Family development worker volunteer roles in Sutton, greater london
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CARIS Families (registered charity name CARIS Camden, charity number 1121919) is a small frontline charity that runs support services for homeless children and their parents living in temporary accommodation hostels in the London Boroughs of Camden and Hackney.
Families can find themselves homeless for many reasons. They may be displaced as part of the refugee resettlement process. They may be fleeing domestic violence or suffering the fallout of relationship breakdown. They may have simply found themselves priced out of the rental market and lost their home as a result. With affordable housing and social tenancies increasingly scarce, many children and their parents live in this state of limbo for years on end. The hostel, in effect, becomes the childhood home, making ‘temporary accommodation’ anything but temporary.
CARIS Families' frontline mission is twofold: to improve families' day-to-day experiences while in temporary accommodation and to assist them to move out of homelessness as soon as possible. We improve day-to-day experiences by providing hostel-based services for families that put back opportunities for children to thrive and that support parental wellbeing. At the same time, we casework with parents to progress their housing case so the family can move on into a settled home as soon as possible. In 2025 we supported 108 families and 146 children with play and learning opportunities, school holiday activities, family support work, poverty relief work and housing casework.
In addition to our frontline work, we contribute data and learned experience from our frontline work to academic research and political campaigning with the aim of bringing about reform of harmful temporary accommodation practises, and we support our families to share their lived experience.
Our turnover in 2024 was £238,555, with the majority of our income coming from trust and foundation grants, of which 4 are multi-year grants. We do not currently receive any statutory funding. Please find out more on the Charity Commission website at: CARIS CAMDEN - 1121919
Current context
We currently have a board of eight trustees and would like to increase the capacity of the board to match our growth, as we expand our hostel reach, family casework and public profile in the campaigns arena.
We have a Director, a staff team of six and a small cohort of volunteers who deliver our services within the family hostels and further afield. We have a broad support base with the significant impact and value of work recognised by our partners.
Roles
We have completed a Trustees skill audit and the following areas were identified as priority skills and expertise needed to support the development of our work:
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Individuals with lived experience of family temporary accommodation
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Children’s social workers
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Teachers or educationalists with an Early Years / KS1 interest, interested in educational inequality
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Academics with interest in sociology, urban geography and social inequality relating to housing rights and children’s life chances
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Housing and homelessness professionals
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Medical professionals with an interest in child and maternal health in light of social inequalities
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Corporate, HNW and legacy fundraising professionals
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IT and technology professionals with expertise in how we can better use technology to drive our work forward and increase impact using our collected data.
If you don’t quite match the above but feel you have significant skill or knowledge to contribute to our work we’d still love to hear from you.
Given the demographics of the families we support, we particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals, from people with experience of migration, and from people with lived experience of temporary accommodation.
Expectations for Trustees
Trustees play a vital role in ensuring the charity is well‑governed, sustainable, and delivering meaningful impact. As a trustee, you will be expected to:
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Attend all Trustees meetings. Currently this consists of four meetings per annum, which generally alternate between online delivery and in-person in central London.
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Attend at least one session of delivery with our staff team each year.
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Proactively contribute your particular area/s of knowledge, expertise and insight to board discussions and strategic decision-making processes.
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Be willing to proactively engage in the development of CARIS Families on a three to five-year term.
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Undertake an Enhanced DBS check and online Safeguarding Training course, both organised and funded by CARIS Families.
Please get in touch if you have any questions about the role or your decision to apply, we’d welcome a discussion.
Potentially interested individuals will be invited to have an informal conversation with our Director, followed by a meeting with our Chair of Trustees, prior to suitable individuals being voted in.
Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about the role or whether to apply, we’d welcome a discussion prior to application.
When you're ready to apply, please send your CV and a cover letter outlining why you are interested in becoming a Trustee with us.
Potentially interested individuals will be invited to have an informal conversation with our Director, followed by a meeting with our Chair of Trustees, prior to suitable individuals being voted in.
Do you have a passion to make a difference in the lives of children and families? Spurgeons is seeking new trustees to join our current Board in bringing prayerful wisdom and strategic guidance over the coming years.
Spurgeons is one of the UK’s leading children’s charities, supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their families for 150 years. Inspired by Christian faith and our founder Charles Spurgeon, we’re here for all families. Together, we create family hubs where we’re needed most, with counselling, early years and family support. We partner with local councils, churches and communities to care for every family, putting children and young people first in everything we do. Our services also include parenting support and resources, mental health support for children and young people, and working with families affected by domestic abuse and imprisonment.
These services are needed more than ever, and our current strategy focuses on growth, innovating in partnership with churches, developing online family hubs to expand our reach and ensuring fundraising is a strategic priority. We are ambitious and hopeful about how we can grow to make a significant impact on many more children’s lives in the future.
To support Board succession planning, we are seeking to appoint five new trustees with a range of skills and experience including:
· Fundraising and marketing
· Finance
· Children’s services e.g. senior leadership experience within social services, the care sector, local authorities, health, education, or charitable contexts
· Safeguarding
· Cultural change and transformation
Given an occupational requirement for these roles to be filled by Christians, we are seeking candidates with a personal and active Christian faith who are comfortable and aligned with the statement of faith outlined on our website.
In order to build on our Baptist heritage, we are also keen to ensure that at least one of our trustees is a member of, or has a connection with, the Baptist church.
Spurgeons values diversity, promotes inclusion, and encourages applications from a diverse range of candidates, including those with lived experience of children’s support services. We recognise the need to increase the diversity of the Board, for example in terms of age, ethnicity, disability, gender and LGBTQ+ representation.
In terms of location, at present, Board meetings take place in London and committee meetings take place virtually via Teams.
For further information, including full details of how to apply, please see our Appointment Details Pack which can be downloaded from the application resources/ supporting documents section below. Application is by submission of CV and cover letter via email to Laura Bagley at Macaulay Search (please see Appointment Details Pack for contact details).
The closing date for applications is 9am on Monday 2nd March 2026.
We create family hubs where we’re needed most, so, when a family member needs support, turn to us.



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About The Big House
The Big House Multibank exists to improve lives and build a more sustainable Scotland by reducing waste, maximising resources, and supporting families facing hardship. We do this by redistributing surplus goods from corporate partners to frontline organisations, schools, social workers, health visitors and community groups who support families in crisis.
Based in Fife, with satellite hubs in Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh, and expanding across Scotland, we combine environmental action, social justice and community partnership to tackle poverty, reduce pollution and strengthen local support systems.
Our work supports families to stay together, children to thrive, and communities to flourish while diverting significant volumes of surplus goods from landfill.
Our Ambition
Our 2026 Business Plan sets out an ambitious growth agenda, including:
- Doubling the volume of goods distributed
- Expanding into the Glasgow City Region
- Introducing digital inventory and tracking systems
- Embedding wrap-around care pathways for families
Strengthening our circular economy and environmental impact
Increasing fundraising, communications and corporate partnerships
To deliver this, we are strengthening our Board to ensure excellent governance, strategic leadership, and a clear focus on impact, purpose and people.
Purpose of the Role
To provide strategic leadership and governance, ensuring The Big House fulfils its charitable objectives, operates effectively, and remains sustainable, accountable and impactful.
Key Responsibilities
- Set and uphold the strategic direction of the charity
- Ensure legal, regulatory and financial compliance
- Provide oversight of risk, safeguarding and organisational performance
- Support and challenge the executive team constructively
- Act as an ambassador and advocate for The Big House
Legal Duties
Trustees share collective responsibility for:
- Acting in the best interests of the charity
- Managing resources responsibly
- Ensuring accountability and transparency
- Complying with charity law and governance best practice
Skills & Experience We Are Seeking
We are seeking individuals with senior-level expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Safeguarding & Social Care - senior experience in social work, education, health, early years or family support services, with strong safeguarding expertise.
- Supply Chain, Logistics & Warehousing - experience in logistics, operations, warehousing, fulfilment, or supply chain transformation.
- Digital Transformation & Data Governance - experience delivering digital systems, data governance, cyber security or operational technology.
- Circular Economy & Environmental Leadership - background in sustainability, reuse, recycling, environmental strategy or circular economy innovation.
- Corporate Retail, FMCG & Surplus Partnerships - senior experience within retail, manufacturing or FMCG, particularly in surplus, ESG or supply chain partnerships.
- Social Enterprise & Scale-Up Leadership - experience growing mission-led organisations, trading models or hybrid charities.
We also welcome candidates with strengths in:
- Finance, audit and risk
- Fundraising and philanthropy
- Communications, brand and public affairs
We are seeking Trustees who demonstrate:
- Strategic thinking and sound judgement
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Integrity, empathy and emotional intelligence
- Commitment to social justice and environmental sustainability
- Willingness to contribute time, expertise and energy
- Ability to challenge constructively and support collaboratively
We particularly welcome applications from individuals who:
- Bring lived experience of poverty or inequality
- Are underrepresented in charity governance
- Are at an earlier stage of their Board career
Timeline:
- We are recruiting Trustees on a rolling basis to allow flexibility and to ensure we appoint the right people at the right time as the organisation continues to grow.
- Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with interviews scheduled throughout the year.
- Appointments will be made on a rolling basis, with new Trustees formally ratified at the next appropriate Board meeting or Annual General Meeting (AGM), in line with our constitution.
- While we anticipate a number of appointments during 2026, we encourage early applications and expressions of interest at any point.
For more information, please download the job description attached in this advert.
A CV (maximum 3 pages) and a short supporting statement (maximum 2 pages) outlining:
• Your motivation to become a Trustee
• How your skills and experience align with our needs
• What you would bring to our Board
The Big House Multibank reduces waste and supports families in Scotland by redistributing surplus goods to families across the country.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
PiP is seeking a trustee with diverse skills to deliver an ambitious five-year strategy, supporting adults with learning disabilities. Following significant growth over the last five years, we are now seeking to deepen our support offer, expand the number of people we directly support, and scope how we can influence systems change alongside people with learning disabilities.
Our trustees play a significant role in supporting, guiding, & governing our work. They share collective responsibility for governance, compliance and accountability, while also contributing their individual skills, perspectives and experience to board discussions and decision-making.
Our current Board is diverse in terms of gender, race, age, and experience and this is a strength that we're keen to retain. So, if you're a first-time trustee, have a non-typical background, or have access needs, please do especially consider reaching out to discuss the role with our CEO.
Below outlines the broad criteria that PiP desires from the person who fills this post. We expect that the individual appointed may not meet all the criteria below, and that experience, skills, and understanding of our work may come from many areas including voluntary or lived/caring experience.
As Trustee your primary responsibilities will include:
- Ensure our charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
- Comply with our charity’s governing document and the law
- Act in our charity’s best interests
- Ensure our charity is accountable
- Manage our charity’s resources responsibly
- Act with reasonable care and skill
We’re looking for someone with the following skills & experience:
- Experience in one or more of social care, legal, governance, finance, post-16 education, local knowledge, commercial, or lived experience.
- Good communication skills with the ability to inform and engage a wide range of audiences
- An understanding of the importance of PiP’s work and our person-centred approach to addressing inequalities for adults with learning disabilities
- A willingness to commit time and effort to the development of PIP
- The ability to engage comfortably at all levels
- A commitment to PiP’s values
There are six Board meetings each year, typically held on weekday evenings between 5.00 pm and 7.00 pm. Trustees may like to participate in committees or working groups. The role is voluntary and unpaid, but reasonable expenses, such as travel and caring responsibilities, will be reimbursed.
Further information about PiP and the trustee role is available in the attached Trustee Candidate Pack.
For an informal conversation and to arrange a visit, please contact Denise Largin (CEO). Formal applications must include your CV and a covering letter outlining your interests in the role and why you think you will be a good fit for PIP.
Application should be emailed to the CEO by Friday, 27th February. Interviews will take place in the beginning of March.
Empowering adults with learning disabilities to achieve their ambitions.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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Trustee vacancy: UK Bangladesh Education Trust (UKBET)
Founded in 1993, the UK Bangladesh Education Trust [UKBET], a UK registered charity and international NGO registered in Bangladesh, is looking for one or two new dynamic trustees to join our board, supporting the charity’s mission to help end child labour in Bangladesh.
Our Doorstep Learning Programme engages and supports child domestic workers (95% girls) and their families. Trained and supported community teachers provide three individual or small group literacy, numeracy and life skills sessions for these working children as well as signposting for their families. A key aim is to support the children’s progression out of child labour to school or, for older children to vocational training. UKBET’s Family Futures microgrants address the root causes of child labour – family poverty. Parents can use these grants to start or continue small businesses to increase their family income, removing the need to send their children to work and enabling them to join school or, for older working children, vocational training.
Our work is funded through charitable donations, fundraising and grants.
The UK Board of Trustees set the direction for the charity and support the work of the Executive Director and his team who also benefit from an Advisory Group based in Sylhet, Bangladesh. We meet on line three or four times a year, and as needed, plus try to have an annual in person away day meeting. There are currently four experienced Trustees with a range of expertise across finance, income generation and education. We are seeking one or two new Trustees to join us, ideally leading in one or more of the following areas:
· Organisational efficiency to assume the role of Secretary
· Knowledge and connections to build interest and financial support from Bangladesh and/or the British Bangladeshi community
· Skills and expertise in social media and comms.
For more details on the role, please see the supporting Background information and JD.
To apply, please send your CV with a covering email outlining how you meet the JD criteria and telling us about any special areas of expertise and interest you could bring to the role.
Work to end child labour in Bangladesh by giving child workers access to education, school & training, addressing family poverty and changing mindsets



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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The Nehemiah Project is a small charity that supports men with experience of addiction to break the cycle of addiction and crime. We do this through supported living, programmes, key worker support, rebuilding family connections and providing move-on support to aid transition to independent living. We currently operate from houses in Streatham and Croydon.
We are a Christian-based charity open to men of all faiths and none. We have a partnership with the British Association of the Order of Malta who provide expertise, funding and volunteer support.
Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that The Nehemiah Project (TNP) achieves its core purpose of breaking the cycle of addiction and reoffending. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that TNP has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as importantly, they support and challenge the executive team to enable TNP to grow and thrive.
As well as fulfilling the duties of a Trustee, the Treasurer maintains an overview of the Nehemiah Project' s financial affairs. The Treasurer ensures that effective and appropriate financial measures, controls and procedures are put in place and reports to the Board at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation. The Nehemiah Project is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
Treasurer Role
- Overseeing the presentation of budgets, internal management accounts and annual financial statements to the Board of Trustees.
- Ensuring that proper accounting records are kept, and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.
- Ensuring that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being implemented, and supporting the development of policies covering financial reserves, and cost management.
- Monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity.
- Overseeing financial controls and adherence to systems, regularly liaising with Chief Executive
- Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process Ensuring investments and assets are maximised.
- Lead on the appointment of and liaison with external auditors.
- Oversee the development and implementation of systems for appraising, mitigating and reporting corporate risk.
- Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by relevant statutory bodies, for example, the Charity Commission and/or the Registrar of Companies.
- Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities and liaising with the Chief Executive to develop the financial understanding of the Board of Trustees.
What we are looking for?
- A finance professional. A knowledge of charity finance is an advantage. Otherwise an enthusiasm to learn, drawing from sound commercial experience and an understanding of SMEs.
- A strategic thinker with an ability to balance risk and opportunity.
- Clear communicator with the ability to bring the financial information alive to non-finance specialists. Willing to play an active role in areas such as forecasting, setting budgets, liaising with auditors
- We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board.
In addition to the above, the Treasurer will also have the responsibilities and qualities of all trustees. Board members have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees always act as a group and not as individuals.
Responsibilities of all trustees
- Support and provide advice on TNP' s purpose, vision, goals and activities.
- Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
- Oversee TNP' s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
- Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
- Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
- Review and approve TNP’s financial statements.
- Provide support and challenge to TNP’s CEO in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs. Keep abreast of changes in TNP’s operating environment.
- Contribute to regular reviews of TNP' s own governance. Attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
- Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect TNP’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third party interests.
- Contribute to the broader promotion of TNP’s objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.
Personal skills and qualities
- To be sympathetic to and supportive of our Christian ethos. Practising Christian preferred.
- Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member. Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion. A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Enthusiasm for our vision and mission
Trustee Role Overview
Term: 4 years, renewable up to 7 years, with possible extension in exceptional cases under the Memorandum and Articles.
Remuneration: Voluntary role; reasonable expenses reimbursed.
Meetings: Attend four Board meetings a year (in person in Putney, with remote option).
Strategy Days: Up to one per year.
Events: Four annual celebration events at our houses; Trustees are encouraged to attend where possible
Committee Membership
Trustees may join one of three sub-groups — HR, Finance, or Fundraising — which meet remotely four times a year, with occasional ad hoc support to working groups or the executive team.
Financial Commitment No donation is required, though regular modest giving is encouraged.
More Information can be found in the Trustee Pack below.
To be a centre of excellence for rehabilitating men from crime and addiction through the transformation of their lives
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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Background information:
Harry’s HAT is a UK-based charity focussing on paediatric hydrocephalus. Our mission is to make life better for children and their families who are affected by hydrocephalus. We work towards this aim through:
• Awareness: raising awareness of paediatric hydrocephalus through workshops and training.
• Research: supporting research and funding training (for front-line medical, health and social care workers) to increase understanding of the condition.
• Signposting and support: directing families affected by the condition to organisations that can offer support, advice and guidance and by providing access to our peer-to-peer programme. We do not, however, provide advocacy.
We currently have a vacancy on our Trustee Board for an individual with experience in fundraising and income generation. The Charity is ambitious about extending its reach and ensuring that more families and professionals can benefit from our work. To achieve this, we recognise the importance of growing and diversifying our income.
Key responsibilities of the role:
• Actively participating in Trustee Board meetings.
• Attending quarterly Fundraising and Risk Group meetings, held in the evening for approximately 1.5 hours.
• Working closely with the CEO to support the fundraising pipeline and to ensure all grant applications complement the mission and values of the charity.
• Working with the CEO and other Trustees to strengthen the charity’s fundraising strategy and ensure it aligns with our long-term goals.
• Supporting the development of sustainable income streams, including grants, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and community fundraising.
• Providing ad-hoc input on subjects raised by the Trustee, staff, and volunteer teams.
• Voting on grant applications from medical professionals and clinical researchers. Trustee would also be able to participate in specific projects if they wished to.
Required skills and experience:
The ideal candidate will have experience of fundraising or income generation in a charity or relevant setting. The key attributes for the role are as follows:
• Knowledge of different fundraising approaches such as grants, corporate partnerships, or community fundraising.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to display sound judgement and objectivity.
• Experience of working in partnership with healthcare or other relevant organisations or programmes.
• Clear understanding of the importance of safeguarding.
• Discretion when working with sensitive information, and strict adherence to confidentiality when required. Time commitment
• Attendance at six Trustee Board meetings per year (usually Sunday evenings, 18:00–19:30, via Teams).
• Attendance at quarterly Fundraising and Risk Group meetings (1.5 hours, evening).
• Attendance at two 1-2-1 meetings per year with the Chair of Trustees.
• Participation in the AGM and other relevant meetings as needed.
• Timely responses to communications from Trustees, staff, and volunteers.
• Completion of mandatory online training modules. Term and remuneration
• The initial term is 1–3 years, which can be extended by agreement.
• This is a voluntary role. Out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed.
• All new Trustees, including the Vice Chair, will serve a 3-month probation period.
#trustee #fundraising
We’re a small, family-led charity dedicated to improving life for children and young people with hydrocephalus.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Northern Rascals CIC is at the beginning of an exciting new chapter: we are recruiting a Chair and Board members to support our next chapter. As a leading dance-theatre company from Calderdale, Yorkshire, we are excited to share our work more widely than ever before and build the sustainability and resilience of the company over the next few years. Our Board will be central to making these ambitions a reality.
We want our Board to reflect our work and communities, and welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds across England, especially those from underrepresented groups.
You may bring relevant professional experience, or your own lived experience. You might have been on a Board before, or you might be joining a Board for the first time.
Desirable skills areas
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Experience in marketing, communications and audience development
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Experience in finance and accounting
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Experience in community outreach and partnerships
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Experience in the legal sector and / or with governance experience
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Experience leading or managing arts and cultural organisations and venues
Purpose of the role
The Chair and Board will provide strategic leadership and oversight of the CIC, ensuring it operates effectively, legally, and in line with its community benefit purpose.
Statutory duties (as the Board)
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Promote and ensure good governance
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Review and support the strategic direction of the CIC, setting ambitious targets, evaluating performance and measuring achievements
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Ensure activities continue to meet the community interest test (by demonstrating that Northern Rascal’s activities are carried on for the benefit of the community and do not result in private profit)
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Make sure the CIC’s finances and property are protected and used only for community benefit
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Oversee financial management, budgets, and risk
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Ensure compliance with Company law; CIC regulations; Companies House filing requirements
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Approve and sign off the annual CIC report
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Appoint, support, and oversee senior staff
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Act in the best interests of the CIC at all times
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Declare and manage conflicts of interest
Further responsibilities
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Ensure the organisation adheres to the funding criteria for the grants received from Arts Council and other funders
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Promote a progressive understanding of and commitment to diversity in all forms
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Extend the company’s networks of contacts and open doors
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Support and contribute to the development of fundraising
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Review and approve internal policies, such as Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding, Finance.
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Support the Co-Directors with insights from your own experience and knowledge
Please see the recruitment pack for full details - available on Northern Rascals website.
Please tell us:
* If you are interested in the Chair position
* Why you are interested in joining the Board of Northern Rascals
* About your experience and qualities, and what you will bring to Northern Rascals
* How you think you can help us to achieve our mission and vision
We proactively seek to ensure equality of opportunity and representation in our company, including our Board. Please let us know if you have experienced any barriers to your personal or professional development.
Please include contact details for a referee who knows you in a professional capacity.
Please complete our Equal Opportunities form: https://forms.gle/HtZEWBe2kw9AxCcp6
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
About Us
Cherry Trees is a charity. located in East Clandon (near Guildford, Surrey), providing home-from-home short breaks for children aged 0–19 with a range of complex disabilities, including learning, physical, and sensory impairments.
We are rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted and care for more than 100 children and young people in a safe, stimulating, and fun environment. At Cherry Trees, we see the child first and the disability second, valuing every child for who they are. We are a dedicated community, enabling children to spend time with friends and enjoy new experiences while their families have a much-needed break from care.
It’s an exciting time to join Cherry Trees. We have recently recruited a new Head of Fundraising and Communications who will be building the team as we invest in a programme of service growth in conjunction with a new 5-year strategy which will be publicised in 2026.
What difference will you make?
Cherry Trees offers a lifeline to vulnerable children and their families. As a Trustee, you will play a key role in helping us to grow and develop and to enable us to continue to provide support and a critical lifeline to even more vulnerable children and their families in great need. Alongside a team of 8 trustees you will play a key role in ensuring we have the maximum impact we can for our community.
Role Description
The treasurer is an officer of the trustee board and not a paid worker. The role of the treasurer is to ensure that all the finances and the supporting financial control systems are kept in order.
Key objectives of the role:
- To provide strategic advice to the Trustees on financial matters as regards the operation and development of Cherry Trees within the direction set by the Chairman of the Trustees.
- To oversee the financial affairs of the Charity and ensure that they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice.
- To ensure that proper records are kept and that effective financial procedures are in place.
- To monitor and report on the financial health of the Charity.
- To oversee the production of necessary financial reports, returns, accounts and audits.
- The role requires active participation in board meetings and collaboration with fellow trustees and the executive team to support Cherry Trees’ mission.
- The will be a minimum of 8 board and committee meetings to attend
Principal Tasks
The responsibilities of the treasurer are essential for maintaining the financial stability and integrity of the charity, ensuring that it can continue to fulfil its mission and objectives. Specifically, these include:
Financial oversight
- Ensure that all financial records are accurate, up to date and compliant with legal and accounting standards.
- Ensure that effective financial procedures and controls are in place.
- Appraise the financial viability of plans, proposals and feasibility studies.
- Chair the Management and Finance Committee (M&F) quarterly, monitor performance against budgets and ensure that Capital Expenditure is properly controlled in line with the latest Capex Policy approved by the Trustees.
- Attend half-yearly meetings of the Investment Committee at which the Charity’s investment brokers report on their management of the Cherry Trees investments and measure performance against their benchmark.
- Liaise with the investment brokers as necessary to ensure that adequate liquidity (cash flow) is available and that Cherry Trees is able to meet its liabilities.
- Assist the trustees and management in ensuring that the financial reserves of Cherry Trees are maintained at an appropriate level.
Budget Management
- Oversee the production of the annual budget and propose its adoption by the board.
Financial reporting
- Work closely as necessary with the CEO and COO to appoint appropriate external auditors and to ensure that any audit recommendations are implemented in a timely manner.
- Oversee the production of necessary financial reports and accounts and present them, along with any audit recommendations, to the board.
Strategic advisory
- Provide strategic advice to the board on financial matters and help shape the charity's financial strategy.
- Work closely with the CEO and COO to ensure that a long-term financial strategy is in place, which can guide the organisation in achieving its objectives.
Board liaison
- Regularly report the financial position and ongoing financial viability of the charity at board meetings.
- Make fellow trustees aware of their financial obligations and take a lead in interpreting financial data.
- Assist the trustees in ensuring that appropriate steps are taken to manage financial risks that could impact significantly upon Cherry Trees.
Personal skills and qualities
- Knowledge of bookkeeping and financial management.
- Good financial analysis skills with the ability to think about the future as well as the present.
- Strong working knowledge of Excel.
- Be methodical, organised and consistent.
- Ability to communicate clearly.
- Have a strong commitment to the organisation.
- Some experience or knowledge of charity finance, fundraising and pension schemes would be an advantage.
Qualifications
- Strong skills and experience in Financial Statements and Accounting
- Proficiency in Financial Planning, Budgeting, and Finance
- An understanding of charitable organisations and nonprofit financial management is a plus
- Good communication and teamwork abilities
- A commitment to the vision and values of the Cherry Trees Charity
- Professional qualifications in accounting or finance are desirable
Safer Recruitment
Due to the vulnerability of our children and young adults, applicants will be required to complete a short application form and will require an Enhanced DBS check, which the charity will facilitate.
We help to keep families together by providing home from home care for children with complex disabilities and a meaningful break for the families.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Are you a progressive and inclusive leader? If you’re able to shape and influence an organisation with a strong foundation and a compelling ambition, then you could be our next Chair here at the Eikon charity.
This is a chance to employ your passion, commitment and bold leadership to support the lives of young people. You will have strong interpersonal skills and influencing capabilities, and a deep commitment to the charity’s mission and values
We need someone to engage and influence stakeholders internally as our Chair as well as able to be a strong ambassador externally.
If this sounds like you, then you might be the right person to join as our Chair.
WHO ARE THE EIKON CHARITY?
Now in our 30th year, The Eikon Charity supports children and young people across Surrey to feel safe, heard, and supported.
Growing up in today’s world can be incredibly challenging. That's why we empower children and young people to find the inner and external resources they need as they develop and navigate life.
We create spaces where they can be themselves and talk about their thoughts and feelings. They understand better than anyone what’s happening in their own lives, so we listen, without judging.
WHAT MATTERS TO US
We believe there should be more investment in empowering young people to prevent them from needing help with their mental health. The needs of young people guide everything we do, shaping every decision and action we take.
We are committed to investing in preventative services and use our influence to persuade others to do the same.
We are also committed to diversity that supports young people and our volunteers to fulfil their personal potential.
IF YOU JOIN US…
You will lead us with confidence in an increasingly complex and challenging environment. We know that what we do has an impact on our children who, tragically, need more of everything we offer as their challenges increase. This is an opportunity to really make a difference to the next generation.
Becoming our Chair will be a fascinating and compelling way to engage with a highly successful charity poised to achieve so much more. Ensuring that the Board governs The Eikon Charity wisely will be a rich and rewarding opportunity.
WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR
The Chair will provide strategic leadership and governance oversight to ensure the charity delivers maximum impact for the children and young people it works with. We need someone to demonstrate bold thinking and the ability to inspire and guide our Board.
We are particularly seeking:
- commitment to mission: passion for the charity’s purpose and a deep understanding of its social impact
- inclusivity & collaboration: fosters a collaborative and inclusive Board culture, encouraging diverse perspectives and constructive challenge
- influencing & advocacy - skilled in representing the charity and influencing key stakeholders
Please make sure you read our Candidate Information Pack before applying. It contains important details about the role and our organisation.
Don’t think you quite meet all the specifications? Please don’t count yourself out. We’d still love to learn more about your interest in joining the Eikon Charity.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Eastside People is supporting the Eikon Charity in the recruitment of this role. You can apply by submitting your CV and Cover Letter.
The closing date for applications is Mon 23rd February. Shortlisting interviews will take place shortly after. Shortlisted candidates will then have an interview with the Eikon Charity shortly after this.
We acknowledge every application. You’ll always hear from us after taking the time to apply - we look forward to hearing from you!