Church relationship manager volunteer roles

This role presents an opportunity to liaise with businesses and organisations in your local community to find and arrange suitable reading venues for your group. Reading venues are typically in local libraries, churches and other businesses and organisations that can provide places where there is at least one other person in the building, whilst also providing an element of confidentiality, they are never classroom settings.

What you will be doing

● Ensuring there are sufficient suitable venues for reading pairs, in line with the Venue and Lone Worker Policy.

● Managing the relationship between the venues and the group and source new venues as the group grows.

● Finding organisations and businesses willing to offer a room or suitable space on their premises for your reading pairs to use at certain times of the week when it is not in use.

● Ensuring that the premises are suitable for Read Easy by using the Venue Checklist.

● Reporting on the venues arranged to the Management Team to gain their approval.

● Confirming the arrangements in writing with the venue provider.© Read Easy UK 2 June 2023

● Keeping an up-to-date record of venues and regularly review venue arrangements.

● Supporting the Team in finding and booking other venues for Read Easy events.

● Attending Management Team meetings, typically every six to eight weeks.

The skills you will need

● Experience of networking or the confidence to contact local organisations to explain how each venue can support local people to improve their reading.

● Ability to develop strong working relationships with local venue providers.

● Good communication and people skills, with a commitment to maintaining confidentiality.

● Reasonable confidence in using IT.

● The ability to use initiative and work independently.

● A willingness to abide by Read Easy policies and procedures.

● An open attitude that encourages two-way communication and willingness to ask for and offer support to the Team.

● A non-judgemental attitude and respect for others, with a commitment to equality and diversity, so that you can make everyone feel valued and included.

● Energy and enthusiasm with an average of one hour a week to commit to the role.

What is in it for you?

● Develop networking skills

● Meet and work collaboratively with new people

● Be active and engaged, adding value to your local community.

Interested?

If you think you can offer the time, skills and experience that we are looking for and would be interested in taking up this role, please contact the person who sent you this role description.

Please note: All Read Easy volunteer roles are subject to Safer Recruitment procedures which include verification of identity and two references, and eligibility for Management Team roles in line with Charity Commission regulations for trustees.

Please see the ‘Introduction to Read Easy for potential Management Team volunteers’ to find out more about the structure and responsibilities of the Management Team.

Chair

Harrogate Homeless Project

Board meetings take place at Springboard day centre, Oxford Street, Harrogate, HG1 1PP.

Harrogate Homeless Project is the leading charity in the Harrogate district supporting individuals who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or recovering from homelessness. Our mission is to use our expertise to address the root causes of a person’s homelessness and support them to long-term independent living. We aim to influence local, regional and national policy to help deliver better outcomes for our clients.

We have bold ambitions to make a step change in the support given to our clients.  We benefit from strong and positive public awareness of our work.  That work is supported by a staff team of around 18 people, nearly 50 volunteers and strong links with partners including North Yorkshire Council, other charities and local businesses.

The next period promises to be exciting for Harrogate Homeless Project as we develop our direct services to clients, extend the support offered in our premises by partners, put our influencing of public policy on a firmer footing and to significantly invest in, and expand, our fundraising.

The role.

Our current Chair is leaving in a planned way to take up a non-executive role in another organisation.  We are seeking an exceptional successor to lead our Board and work with our executive team to progress our ambitious plans.

We are looking for someone with proven leadership qualities; you will also be well-connected with any of our key partner groups in North Yorkshire – charities, businesses and the public sector.  The highest levels of personal credibility are essential for this role and sound judgment in dealings with staff, clients and partners is essential. Our longer-term impact and sustainability rely on rigorous governance and statutory compliance.  You will ensure that our oversight, scrutiny and legal compliance arrangements are as strong as possible.

This is a great time to join us, as we work collaboratively with a diverse range of partners to bring hope and empowerment to our clients.  If you want to be part of this, we look forward to hearing from you.

The appointment is on a voluntary basis with reasonable expenses reimbursed.

Information

Download the candidate brief from the vacancies section of our website to find out more about the role.

How to apply

To make an application, please visit the recruitment page of our website, read the candidate pack and submit:

• Your CV
• A covering letter (no more than two sides) that sets out how you match the criteria and describes the specific experience you can bring to the appointment to support Harrogate Homeless Project’s aims.

Recruitment timeline

Closing date: Friday 31 July 2026

Shortlisting: August 2026

Interviews: 14 September 2026 (provisional)

Are you a parent, grandparent or have experience of caring for children?

Do you have 2-3 hours per week to spare? Use your experience to support a family facing challenging times.

Our Home-Visiting Service supports families who are experiencing difficulties or suffering stress and who have at least one child under the age of five years.

Our aims are:

To increase the confidence and independence of the family by:

Offering support, friendship and practical assistance

Visiting families in their own homes and in their community, where the dignity and identity of each adult and child can be respected and protected

Reassuring parents that difficulties in bringing up children is not unusual and encouraging them to enjoy family life.

Developing a relationship with the family in which time can be shared and understanding can be developed. This approach is flexible to take account of different needs.

Encouraging parents’ strengths and emotional wellbeing – for the ultimate benefit of their children.

Encouraging families to widen their network of relationships, and to effectively use the support and services available within the community.

Basis Yorkshire is seeking a committed and values-driven individual to join our Board of Trustees as Treasurer. This is an opportunity to support a long-standing, specialist organisation working alongside sex workers and people experiencing sexual exploitation across Yorkshire.

Basis has over three decades of experience delivering trauma-informed, non-judgemental support, advocacy, outreach and education. We work with people across all sectors of the sex industry, as well as young people and adults at risk of or experiencing sexual exploitation. Our approach is rooted in dignity, agency, social justice and harm reduction, with the voices and experiences of the people we support at the centre of everything we do.

As Treasurer Trustee, you will play a key role in supporting the Board’s oversight of the charity’s financial health, sustainability and governance. While professional financial qualifications are not required, we are looking for someone who is confident in scrutinising financial information, asking constructive questions, and contributing to strategic decision-making.

We are particularly interested in individuals who share our commitment to challenging stigma and inequality, and who can bring thoughtful, independent judgment to Board discussions. Previous experience in the voluntary or community sector, safeguarding, or connections to strategic networks in Leeds would be welcomed.

Trustees are expected to attend quarterly Board meetings, contribute to working groups where possible, and engage with role-specific matters between meetings. An enhanced DBS check will be required and arranged by Basis.

We warmly encourage applications from people with diverse lived and professional experiences, particularly those currently underrepresented at the Board level.

Perinatal Support Volunteers provide one-to-one support to parents during pregnancy and up to nine months after the birth. These parents either have mental health issues or are at risk of developing them.

Perinatal Support Volunteers visit these families once a week (usually weekdays during working hours) for 2-3 hours, providing emotional support and practical help in the family’s home or local community. Support is aimed at empowering parents and building resilience beyond the support period.

The type of support Perinatal Support Volunteers provide to parents may include:

• An empathetic and non-judgemental listening ear
• Support to prepare for parenthood
• Support to build confidence in parenting skills
• Support to develop a positive relationship with their infant
• Support to establish daily and weekly routines
• Support to take time for self-care
• Support to manage the things that are causing stress
• Support to access relevant services
• Support to access local green spaces
• Support to make connections with other parents

No special qualifications are necessary to become a Perinatal Support Volunteer, but Home-Start volunteers are usually either parents or grandparents themselves, or people with experience of young children and family life. We particularly welcome volunteers with lived experience of perinatal mental health challenges.