all times. Any concerns about the welfare of any of the children or adults who use the services must be acted upon in accordance with our Safeguarding Policy.
• Volunteers be responsible to the Service Manager who would organise their induction and ongoing supervision.
• Volunteers would be expected to ensure the confidentiality of the people who use the service, and not share any information relating to them outside of the service team.
• Volunteers will be working alongside a member of staff - either the service manager or a project worker. Once a volunteer is confident and the manager is happy with their approach then they may be left to complete a play session, for example, but they would not be working alone in the building.
• This role requires a commitment of 5 to 10 hours per week. The role is open ended not fixed term.

The skills you need

• Empathy
• Good listener
• Good communication skills
• Patience
• Respect
• Some residents may have experienced trauma, homelessness, abuse or family breakdown. Volunteers should be comfortable working in a sensitive and supportive environment.

What's in it for you

• Opportunity to use your experience and skills to support people in your communities to whom your support matters.
• Growing confidence and esteem
• Full induction and training
• Further training opportunities

Disclaimer

Please read before applying: As part of the safer recruitment process, we will be requesting an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and two references for this role. Having a criminal record is not necessarily a bar to volunteering within the organisation. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and the background of the offences. Prior to starting with us you will be required to complete mandatory online training modules.

St Basils is looking for a new Non-Exec Director / Trustee to join our Board as the Designated Safeguarding Board Member.

About Us

St Basils works with young people aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, to enable them to find and keep a home, grow their confidence, develop their skills, increase opportunities and ultimately prevent homelessness.

We help just over 4,000 young people each year across the West Midlands, with services in Birmingham, Coventry, Sandwell, Solihull, Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Our services range from providing supported accommodation to outreach, advice, support, employability and engagement services to help young people regain the stability they need to rebuild their lives, gain skills, confidence and employment and move on. The aim is to help them successfully break the ‘cycle of homelessness’ so that they can go on to experience a bright, fulfilling future and never return to a state where they are at risk of homelessness again.

About our Board

We are a registered provider of social housing, a charity and a company limited by guarantee, meaning our Board members are both Directors and Trustees.

To navigate our challenging regulatory landscape, we need to be tightly governed. At the heart of this is a Board with the right knowledge, values, skills and diversity, all whilst working towards our vision that homelessness should not be part of growing up.

As a member of St Basils’ Board, you will be a guardian of St Basils’ charitable purpose. You will be responsible for holding the Senior Leadership Team to account through constructive challenge and support, and for ensuring St Basils’ strategic priorities are met.

You will form part of St Basils’ governance framework, providing oversight of key business areas, such as business planning, safeguarding, risk, finance, health and safety, EDI and business development. 

Our Board is made up of 14 members, 2 of which are designated for young people who have lived experience of homelessness and / or St Basils’ services.

St Basils has adopted the RACE Equality Code and is actively seeking applications for Board members from Black communities to ensure our Board is reflective of both the young people that we serve and our dedicated workforce.

About the Role

We are looking for a voluntary Director / Trustee with a professional background in safeguarding to join our Board as the Designated Safeguarding Board Member. Our new Board member will need to have a strong understanding of safeguarding, ideally with experience in supporting vulnerable young people.

As the Designated Safeguarding Board Member, you will:

• Work with St Basils’ Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to regularly review safeguarding reports, trends and serious incidents
• Act as a safeguarding champion at Board level, supporting other Directors / Trustees to develop their understanding and confidence in safeguarding
• Provide oversight of allegations or safeguarding concerns relating to staff, volunteers or Board Members
• Attend regular meetings and engage with services, staff and young people to maintain visibility of safeguarding in practice
• Support the Chair, CEO and DSL in ensuring appropriate governance oversight of serious safeguarding incidents, including reputational considerations
• Ensure the Board receives appropriate assurance on safeguarding risks and how they are managed

Our new Director / Trustee will sit on our Service Delivery & Development Committee which oversees both the housing elements of our services as well as the support / progression we provide to our young people. This committee meets virtually, one a quarter.

Although the role is voluntary, reasonable expenses will be paid for costs incurred in undertaking the role.

About You

You will be a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or have significant experience in a senior safeguarding role.

You will demonstrate sound judgement and be able to challenge confidently and constructively, although you do not need to have Board experience.

You will work within the principles of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and understand the needs of the diverse young people we serve.

You will put the needs of young people first, be passionate about ending youth homelessness and share our mission, vision and principles.

Time Commitment

You will need to be able to attend the majority of Board and Committee meetings, one of each is held each quarter (8 meetings total per year). Each meeting will last around 2 hours and will normally be held late afternoon/early evening (usually 4pm – 6pm). Board meetings are held in person at St Basils’ Head Office in Birmingham, and Committee meetings are held virtually via Microsoft Teams. The dates for meetings are set by calendar year, towards the end of the previous year.

Meeting papers will be shared via an online portal one week in advance of the meeting to allow for sufficient preparation time.

A Board away day is held each year, usually October, and every other year this includes an overnight stay. This will be fully paid for by St Basils.

We encourage Board members to visit our accommodation services to deepen understanding of our work and support effective governance and decision-making. We would like all Board members to make 2 visits a year if possible.

All travel expenses incurred in attending Board meetings / conducting site visits will be reimbursed by St Basils.

What’s in it for you?

We offer a series of essential online training courses (for example GDPR, Cyber Security, EDI, Safeguarding, Risk Management) and the opportunity to do additional online or in-person training, such as Psychologically Informed Environment training. As part of our commitment to race equality, we provide mandatory Anti-Racism training for all staff and Board members.

You will be part of a knowledgeable and supportive Board and have the opportunity to work alongside young people with lived experience.

You will have the guidance of a knowledgeable Chair to support your development as a Director / Trustee, and you will have access to St Basils’ Senior Leadership Team to help you fulfil your role.

St Basils is a learning organisation and therefore we are able to support and develop Board members who are new to the role. In addition, St Basils has membership with the Board Development Agency, which provides our Board Members with access to webinars and development tools specific to housing sector Boards.

Being a Director / Trustee at St Basils is more than just attending meetings – if you would like to contribute to an organisation that has young people at its core, where you can visibly see the difference you are making, then this is the role for you.

For further information please see the link to the full job pack.

We welcome early applications and will interview on a rolling basis.

HELLO SUNSHINE!!!

SUNSHINE exists to tackle loneliness by building connection, community and hope. We are creating a charity where people feel seen, valued and included, and where kindness and human connection can make a real and lasting difference to lives across London.

We are now looking for an inspiring and committed Head of Volunteering to help us build our volunteering programme from the ground up. This is a key role in shaping the future of SUNSHINE and creating a vibrant, welcoming and supportive volunteer community that reflects our values and mission.

Our Volunteer Opportunity

This role is about much more than volunteer coordination. It is about creating a strong culture of belonging, team spirit and shared purpose. You will help us recruit, onboard, support and retain volunteers, while ensuring they feel appreciated, confident and empowered to contribute meaningfully to our work.

You will play a central role in developing a volunteering programme that goes above and beyond good practice — one that feels positive, uplifting and genuinely rewarding for everyone involved. From first welcome to ongoing support, you will help create a volunteer experience that feels like joining a caring, motivated family with a shared mission to change lives.

What you’ll do

You may support SUNSHINE with:

• Designing and developing our volunteering programme from scratch.

• Recruiting volunteers who share SUNSHINE’s values and mission.

• Creating welcoming onboarding processes that help volunteers settle in with confidence.

• Building systems to support volunteer retention, engagement and progression.

• Developing ways to reward, recognise and thank volunteers for their time and contribution.

• Ensuring volunteers are trained, supported and equipped with the tools they need to succeed.

• Helping to create a positive team culture rooted in trust, encouragement and continuous improvement.

• Supporting the development of a highly recognised volunteering programme that reflects SUNSHINE’s ambition and spirit.

• Working closely with the Founder and wider team to strengthen volunteer involvement across the charity.

What we’re looking for

We would love to hear from you if you are:

• Passionate about volunteering, community building and helping others thrive.

• Organised, approachable and able to create structure while keeping things human and uplifting.

• Confident in recruiting, supporting or managing volunteers.

• A strong communicator who can inspire others and build positive relationships.

• Someone who values recognition, belonging and team culture.

• Able to take initiative and help shape a programme from the very beginning.

• Committed to creating a volunteering experience that is supportive, rewarding and meaningful.

Why this role matters

Volunteers will be at the heart of SUNSHINE’s work, helping us reach more people, create more connection and build a stronger sense of community. A well-designed volunteering programme will not only help the charity grow — it will help volunteers feel proud to be part of something purposeful, inspiring and life-changing.

By leading our volunteering strategy, you will help create a community where people are valued, supported and encouraged to do their best work in service of a cause that truly matters.

When applying, please tell us:

1. What your approach to volunteer leadership and management is.

2. How you would go about building a volunteering programme from scratch.

3. How you would help create a positive, supportive and motivated volunteer community.

4. What experience, strengths or ideas you would bring to SUNSHINE.

What you’ll gain

• The opportunity to design and lead a volunteering programme from the beginning.

• Experience shaping the culture and structure of a growing charity.

• The chance to build something meaningful, inclusive and lasting.

• Flexible volunteering that can fit around your commitments.

• The satisfaction of helping to create a community that changes lives.

WE'RE SUNSHINE Charity

Connection. Joy. Community.

Combating Loneliness Across London And Beyond

About Kith & Kids
We provide activities, opportunities, information, and support for people with a learning disability or autism, their parents and siblings.
For all our projects and activities we are dependent on volunteers.

Our Summer Project
Wed 22nd – Sun 26th July 9:30am – 5:30pm in North London.

We are currently looking for energetic and enthusiastic volunteers, to join us on our fantastic fun-filled Summer Social Development Project.

Volunteers and our members who have disabilities get to know each other as they take part in fun and challenging workshops including sports & games, arts & crafts, cooking and enjoying a day out in London.

What you'll do
On the project you and a fellow volunteer will be paired with one of our members with a learning disability or autism. You'll support and encourage them to take part in a wide range of activities led by professional therapists and workshop leaders.

Our core activities are sports & games, arts & crafts, drama and music. Previous additional workshops have also included photography, football and cooking and you’ll plan your own exciting outing around London with a fellow volunteer and the Kith & Kids member you're linked with.

Not only is it a time full of fun and games for you and our members, you are a vital part in supporting them to develop their social skills in a day-to-day environment.

Come along and get involved!

Male volunteers especially welcome (we need more)!!

Requirements

What you need
You do not need experience. Full disability awareness training will be provided before you begin volunteering with us.
The only requirements we ask of you are enthusiasm, energy and to be open-minded.
Minimum age for volunteers is 18.

How much time?
The project runs for 5 days, Wed 22nd – Sun 26th July, 9:30am – 5:30pm  in North London.

Everyone gets the most out of the project if you come for the full ten days as you'll build a close relationship with the member you'll have been supporting and will create the most impact.

What we can offer you
We can reimburse your travel expenses and provide a delicious lunch each day.
We'll also provide excellent training before the project, and lots of helpful support.

By volunteering on our project, you'll also:

• Use and develop your skills.
• Learn something new, get involved in fun activities with others.
• Increase your confidence.
• Meet new people and make friends.
• Gain experience for (other) work
• Give something back to the community.
• Do something fun and satisfying in your spare time.
• Challenge yourself.
   

What about training?
Volunteers must attend training and complete a free DBS check before you begin volunteering.

This is a great opportunity to get to know everyone at Kith & Kids: your fellow volunteers, some of our members you will be working with, and also gives the opportunity to develop some new skills and expand your knowledge in our workshops.

Topics we cover include:

• Communication
• Autism
• Supporting emotions
• Safeguarding
• Creativity & Participation
• Epilepsy
   

When do I need to come?

We'll be running face-to-face training in north London starting on the 17th  May with lots of other dates to choose from.

In the meantime, we'll be meeting volunteers online from the end of April.  

Training will take place in North London – once we have met you online for a chat, we will send you confirmation of our training venue details.