109 Caring services communications lead volunteer roles

We’re looking for passionate, innovative and committed Trustees to join our brilliant Board and help us write our next chapter.

Age UK Islington is an independent charity, operating within the Age UK network. We empower people to improve or maintain their health, wellbeing, connections and independence, through a diverse range of impactful services with a focus on prevention and person-centred care. Although we work primarily with over-55s, our services support an increasing number of younger people, and we are the lead agency supporting unpaid carers of all ages across Islington.

This is an exciting time to join the charity, with a new CEO in post and ambitious plans to expand our impact during a period of significant external changes. Our services are performing strongly, and we are fortunate to be in a position of relative financial stability, so we are well positioned for growth and innovation.

If you are passionate about our cause, enjoy teamwork, and can commit to the responsibilities of being a trustee at Age UK Islington, we'd love to hear from you. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with expertise and experience in the following areas:

· Digital Transformation, including cybersecurity and AI

· Finance and Investments

· Fundraising and Income Generation

· NHS / Health and Social Care leadership

How to apply or enquire about the role, see contact details within the 'How to Apply' section

Settle is a charity that supports young adults as they leave the care system and move into their first home. We provide intensive one-to-one coaching support, helping young people develop the skills and confidence they need to sustain their tenancies, manage their finances and live independently. Our preventative approach to homelessness helps care-experienced young people build stable foundations and thrive in adulthood.

All our Trustees bring different personal experience and professional expertise to support our work. To make sure we keep young people at the centre of our decision-making, we aim to always have at least two Trustees with care experience.

We are now looking for new Trustees to help us deliver our mission. We are seeking people with experience in one or more of the following areas:

· Policy influencing and/or strategic communications

· Support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness

· Support for people seeking asylum and refuge

Our aim is to recruit at least two new Trustees, who between them bring experience across all three areas. We don’t expect you to lead an area of work at Settle – that’s the responsibility of the staff team. We are keen to benefit from your advice, insight and understanding of the key issues we’re dealing with.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and Board team, and we particularly welcome applications from people from minoritised ethnic backgrounds, or with other lived experience of discrimination. We are proud to be a member of the Care Leaver Covenant, and care-experienced applicants who meet the criteria for this role will be guaranteed an interview.

Dorothy House is seeking an exceptional and inspirational leader to join its Board of Trustees with the intention of becoming the charity's next Chair.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced board leader to help shape the future of hospice and end-of-life care, providing strategic leadership, strong governance and influential external advocacy for one of the region's leading hospices. We are looking for an individual with the vision, credibility and commitment to support Dorothy House through its next phase of development and ensure it continues to deliver outstanding care and support for people and families at some of the most important moments in their lives.

As a Trustee and prospective Chair, you will help lead the Board in setting the organisation's long-term direction, ensuring effective governance, financial sustainability and organisational resilience. You will bring the ability to think strategically, navigate complexity, build strong relationships and act as an authentic ambassador for Dorothy House across a wide range of stakeholders and partners.

About the Role (Unremunerated Volunteer Position)

We are seeking someone who can demonstrate:

• Significant board-level leadership experience as a Chair, Trustee, Non-Executive Director or equivalent.
• Experience chairing boards, committees or senior decision-making forums.
• Support to the organisation in anticipating and responding to changing patterns of need, demographic trends, health inequalities, workforce challenges, technological developments and evolving models of care
• Visionary leadership with the ability to anticipate future opportunities and challenges, inspire innovation and shape long-term organisational sustainability.
• Strong understanding of governance, fiduciary responsibilities, risk management and organisational performance.
• Experience contributing to the development and oversight of organisational strategy.
• Experience leading or supporting organisations through change, growth or transformation.
• Ability to build effective relationships with Chief Executives and senior leaders, providing both support and constructive challenge.
• Outstanding communication, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills.
• A track record as an ambassador, advocate and relationship-builder.
• A genuine commitment to Dorothy House's mission, values and the provision of exceptional end-of-life care

Appointment Process While this recruitment process is being undertaken with the intention of identifying Dorothy House's next Chair, appointment as Chair cannot take place until the individual has first been appointed as a Trustee. Subject to the Board's decision and the provisions of the Articles of Association, appointment as Chair may take place immediately following appointment as a Trustee.

Why Join Dorothy House? This is an opportunity to make a lasting contribution to a highly respected and ambitious organisation. As Chair, you will help shape the future of hospice care, strengthen Dorothy House's influence and impact, and ensure the organisation remains sustainable, innovative and responsive to the needs of the communities it serves.

Appointment Details The trustee term is 3 years, renewable up to a maximum of 9 years (3 x 3-year terms). The Chair serves up to 2 terms only. The time commitment for a Chair of Trustees can be up to 1 day a week. Training in the responsibilities of charity trustees will be provided.

Closing Date: Thursday 8 October

Interviews: Thursday 12 November

We have an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Trustee to join the Board of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association at a pivotal time for the MND community. Advances in scientific understanding, growing public awareness and increasing collaboration across healthcare, research and policy are creating new opportunities to improve lives today and accelerate progress towards effective treatments for tomorrow.

Our 2025–2030 strategy sets out an ambitious agenda across three core impact goals: Tomorrow’s Treatments: accelerating progress towards effective treatments and earlier diagnosis. My Support, My Way: ensuring people affected by MND have the information, support and choice they need and Influencing High-Quality Care: driving consistent, high-quality care and tackling inequalities in access and outcomes. Alongside this, the Association is increasing its research ambition, with the aim of spending £20 million a year on research by 2030.

As a Clinical Trustee, you will provide trusted clinical insight, independent judgement and constructive challenge to support strategic decision-making and help the Board navigate an increasingly complex healthcare and research landscape. This is not an operational clinical role; it is a Board-level opportunity to help ensure the Association remains evidence-informed, ambitious and focused on the needs and experiences of people living with and affected by MND.

Main Responsibilities

• Contribute to the Board's strategic leadership, governance and decision-making
• Help ensure the MND Association remains focused on the needs of people affected by MND
• Recognise and value lived experience in shaping priorities, services and decision-making
• Bring clinical and scientific insight on matters relating to care, research, innovation and risk
• Support the Board in interpreting complex evidence and understanding strategic implications
• Offer independent judgement and constructive challenge while working collaboratively
• Contribute to oversight of quality, safeguarding, reputation, risk and organisational impact
• Participate in Board committees, including the Care Services and Research Committee
• Advise on developments within the clinical, healthcare and research landscape for MND
• Support opportunities for collaboration across healthcare, academia, research, policy and social care
• Act as an ambassador for the MND Association and its values

About You

Essential

• Significant clinical, academic or healthcare leadership experience with substantial expertise in MND
• Strong understanding of developments in MND research, care, support and service delivery
• Ability to interpret complex clinical and scientific evidence and apply it to strategic decision-making
• Commitment to improving the lives and experiences of people with MND and those affected by the disease
• An appreciation of the importance of lived experience in shaping organisational priorities, services and decision-making
• Ability to contribute effectively at Board level through strategic thinking and sound judgement
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex issues clearly
• High levels of integrity, independence of thought and commitment to good governance
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and ability to fulfil the trustee time commitment

Desirable

• Leadership experience within specialist MND services, centres or multidisciplinary care settings
• Experience influencing MND research, care, service development or policy
• Experience improving the quality, accessibility or consistency of care for people affected by MND
• Experience building partnerships across healthcare, academia, research, policy or the voluntary sector
• Previous trustee, governance, advisory or board-level experience

Please note: The Clinical Trustee role is a voluntary, unpaid trustee appointment. Reasonable expenses incurred while carrying out trustee duties will be reimbursed in line with the MND Association's policies. Board meetings take place four times a year, with an annual Board Away Day. The Clinical Trustee is also expected to sit on the Care Services and Research Committee, which meets four times a year online.

Further information about the MND Association, our Board of Trustees, the Clinical Trustee opportunity, and how to apply can be found in the attached Candidate Pack.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive Board that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly value diversity of thought, experience and perspective.

Trustees, including a treasurer, are needed for a leading charity helping people with dissociative disorders. 

CDS UK (Clinic for Dissociative Studies) is a specialist service offering assessments and treatment for people with dissociative disorders and an independent charitable provider to the NHS.

CDS provides diagnosis, outpatient treatment, clinical supervision, consultancy and training all over the UK. We also participate in research and education, contributing to what we hope is a greater understanding of dissociative disorders.

Dissociative disorders typically arise in response to extreme and repetitive trauma and/or abuse in early childhood. Dissociation can be a survival mechanism and adaptive response to overwhelming and traumatic experiences, enabling an individual to endure life events that no one person could be expected to manage without a severe impact on their wellbeing. Trustees are central to ensuring that CDS provides the best possible help for extremely vulnerable clients.

At CDS, we are committed to a culture of continuous improvement and organisational development, ensuring that our services, people, and governance evolve to meet the needs of those we support. Our work is grounded in our core values of Respect, Choice, Compassion, Openness and Working Together, which shape how we collaborate, make decisions, and deliver impact. 

To build a well-balanced and rounded board CDS is looking for trustees, including a treasurer, with expertise in any of the following:

• Accountancy and/or auditing experience 
• Financial management and strategy 
• Clinical & clinical management experience
• Legal and governance
• Fundraising 
• Marketing
• Organisational development 

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive Board that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those who are currently underrepresented at trustee level, including people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, younger people, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience relevant to our work. 

Closing date 9th October. Interviews will take place via MS Teams w/b 12th October. 

Help us to shape the future of a specialist organisation advocating for rights, justice and action for Black and minoritised migrant women. 

About Hibiscus 

The women supported by Hibiscus have been subjected to violence against women and girls (VAWG) including trafficking, modern slavery, sexual violence, rape, violence against women in war, conflict and post-conflict and institutional violence among other forms of violence. Hibiscus continues to develop specialist services from an intersectional feminist and trauma-informed perspective addressing everyday experiences of violence to which women are subjected and institutional harms.

Hibiscus is seeking new Trustees to join our Board and support the next stage of our work. This is an opportunity to contribute to the governance of an intersectional feminist, anti racist organisation and support women navigating complex immigration and criminal justice systems to drive lasting change for the women we serve.

As a Trustee, you will work collectively with the Board to provide strategic direction, uphold Hibiscus’ values, ensure sound governance and compliance, oversee financial sustainability, and support effective organisational decision-making.

About You

We are looking for Women who can bring:

• A commitment to Hibiscus' mission, values and objectives
• Strategic thinking and sound judgement
• The ability to contribute effectively to Board discussions and decision-making
• A willingness to provide constructive challenge and support
• An understanding of good governance and accountability
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

What will your gain 

By becoming a Trustee, you will have the opportunity to use your skills and experience to influence meaningful change, support a vital organisation, and help improve the lives of women facing multiple and intersecting disadvantages.

Join us in creating a fairer and more equitable future for the women we serve!

Please note: This post is restricted to women only as a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9 paragraph 1, Equality Act 2010.

Please read our Application Pack Provided with instrutions on how to Apply.

Closing date: Wednesday 30th September 5pm.

Guild Care is seeking to welcome a new Trustee with experience in financial auditing to our Board.

Established in 1933, Guild Care has been supporting local people and their families for over 90 years. Our vision is for all people in need of care to live fulfilling, safe, and secure lives.

Each year, we support more than 3,000 people and their families through our diverse range of community services and three care homes. From tackling social isolation and supporting people living with dementia, to providing vital services for older people and those with learning disabilities, our work helps people feel connected, valued, and accepted for who they are.

A Trustee of Guild Care has a responsibility to ensure that the organisation applies its resources exclusively in the pursuit of the objectives of the charity.

As part of that responsibility a Trustee needs to actively contribute to the work of the Board by helping set the strategic direction and overall policy, monitoring organisational performance, and supporting organisational development.

The Board of Trustees are also responsible for providing challenges and scrutiny of the senior management team in a positive and supportive environment. 

We’re excited to offer a new, rewarding volunteer opportunity in our Day Patient Unit (DPU) at the Hospice in Winsley, Bradford on Avon. If you’re caring, compassionate, and love connecting with people, we’d love to hear from you!

As a Nursing Support Volunteer, you’ll bring comfort and companionship to patients in our Friday respite group. You’ll help create a welcoming space where patients can enjoy activities, laughter, and support.

No two shifts are the same! You’ll be part of a friendly, dedicated team, helping with a variety of tasks and making a real difference to patients and their families. Respect, dignity, and compassion are at the heart of everything we do.

We’ll give you a full induction, top-quality training, and ongoing support. All we ask is your energy, kindness, and commitment to person-centred care.

Why we need you

To assist the team in providing nursing and personal care to our patients and support to their families and friends.

What you will be doing

• To provide personal care for the patients as required
• To prepare and serve refreshments and meals during your shift and assist with eating as needed
• Connect and chat to patients and families – led by them
• To inform the nurses of care you have provided and handover at the end of your volunteer shift

The skills you need

• Good communication skills and ability to be led by the patient
• Empathy & understanding
• Friendly and approachable
• Ability to work in a team
• Reliability
• Awareness of you own support needs
• Experience of caring / nursing 
• Volunteers must be over 18 years of age for this role

What's in it for you

• Help a local charity and give something back
• Learn new skills
• Gain more confidence
• Make new friends
• All training and induction to Dorothy House provided
• Out of pocket expenses reimbursed

Please note

This role will requires a DBS check

Purpose: To coordinate and deliver high-quality, person-centred clinical and care support for AuDHD UK beneficiaries, ensuring compliance with clinical guidelines, robust risk management, and effective navigation of care, funding, and safeguarding processes.

Location: Remote (UK-based preferred)

Reports to: Care Coordinator

Commitment: Flexible, part-time (details negotiable)

Role: Unpaid volunteer position

This role is subject to an Enhanced Adult DBS check - you must meet our eligibility requirements to be considered (must be a current UK resident and have been for the last 5 years). You must also have your own personal computer/laptop to work from.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Guideline Compliance

• Support the Care Coordinator in implementing and maintaining up-to-date clinical guidelines, ensuring all activities align with best practice.

Beneficiary Safeguarding and Referral

• Conduct comprehensive risk assessments for beneficiaries, with particular focus on high-risk cases, and ensure all documentation is thorough.

• Risk assess and send initial referral for neurodiversity assessments

High-Risk Cases & Referrals

• Coordinate high-risk cases, working closely with the Care Coordinator to ensure robust safeguarding, timely referrals, and multi-agency collaboration.

Funding Eligibility

• Understand and advise on eligibility for funding and support, including eligibility and risk assessments, and accurate documentation for each applicant.

Care Complaints

• Manage and investigate care-related complaints, following formal procedures and ensuring detailed documentation.

Care Coordination

• Serve as a key point of contact for beneficiaries, families, and professionals, ensuring seamless communication and continuity of care.

• Develop and review personalised care and support plans, adapting to changing needs.

Essential Skills & Attributes

• Experience in safeguarding adults, care coordination, case management, or clinical support (NHS, social care, or charity sector preferred).

• Strong risk assessment, safeguarding, and documentation skills.

• Excellent communication, empathy, and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to manage sensitive situations and maintain confidentiality.

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Commitment to AuDHD UK’s mission and values.

• Lived experience of AuDHD (desired).

Time Commitment Estimate

• Clinical Care Team Management and guideline compliance: 2-4 hrs/month (availability to join our Key Staff Meeting on Wednesdays at 12pm is desirable)

• Beneficiary risk assessments: 2-5 hrs/week at peak application times

• High-risk cases/referrals: 2–4 hrs/case

• Funding eligibility: approx. 1 hour per case ad hoc

• Care complaints: 2–4 hrs/case (plus 3–5 hrs/case for formal investigations)

The above times are estimates during peak application periods. General expectation approx. 3-5 hours a week

Mission Alignment Requirements

All applicants must demonstrate:

• Understanding of AuDHD UK’s core purpose.

• Commitment to volunteer-led service delivery.

• Adherence to safeguarding and ethical guidelines.

Are you keen to make the workplace fun and engaging for our great people providing great care through the power of cycling?

At West London NHS Trust we are passionate about great people providing great care by offering a highly personalised working experience. We are also aspiring to become one of the greenest trusts in London if not the UK. As a volunteer you will promote the diversity and inclusion for all staff, create a Bicycle User Group which is welcoming and accessible to all and develop and champion fun and engaging cycling moments throughout the year. 

This role involves:

• Using your own bicycle to live by your own values and love of cycling and embed them into the role
• Confident in speaking with others and encourage others to model same behaviours
• Create, promote and maintain a Trustwide Bicycle User Group
• Organise a group of specific ride events with the support from the Travel and Transport Department, encourage people from under-represented groups to take part
• Promote events through advertisement and branding with the support of the Communications and Facilities team.
• An expected time commitment of twice a month
• Adhere to the relevant policies and procedures of the Trust, including Infection control, Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity, Data Protection and Confidentiality policies
• Opportunities to get involved in other areas of the Trust’s work, including our NHS careers 

As a Client Services Helpline Volunteer, you will play an important role in supporting the delivery of our services. Working within a compassionate and inclusive environment, you’ll help provide high‑quality, person‑centred support to individuals seeking guidance, information, or reassurance.

This role involves:

1. Supporting callers on our helpline
2. Recording information accurately
3. Signposting to relevant partner services
4. Working collaboratively within a supportive team environment 

We ideally ask for a commitment of one 4‑hour shift per week, although we do appreciate that this may not always fit around everyone’s circumstances. Our helpline operates 24/7 and shifts are prearranged to suit volunteers’ availability.

Training:

The training for Client Services Helpline role consists of initial e-learning. Volunteers are also required to attend a weeklong virtual training session so that we can provide guidance and support to them whilst they navigate our systems for the first time as well as for us to go through our processes and ensure that they have all the access needed to succeed in the role.

The training runs Monday – Friday from 9am to 4pm.

St Basils is looking for a new Non-Exec Director / Trustee with Marketing & Communications experience to join our Board

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 from those 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 expertise in marketing, communications and/or public engagement to increase the reach of our campaigns. Our new Board member will need to strong networking and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to open doors and build relationships.

As our Marketing & Communications Board Member, you will:

· Ensure marketing initiatives align with the organisation’s goals and regulatory requirements.

· Support St Basils’ PR and marketing initiatives by bringing knowledge of current marketing tools

· Help identify opportunities to increase the visibility and impact of St Basils’ campaigns.

· Leverage personal and professional networks to enhance the charity’s reach, partnerships and fundraising potential.

· Work closely with the Director of Income Generation & Value Capture to ensure St Basils’ marketing and communications strategies are being implemented effectively.

• Contribute to trustee discussions and decisions on broader charity strategy, risk management and financial oversight.

Our new Director / Trustee will sit on our Business Support & Audit Committee which oversees central functions, including Finance, HR, Fundraising and Marketing. 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 an experienced professional in marketing, communications, PR or brand strategy, ideally with experience in the youth or homelessness sectors.

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

Understanding of governance and the responsibilities of a charity trustee is desirable, but training will be provided.

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.

Across the UK, our volunteer groups play a vital part in supporting people affected by MS, bringing people together and connecting our local MS communities.

As a local group Support Volunteer you’ll signpost people affected by MS to information about local and national services. That could be helping someone access information about the care or benefits they need or giving them a hand with a grant application.

In this role you’ll develop your listening and communication skills, as well as your knowledge of local services.

Help Shape the Future of Children’s Healthcare in Sussex. Join the Board of Trustees at Rockinghorse Children’s Charity.

As a Trustee, you'll work alongside fellow Board members and our Executive Team to:

• Help shape the charity's long-term strategy and future direction.
• Ensure Rockinghorse is well governed, financially sustainable and delivering the greatest possible impact.
• Support and challenge the Executive Team as we deliver our ambitious plans.
• Champion the charity and help build relationships that strengthen our work across Sussex.

This is an opportunity to contribute to decisions that will help thousands of children and families every year.

We're particularly interested in hearing from people with experience in:

• Finance
• Healthcare or allied professions
• Charity governance
• Fundraising
• Business leadership
• Marketing and communications
• Research, data or evaluation
• IT
• Digital
• Business development

We're particularly keen to hear from people with lived experience of children's healthcare and from people whose backgrounds and experiences are currently underrepresented on charity boards.

About Rockinghorse

Rockinghorse was set up in 1967 by Dr Trevor Mann as an appeal to provide the first neonatal incubator outside London.

The appeal not only marked the beginning of our charity, but also the very early days of what later became the Trevor Mann Baby Unit. Dr Mann was intrinsic to paediatric care in Sussex as we know it today.

Roll forward to today, and we are proud to be the official fundraising arm of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton along with the Trevor Mann Baby Unit.

We also support many other NHS hospital settings throughout Sussex, including Bluefin Ward at Worthing, Chalkhill and the Special Care Baby Unit at Haywards Heath, and Howard Ward at St Richard’s in Chichester.

Working in partnership with these services, we fund projects which focus on improving children’s physical and emotional well-being, while providing additional support services for parents and carers.

The projects we support fall into six key categories: toys, equipment, spaces, research, activities, and people.

Our Vision

Rockinghorse’s vision is a world where children are healthy and happy.  

Our Mission

We fund and deliver transformative projects and services that enhance the care and support given by our incredible colleagues in the NHS.

We invest in state-of-the-art treatments, life-saving equipment, critical mental health support, additional people, ground-breaking research, and inspiring spaces that go above and beyond for children.

We work in partnership with the UHSussex NHS Trust and other charities to ensure every young patient and their family receive the best possible care when they are unwell.

Our Values

We strive to always operate in line with the following guiding values.

We care

We care about children, young people, their families, and all those that look after for them. We always act with kindness and compassion. We care about the NHS and all those who work there. We care about the world and want to make it a better place.

We’re passionate

We are passionate about making life better for children, young people, and their families. If there’s something we can do to make life better for patients and their families, we’ll go above and beyond to do it. We are passionate about our community and all those in it.

We’re honest

We are open and honest about our work, what we fund and how we raise funds. We work hard to ensure money goes to projects that genuinely make a difference. We involve our supporters in our projects and share our learning and experience wherever possible.

We’re supportive

We help wherever and however we can. We support children and their families; we support Health Care Professionals (HCP) and paediatric

services, and we support each other as team members. We work with and support other charities and organisations who are doing great things for children in Sussex.

We’re collaborative

We prioritise working with people and organisations wherever possible. We work with experts and others for the best possible outcome for sick

children and their families. We love a partnership that prioritises impact and avoids duplication.

How to apply

If you’d like to help shape the future of children’s healthcare across Sussex, we’d love to hear from you. Please email a covering letter outlining your skills and experience in relation to the Trustee Job Description to Dr Oli Rahman, our Chair of Trustees, by 30 September 2026.

Interviews will be held in person in Brighton in October (dates/times flexible to shortlisted candidates).
If you have any questions about the role, process or the charity please email our CEO, Donna Holland.

For email addresses and further information, please refer to the attached Application Pack.