Evaluation and research manager volunteer roles

Chair of the Board of Trustees and Trustee Opportunities (Voluntary)

Ben is the charity supporting the health and wellbeing of people who work or have worked in the UK automotive industry. As the sector continues to transform, Ben is entering an ambitious new phase to significantly expand its reach, strengthen its role as the industry’s trusted wellbeing partner and deliver its goal to treble impact and double fundraising by 2030. With strong financial foundations and clear ambition for growth, we are now seeking a new Chair and several Trustees to help shape this next chapter.

The Chair will provide strategic leadership to the Board, support and challenge the CEO, and ensure strong governance, financial sustainability and clarity of purpose. They will lead the Board in setting strategy, driving impact, stewarding significant reserves and acting as an ambassador across the sector.

We are looking for:

• Non-executive experience including as committee or board chair
• Strong governance and financial acumen
• Experience of organisational change or growth
• A collaborative, values driven leader who brings sound judgement, strategic insight and excellent relationship building skills.

The Board meets 4 times a year, with approximately 50% of those taking place in-person. The Chair will serve up to 4 years.

About Youth Advantage UK

Youth Advantage UK is a growing organisation  working to improve outcomes for young people across England and Wales. Our England & Wales Local Operations Department leads local policy and research projects across counties, regions, cities and towns — identifying local challenges and developing evidence‑based recommendations that support young people to thrive.

As a young organisation, we are still building our systems and ways of working. This is a great opportunity to help shape a department at an early stage and contribute to meaningful, place‑based change.

Please note: This is a voluntary and unpaid role, with no financial compensation or future paid opportunities attached. We encourage you to apply if you have relevant or transferable skills. YAUK is currently an unregistered charity, working towards gaining the registered status.

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Research & Policy Officer to support the delivery and coordination of local research and policy projects across England and Wales. You will supervise and support Officers, Researchers and Advisors, helping to delegate tasks, resolve issues, and ensure high‑quality outputs.

Working closely with the department’s management team, you will contribute to planning, decision‑making, and the development of effective ways of working. This role is ideal for someone with strong research skills who enjoys supporting others and thrives in a collaborative, evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities

- Delegate tasks and oversee the work of Officers, Researchers and Advisors.

- Provide day‑to‑day supervision, guidance and support to team members.

- Help resolve issues, remove barriers and maintain smooth project delivery.

- Lead or contribute to local research and policy projects across England and Wales.

- Ensure research is rigorous, ethical and relevant to local contexts.

- Support the development of team members through feedback and coaching.

- Build positive working relationships with internal teams, volunteers and external partners.

- Work alongside the management team to support planning and decision‑making.

About You

You will have:

- Experience in research, evaluation or policy analysis.

- Strong analytical and writing skills.

- Ability to supervise or support others in a project or team setting.

- Experience volunteering and/or managing volunteers in a charity or community environment.

- Confidence working in ambiguity and helping build structure where needed.

- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

- A collaborative, supportive approach to teamwork.

- Commitment to improving outcomes for young people.

Why Volunteer With Us

- Play a key role in shaping a new department at a formative stage.

- Use your research and leadership skills to support real, local impact.

- Gain supervisory and project‑coordination experience in a supportive environment.

- Join a mission‑driven team passionate about youth opportunity.

Apply Now

If you’re passionate about evidence‑based change and want to help shape a growing organisation, we’d love to hear from you. Join Youth Advantage UK as we build our Local Operations Department and create better opportunities for young people across England and Wales.

Become the Volunteer Who Helps Launch a Movement

Join Unlock YOUR Potential and help build a charity that breaks barriers and transforms futures

At Unlock YOUR Potential, we believe that an accident of birth should never define a person’s destiny. Talent is everywhere — opportunity is not. We exist to change that.

We’re building a new social‑mobility charity dedicated to empowering adults from low‑income backgrounds and communities facing the highest levels of deprivation. Through holistic employability, wellbeing and mentoring programmes, we’re here to break cycles, open doors, and unlock the potential that has always been there.

We’re focusing our work in areas ranked among the top 10% most deprived in the UK for employment and skills. The need is urgent. The barriers are real. But the opportunity for impact is extraordinary.

And this is where you come in......

Volunteer Project Manager (Short‑Term, High‑Impact Role)

Help us build a charity from the ground up

We’re looking for a proactive, organised and mission‑driven Volunteer Project Manager to help us set up and launch our new charity. This is a rare chance to be the first operational volunteer joining the Founder and a small team of designers at the earliest, most exciting stage of our journey.

This is not just a role — it’s a chance to shape the foundations of an organisation that will support thousands of adults across the UK.

You will work directly with the Founder to:

• Build clear project plans, timelines and action lists for our launch

• Create simple, effective early systems, workflows and operational processes

• Track progress, identify risks and keep the Founder focused on what matters most

• Coordinate tasks across design, operations, service development and early marketing

• Support the recruitment of our wider volunteer team

• Influence the structure, strategy and foundations of a brand‑new social‑mobility charity

Your work will directly determine how quickly we can begin delivering life‑changing support to adults who face the highest barriers to employment and skills.

Who we’re looking for

You’ll thrive in this role if you are:

• Experienced in project management, operations or organisational planning

• Someone who brings structure, clarity and calm to fast‑moving environments

• A builder — someone who enjoys creating order from ambiguity

• Deeply passionate about fairness, opportunity and social mobility

• Able to commit time over the next few weeks or months to help us reach launch

If you choose to stay on after the launch, we’d love that — but this particular project is focused on the start‑up phase.

Why this role matters

This is your chance to be part of something at the moment it begins. You won’t just be managing tasks — you’ll be shaping a charity designed to unlock potential for people who have been overlooked for far too long.

1. If you want to use your skills to create real, lasting social impact…
2. If you want to help build something meaningful from the ground up…
3. If you believe that where someone starts should never limit where they can go…

We’d love to hear from you.

Volunteer Grant Officer

Southwark Tenants’ Federation – Grassroots Housing Advice Charity

Location: Southwark / Remote (hybrid available)
Time commitment: Flexible (approx. 4–8 hours per week)
Contract: Volunteer

About Us

We are a small grassroots charity based in Southwark and the only surviving tenants’ federation in London. For decades, we have supported tenants and residents to defend their housing rights, challenge poor conditions, and have a collective voice in decisions that affect their homes and communities.

Our social housing advice service supports people facing homelessness, disrepair, evictions, and housing management issues, with a strong focus on empowerment and tenant-led action.

The Role

We are seeking a Volunteer Grant Officer to help us secure funding to sustain and grow our vital work. This role is crucial to keeping an independent, tenant-led voice alive in London.

You will work closely with a small, committed team and help ensure our advice service remains accessible to local residents.

Key Responsibilities

• Research grant funding opportunities suitable for a grassroots, tenant-led organisation
• Draft and submit grant applications to trusts, foundations, and statutory funders
• Maintain a simple funding pipeline and track deadlines
• Work with staff and volunteers to gather service data, outcomes, and case studies
• Assist with basic funder monitoring and reporting

About You

Essential:

• Strong written communication skills
• Good organisational skills and reliability
• Commitment to social justice and housing rights

Desirable (but not essential):

• Experience of grant writing or fundraising
• Knowledge of social housing, tenant organisations, or advice services

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of social housing.

What We Offer

• Flexible volunteering hours
• Support, supervision, and guidance
• The opportunity to contribute to a unique and historic tenant-led organisation
• Experience in grant writing within the voluntary and housing sectors
• References provided where appropriate

The Sutton Trust is at a pivotal moment in its development. For nearly three decades, we have been the UK’s leading voice on social mobility, working tirelessly to break the link between socio-economic background and life chances. Today, that mission is as urgent as it has ever been. Despite pockets of progress, social mobility in the UK remains low by international standards, with deep inequalities in education, access to professions, and regional opportunity continuing to limit life chances and economic potential.

We are seeking a Trustee with policy expertise who shares our commitment to fairness, evidence, and long-term change. We value diversity of thought and experience, and we are keen to hear from those who can help us navigate an evolving political landscape and leverage our research to challenge systemic barriers, ensuring our voice remains the most influential in the national drive to transform social mobility.

Duties and Responsibilities of a Trustee

Policy Responsibilities

• Providing oversight for the charity’s research and advocacy, ensuring the Trust’s work is mission-aligned, evidence-based, and intellectually rigorous
• Supporting the Board in discharging their collective duties around planning, risk and compliance, particularly in areas such as horizon scanning for upcoming legislative changes, political shifts and shifts in social trends affecting the Trust as well as specific regulations around political neutrality
• Leveraging their professional networks and expertise, enhancing the charity’s credibility and influence, ensuring our research translates into meaningful systemic change

General Responsibilities

• Inputting into and agreeing the Trust’s vision, mission and values and providing advice on the Trust’s wider purpose, goals and activities
• Inputting into and agreeing the Trust’s aims and long-term strategy in furtherance of its charitable purpose
• Ensuring key risks are identified, monitored and controlled effectively as well as keeping abreast of changes in the Trust’s operating environment
• Monitoring the Trust’s performance against its strategic aims, operational plans and budgets
• Safeguarding and promoting the Trust’s reputation, and acting in the best interest of the Trust at all times
• Ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of the Trust
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
• Ensuring proper arrangements are in place for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and renumeration of the CEO and they are held to account
• Contributing to regular reviews of the Trust’s own governance
• Ensuring the Trust complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations

In addition to the above statutory duties, each Trustee should use their specific skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to the Board’s decision-making, and dedicate sufficient time to carry out their responsibilities effectively. This may involve sitting on Board Committees, scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the Trustee has special expertise.

Trustees aim to support a specific member of the SLT based on their skills and experience or may participate in appropriate subgroups, e.g., Alumni Leadership Board, Education Advisory Group, (Development) Board meetings, etc.

Person Specification

Mission and Values

• Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and its mission to address educational disadvantage
• High level of personal and professional ethics, integrity, and accountability
• Willingness to safeguard and promote the Trust’s reputation within the wider sector

Strategy and Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to think strategically in order to provide appropriate oversight and scrutiny for the Trust’s overall activity and direction
• Ability to confidently and fairly make evidence-based decisions and constructively challenge the decisions of others if required
• Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team to provide advice, make decisions, and/or solve problems
• A commitment to personal development and a willingness to participate in regular reviews of the Board’s own performance and governance

Governance, Risk and Finance

• Understanding of the legal duties of a Trustee (or willingness to learn), including compliance with Charity Commission and Companies House regulations and commitment to the roles and responsibilities of a Trustee
• Awareness of (or willingness to learn about) financial health indicators and organisational risk management

Specialist Expertise and Experience

• A background in public affairs, civil service, think tanks, education sector organisations or senior policy or research roles in (education) charities
• Strong understanding of how UK government (at local, regional or national level) and/ or the UK education sector works
• Strong influencing and communications skills with the ability to lead discussions, provide expert advice, and influence stakeholders in a professional manner
• Good understanding of how to translate policy jargon into clear, strategic advice for the wider Trustee Board

Interviews

Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 30th March. First round interviews will take place on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th April, and second round interviews will take place w/c 27th April or w/c 4th May. All interviews will be held at our London offices in Millbank Tower.

We are now at a particularly exciting moment. Following multi-year funding from Creative Scotland and the success of productions such as Small Town Boys, we are looking ahead to our next phase of growth with confidence and ambition. This is a wonderful time to step into the role of Chair and help shape what comes next.

As Chair, you will lead a committed and thoughtful board, working closely with our artistic and executive leadership to set strategic direction, champion our values, and ensure the organisation continues to flourish. You will be an advocate for dance, for Dundee and for the artists and communities we serve. Your ability to build strong relationships, communicate clearly and create a supportive, well-governed environment will be central to our continued success.

It is a role with responsibility and also with enormous reward.

We run creative programmes, workshops and performances that are inclusive and accessible. We nurture talent and provide opportunities for people to develop their creative practice and skills. We create high- quality productions that tour throughout Scotland and the UK.

Our work is inspired by stories and ideas from the people and communities we work with in Dundee and beyond.

We would be delighted to hear from you and to learn how your experience, perspective and passion could help lead Shaper/Caper into its next chapter.

We're looking for 2-3 detail-oriented and strategic Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Specialist Volunteers to help optimise our online presence and ensure our campaigns and content reach the communities that need them most and increase the charity’s search engine results rankings. The SEO Specialist Volunteers will play a key role in enhancing the visibility and searchability of Burning Nights CRPS Support’s website and digital content.

The SEO Specialist Volunteers will be volunteering within the Communications & Marketing Team to implement SEO best practices, conduct keyword research, improve site structure, and analyse web performance – all to ensure our content reaches a broader audience and amplifies the voice of our charity’s supporters online.

Key Tasks and Objectives

• Competitor and Keyword Research: Conduct keyword research to inform website content and campaign strategies.
• On-page optimisation: Optimise existing content for improved search engine ranking (meta tags, meta descriptions, headers, alt text, etc.)
• Monitor and analyse SEO performance using tools such as Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and SEMrush.
• Technical SEO Implementation: Identify technical SEO issues and collaborate with content teams to resolve them.
• Backlink and Off-Page SEO: Assist in developing backlink strategies and improving domain authority.
• Support the content team in creating SEO-optimised articles and pages.
• Provide monthly reports on SEO performance and suggest improvements.
• Stay up to date with SEO trends, Google algorithm updates, and emerging best practices.

Key Skills or Qualifications

• Excellent understanding of SEO principles and search engine algorithms.
• Proven experience in conducting SEO audits, strategy development, and implementation.
• Experience using SEO tools such as Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Ahrefs, or SEMrush or similar platforms.
• Previous experience in digital marketing, content strategy, or technical SEO.
• Ability to perform keyword research and competitor analysis.
• Familiarity with HTML, CSS, and content management systems (ideally Django framework).
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent written communication and reporting skills.
• Evidence of organisational skills, with good attention to detail.
• The ability to work independently, turning recommendations into action without needing constant oversight.
• A passion for using your skills to support patients and families impacted by a debilitating pain condition and help save lives.
• Passion for creating inclusive and accessible digital spaces.
• Highly organised, self-motivated, and able to work independently.
• Enthusiastic about supporting a small charity.
• Willing to learn, adapt, and collaborate with a supportive team.

Desirable Experience

• Experience of Google Ads for nonprofits.
• Experience of using Django framework websites.
• Familiarity with accessibility best practices and inclusive web design.
• Experience working with or volunteering for nonprofit / charitable organisations.
• Demonstrable IT skills, particularly Google Drive and Microsoft.
• Good research and information management skills.
• An understanding of the charity sector and/or fundraising.

Key Benefits

• Volunteer as part of a forward-thinking, supportive team.
• Unique opportunity to directly contribute to strategic SEO recommendations, and the implementation of those changes to increase the charity’s visibility.
• At Burning Nights CRPS Support you’ll use your SEO skills for a mission with a real, measurable impact. This is more than just a volunteer role, it’s an opportunity to change and save lives.
• Make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families impacted by a severe pain condition.
• Building your network and forming connections with like-minded people and organisations.
• Enhance your CV and gain skills that are transferable to a variety of career paths.
• Receive training and ongoing support from our team.
• Experience the personal satisfaction and fulfilment that comes from helping others.

Training and Support

• Full induction to our organisation, as well as check-ins, ongoing training, supervision and support from the Communications & Marketing Lead Volunteer, Volunteer Co-ordinators, Trustees and the Volunteer Team.
• This a remote volunteering opportunity with regular online team check-ins and collaborative sessions with a supportive, creative, and inclusive team environment.
• Relevant and ongoing training for your volunteer role.
• Regular updates on charity activities.
• Support, advice and guidance from Charity team.
• After 3 months volunteering, all volunteers are eligible for additional training courses (reasonable cost).
• Out-of-pocket expenses, approved in advance will be reimbursed.

We are looking for a Community Engagement & Accountability Officer who is responsible for assisting in the implementation of integration activities and projects and ensuring that the needs and opinions of Second Tree community members are used to guide our work.

Your role would include:

• Creating timelines and coordinating plans for community engagement events

• Summarising relevant data collection in reports and project deliverables

• Communicating with community members and building trusting relationships

• Managing the organisation of proposals and other documents created by the CEA team

• Maintaining necessary records, files, reports, databases, and resource materials for the CEA team

• Researching information and gathering data necessary for community reporting

• Working with the wider Second Tree team to ensure that all community engagement events and projects align with organisational and programme strategies

• Supporting the CEA team by ensuring good levels of engagement with the community during activities and projects.

You should be able to:

• Be flexible with changing approaches and processes dependent on adjusting needs and contexts

• Take initiative and show high motivation

• Oversee the delivery of program activities and the completion of vital administrative and logistical tasks

• Be accountable and efficient, making sure that tasks that you take up are completed in the agreed timeframe

• Be honest and transparent, being able to give and receive feedback in the most straightforward way

• Care for people: the interests of the people we work with should always be your first concern

• Prioritise and delegate tasks effectively, ensuring all deadlines are met;

• Manage individuals effectively to create a positive team environment in which shared problem-solving is encouraged

• Communicate in English, both written and orally

• Learn quickly, and manage a wide-ranging and intense workload

The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in integrating meaningful community participation premised on thorough needs assessments

• Experience in maintaining and monitoring effective feedback mechanisms

• Experience in integrating community perspectives into planning, evaluation, and reporting of community engagement projects and events

• Training in facilitating focus groups and interviews;

• Knowledge of European projects and deliverables

• Familiarity with project management

• Proficiency in excel and quantitative data collection

What do we offer?

• A nurturing and collaborative working environment. We work hard to help our team members grow, investing in personal and professional development.

• Accommodation in a shared house

• Transportation to/from work

• After completion of a three-month trial, if you commit long-term, a small monthly expenses refund

In certain periods of the year, demand is extremely high, and the shared houses might be full. If you have the means to pay for your own accommodation, please let us know. We would still be happy to host you if space is available. However, in a situation where the shared houses are full, this would allow us to offer an opportunity to someone that cannot afford to pay rent.

Looking for an internship?

If, because of your degree or for any other reason, you would like to have your period at Second Tree credited as an internship, just apply to the vacancy that you’re interested in and mention this. We have agreements with several universities across Europe, and in many other cases, these agreements can be developed on an ad hoc basis.

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.

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.