Community and events fundraising executive volunteer roles

We are looking for our next Chair of Trustees – someone who will work closely with our Executive Team and Board to guide the organisation through what is both a challenging and genuinely exciting time. The funding environment is tough. The political context is difficult. And yet the need for what we do has never been greater.

This is an unpaid voluntary role. Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed in accordance with our Volunteer Expenses Policy.

The successful candidate will lead a vibrant, well-established, national charity as it navigates the next chapter of its story.

Main tasks

• Developing and setting our future strategy, alongside the Executive Team and other Trustees
• Helping shape and deliver our future, identifying opportunities in an evolving landscape
• Leading the Board of Trustees, including regular 1:1s and providing space for reflection
• Acting as a 'critical friend' to our Executive Team, as well as formal line management to the CEO (and COO in their absence)
• Acting as an ambassador for the charity – raising awareness of what we do and engaging potential supporters and other key stakeholders
• Responsibility, along with the other trustees, for the governance of the charity
• Contributing to the ongoing strategy of the charity, in line with our charitable objectives
• Participating in board meetings and sub-committees in an inclusive and thoughtful way

Please download our Chair Application Pack for more information.

The objective of Spotlight on Africa (“SoA ”) is to improve the livelihoods and opportunities of those in need in Africa through the following activities:

- Improved healthcare

- Access to education

- Improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene

- Economic empowerment through relevant skills training

To achieve its charitable purposes SoA provides grants to Spotlight on Africa-Uganda Foundation (“SoA UF”), a registered international NGO in Uganda (“SoA UF”) who execute the work and manage the activities in Eastern Uganda.

In this region we’ve built two primary schools serving 1,400 children, a health clinic treating 50,000 patients annually, and a maternity hospital delivering 1,250 babies safely each year and drilled 50 deep boreholes supplying clean water to 40,000 people. We have also built two Technology centres that provide teachers, students, health workers, and tradespeople with essential digital skills and alternative career prospects in the region which is particularly important for women. We also provide vocational training in carpentry, tailoring, agriculture, hairdressing, and borehole maintenance.

SoA continues to grow and in 2025-26 raised over £1 million from donations and fundraising events. It has strong governance provided by its UK Board of Trustees that is chaired by a King’s Counsel and by the Board of SoA-UF and its patrons who include the former Chief Justice of Uganda and the Ugandan Ambassador to the UK.

The role

As Treasurer you will chair our Finance, Risk and Audit Committee and act as the Charity’s lead voice on financial matters. Working closely with the Chair, Assistant Treasurer and SoA-UF’s Executive Director and Accountant you will help ensure SoA remains financially resilient, well-governed and delivering value by:

· Finance — overseeing our planning, budgeting and reporting processes including KPIs; guiding the Trustees and SoA-UF Board in reviewing the monthly management accounts, performance KPIs, approving annual accounts; advising on the financial implications of strategic decisions; and liaising with our external auditors.

· Risk management — providing oversight of our internal controls, financial control framework and risk register, and ensuring appropriate insurance and anti-fraud arrangements are in place. Actively managing foreign exchange risks and maximising interest income from deposits. Close stewardship and oversight of the application of grants to SoA-UF through to expenditure on its charitable activities.

· Governance — chairing the Finance Committee, leading the Trustees’ duty to ensure proper financial stewardship, and supporting compliance with Charity Commission and other regulatory requirements. Also supporting SoA-UF Board in ensuring they provide proper financial stewardship and compliance with local laws and regulations.

Who we are looking for

You will be a qualified accountant with strong commercial awareness and the ability to translate financial information clearly for a Board audience. Beyond the technical qualifications, we are looking for someone who brings:

· Experience of organisational risk management and internal controls, ideally from an international perspective

· A solid understanding of charity governance, trusteeship and the legal duties of a trustee

· Proven ability to communicate and explain financial information to non-finance colleagues and stakeholders

· The leadership skills to chair the Finance committee and bring people together around shared goals

· Willingness for occasional to travel to our projects in Africa

Above all, you will share our belief that we can deliver sustained change that transforms the lives of those of the poorest of the poor in Africa through our charitable activities.

About the role:

· This is a voluntary, unremunerated role but with reimbursement of travel and other related expenses.

· The time commitment is:

o Monthly SoA Trustee meetings and Quarterly SoA-UF Board meetings

o Monthly Finance meetings with the SoA Chair, SoA Assistant Treasurer, SoA-UF Chairman, SoA-UF Executive Director and SoA Accountant

o An annual UK away day strategy session (weekend day)

o Additional time (average 10 hours a month) for preparing reports, liaising with the Assistant Treasurer, managing FX and deposits and ad hoc matters

The initial term of office is three years but can be extended by mutual agreement.

For more than a century, the RAF Benevolent Fund has stood beside the RAF Family;
through war and peace, hardship and change. From the first day in uniform to the final
years of life, we have been a constant source of emotional, practical and financial support.
Today, our work reaches serving personnel, veterans, families and the bereaved in more
than 30 countries.
We are seeking a Welfare and Safeguarding Trustee for an initial term of four years,
(ideally) commencing 1 October 2026.
You will have a relevant background with safeguarding experience (such as nursing, medical,
social care, teaching or other healthcare professional, ideally at a senior level). You will
understand the needs of those who are vulnerable whether its due to age, health and
wellbeing or socio-economic factors and will have the skills and knowledge to advise and guide
on appropriate strategies to ensure the Fund is best able to meet those needs. It is key that
you are able to provide relevant specialist knowledge, support and information and to clearly
articulate issues relating to safeguarding which will be invaluable to the Fund in ensuring it
complies with all legal and good practice requirements in relation to safeguarding and that it
has clear and up-to-date policies and procedures.
Interested?
If you have the experience we are seeking and are as passionate about the RAF Family as we
are, we would love to hear from you. To apply please send an up-to-date CV and covering
email / letter outlining how your background, skills, experience meets the person
specification (see final page) to Lisa Harmshaw (email address in role information attached) our Head
of Governance. If you have any questions about the role or would like to have an informal
discussion prior to applying, please contact Lisa on phone number given in role information attached or via email.
We welcome applications from anyone who has the experience we are seeking, irrespective of
background, community, industry or protected characteristics. If you require any reasonable
adjustments as part of your application process, please let us know. We operate safer selection
practices; this will involve the successful candidate being required to have a Disclosure and
Barring Service check.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and this position will remain open until we
have found our ideal candidate. No agencies please.