First job volunteer roles

Ealing Carers Partnership offers support services to unpaid family carers aged 18+, living or caring for someone living in the London Borough of Ealing. We work together - and with others - to provide support services and breaks for carers. Our current services include: respite (replacement) care in the home; care worker support to access community groups or services; Carer Cafes in four locations across Ealing; a developing range of wellbeing activities, and; events and social opportunities. We are seeking volunteers to work alongside the team to support our work.

Main purpose of the role

The Carers Community Champions role is to support us in promoting Ealing Carers Partnership’s services by raising awareness of what we offer. We might ask for you to put up leaflets in your neighbourhood and, from time to time, to staff a stall in a community setting. 

Benefits of becoming a Carers Champion:

Becoming a Carer Champion will help you to:

• Experience volunteering in a charity 

• Develop new skills and experience, possibly helping you to find work

• Grow your confidence

• Take part in free training sessions to build your knowledge 

• Meet new people 

• Make a vital difference to the work of Ealing Carers Partnership.

It will give you the satisfaction of:

• Supporting carers and making a big difference in their lives

• Feeling that you have achieved something positive every time you volunteer

• Empowering communities by raising awareness of sources of support

• Being part of an organisation, which has strong values and provides help and support to those most marginalised in society 

• Connecting with other volunteers and local organisations.

General responsibilities 

In order to promote Ealing Carers Partnership’s services and events, we expect that you would be asked to:

• Hand out leaflets or post fliers in supermarkets, doctors’ surgeries, libraries, leisure centres and other community venues with high footfall in your immediate neighbourhood

• Help with setting up of events and staffing stalls 

• Help to pack up after the events 

• Supporting staff at the Carers Cafés and making light refreshments

• Sharing your caring experiences with others if you are a former carer, or just listening to those that need to talk

• Accompanying carers on trips out

• Working with the team to find new ways of publicising services and providing insights about your neighbourhood. 

Skills, experience and personal attributes

Whilst we are happy to provide training as needed, we hope that you will be able to demonstrate:

• A positive attitude towards vulnerable clients who may have a variety of complex needs and those who are caring for them 

• The desire to gain local knowledge about services or a willingness to find out what is available to support local carers 

• A minimum availability of 2/3 hours per week

• Being comfortable in terms of talking to people in groups 

• A knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding, although full training will be given. 

Training and support

We will try to offer a good range of training and support to all volunteers but, as a minimum, you can expect to:

• Attend starter training sessions, an induction to the programme and staff

• Undertake a DBS check

• Attend Health and Safety, Safeguarding, Confidentiality and Customer Care training

• Attend appropriate team meetings/ briefings so you are up to date on what we are delivering 

• Attend 6-8 weekly checks-ins for support for you and to see how you are doing within your role. 

Expenses

Out of pocket and travel expenses will be reimbursed as agreed upon commencement.

For this role volunteers MUST be aged 18 or over.

Remote Volunteer Technical Support Role 

Job description 

This is a volunteer role (approx. 4 hours per week) based remotely. The Volunteer Technical Support is responsible for the oversight of the NGO’s digital infrastructure, maintaining security protocols, and responding to critical technical emergencies. They will report directly to the CEO and work to formalize IT procedures to ensure long-term organizational continuity. This role is a fixed one-year term and includes a one-month handover period for their successor. 

Role specification 

Infrastructure and Security Management: 

• Act as the primary administrator for the Microsoft 365 environment

• Perform regular security audits to manage permissions, remove dormant accounts, and ensure the principle of "least privilege" across the team. 

• Help with offboarding protocol to ensure all digital keys and account ownership are transferred back to the NGO when staff or volunteers depart. 

• Consult with the team to ensure all technical systems adhere to organizational safeguarding policies, specifically regarding data privacy and the protection of member information. 

• Maintain a secure digital environment for staff and members by identifying operational risks and reporting potential vulnerabilities or breaches immediately to the CEO. 

Critical Support and Strategy: 

• Act as the on-call point of contact for critical system failures (e.g., total email loss, or security breaches). 

• Utilize a structured ticketing or request system to streamline technical support

• Advise the CEO on technical "vetting" and trust markers for future IT volunteers to safeguard the organization’s power and data. 

Knowledge Transfer and Communication: 

• Act as a technical mentor to the staff, explaining the logic behind security policies (the "why") rather than just issuing instructions. 

• Help foster an empathetic security culture where technical guardrails are seen as tools for mission success rather than roadblocks. 

• Lead a 1-month handover period at the end of the term to train the incoming volunteer, ensuring a seamless transition of power and knowledge. 

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.

Read Easy provides free, confidential, one to one reading coaching for adults who struggle with reading, through a network of volunteer groups. 

The Referrals Networker builds relationships with local agencies who may be able to refer potential Readers to the group.

Role of a Referrals Networker:
● Liaising with your group to establish which organisations have already been contacted, so that you can build on that initial work
● Managing the relationship between the referral agencies and the group
● Seeking out new referral agencies as the group grows in capacity
● Familiarising yourself with the Publicity Organiser’s resources available to you
● Creating a record of organisations and agencies who are likely to come into contact with those who don’t read and the dates you are in touch with them
● Contacting these organisations regularly to provide information about what your group offers and identify how they can best inform their personnel to make referrals
● Keeping your local group informed about your activity and identifying how many of your contacts refer new Readers
● Attending Management Team meetings, typically every 6-8 weeks 

Skills needed:
● Confidence to promote the work of Read Easy and how it can support local people who would like to improve their reading skills
● Ability to develop strong working relationships with local referral agencies and to manage expectations
● 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 two hours a week to commit to the role 

Help Shape Healthier Futures for Children and Families

Can you help drive the future success of a growing national charity?

HENRY (Health, Exercise, Nutrition for the Really Young) is seeking passionate and strategic individuals to join our Board of Trustees at an exciting point in our journey.

For over 15 years, HENRY has worked alongside parents, carers, communities and professionals to give babies and young children the healthiest possible start in life. Our evidence-based programmes, training and support help families build healthy habits, strengthen relationships and improve long-term wellbeing, particularly in communities experiencing the greatest health inequalities.

Today, HENRY supports more than 21,000 families every year and trains professionals across health and early years services nationwide. Last year alone:

• 21,662 families received support through our programmes, workshops and one-to-one services
• 9,608 parents and babies benefited from infant feeding support
• 88% of participants reported leading a healthier family lifestyle
• 96% rated our programmes and workshops as good or great
• 35% of families we supported were from the most deprived communities in the UK

As we work towards our vision of a healthy and happy start for every baby and child, we are entering a new phase of growth and development. Our ambitious 2030 strategy focuses on expanding our reach, strengthening sustainability, increasing our influence, and maintaining quality and impact as we grow.

About the Role

As a Trustee, you will play a key role in shaping HENRY's future. Working alongside fellow Board members, you will provide strategic leadership, support good governance, oversee organisational sustainability and help ensure we continue delivering meaningful impact for families across the UK.

This is a strategic, non-operational role that offers the opportunity to contribute your expertise while making a lasting difference to children's lives.

Who We're Looking For

We are particularly interested in individuals with experience in:

• Marketing and Communications
• Income Generation and Fundraising
• Legal and Contractual Matters

We also welcome candidates with:

• Previous trustee or governance experience
• Experience of scaling organisations
• Knowledge of early years, health or family services
• Relevant lived experience
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

Why Join HENRY?

Joining our Board is both a responsibility and a rewarding opportunity to create lasting social impact.

As a Trustee, you will:

• Help tackle health inequalities affecting babies and young children
• Influence the strategic direction of a respected national charity
• Develop your leadership, governance and board-level experience
• Work alongside a collaborative and experienced Board and executive team
• Gain insight into a charity delivering impact at scale across the UK

We are committed to building a diverse Board that reflects the communities we serve and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds aged 18 and over.

If you share our belief that every child deserves the best possible start in life, we'd love to hear from you and explore how your skills and experience can help shape HENRY's next chapter.

Ready to make a difference? Read our attached Trustee Recruitment Pack and click 'redirect to recruiter' to be forwarded to our application portal. 

Closing date: 9am Wednesday 19th August 2026
Interviews: week commencing 14th September 2026

HENRY is committed to safer recruitment and safeguarding. As a result, all successful trustee applicants will be required to complete a DBS check.

What does the role involve?

The Dementia Wellbeing Service provides practical and emotional support ​to help older people live independently and safely at home for as long as possible, stay socially engaged and carry on doing what they love. The service supports Camden residents over the age of 55 in the early or moderate stages of dementia.

You will work one-to-one with people in their own home and in the community, providing invaluable practical and emotional support and engaging the person in activities and opportunities that interest them through their wellbeing plan.

What will you get out of it?

• You'll be making a difference to the lives of older people.
• You'll gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact on older people’s lives.
• You'll have an opportunity to build confidence and skills in engaging with people.
• You'll be part of something that is rewarding and enjoyable. 

What is expected of me?

• Volunteers are asked to make regular weekly visits of about to two to three hours on a week day (Monday – Friday), between 9-5pm.
• Interested applicants must complete training in dementia in addition to the other training and induction linked to all our roles. 

West Midlands Area – based around local treatment services 

Closing date: 24/08/2026

Job reference: LEP-261

Are you a proactive, collaborative and compassionate individual with proven experience of working positively with adults to engage successfully despite ‘challenging’ behaviour?Do you have the ability to be a positive role model, demonstrating the virtues of engaging with treatment support services? 

If so, St Giles is looking for a Lived Experience Peer Volunteer to join our team and provide interventions and build meaningful, peer-led relationships with service users to encourage them to engage in drug and alcohol treatment following arrest.

About St Giles Trust 
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need.  Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement hold the key to positive change in others. 

About this key role 

As a Peer Volunteer, you will increase client engagement with drug and alcohol treatment services by providing vital peer-led support and building trust and motivation among a client group that has been historically disengaged/not offered support previously.You will provide holistic, short-term intervention to bridge the gap between referral and full treatment engagement, capture client experiences and barriers to improve service design and accessibility and develop a strong service user voice to inform future service improvements. 

Areas of support from Peer Volunteers may also include initial engagement and motivation such as welcome calls, check-ins, peer-led conversations and motivational chats over coffee.You may also offer practical support such as appointment reminders, transport assistance and paperwork support, plus help to build positive routines such as activity-based engagement and supporting small lifestyle changes, including meal planning, budgeting, and time management. 

What we are looking for 

• Personal experience of the criminal justice system or lived experience of the issues facing this client group (i.e. experience of substance misuse and recovery) 

• Proven experience of working in a high-intensity environment, being self-motivating, with an ability to effectively manage your own wellbeing 

• Knowledge of the issues facing those arrested for potential criminal offences 

• Knowledge of, and commitment to, safeguarding practices and policies 

• The ability to use monitoring systems to record all aspects of the work 

• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, verbal and written.

Please note:  as an organisation that works with adults at risk we are committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the safety of our clients and successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Adult DBS check.

We are an equity and inclusion-confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation. 

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy. 

We will be reviewing applications as they are received and reserve the right to close this advert early if a suitable candidate is appointed. We therefore strongly encourage early applications to avoid any disappointment     

Interviews to be held on a rolling basis.

About The Ootsider CIC

Hi, I’m John, the founder of The Ootsider. We are an West Lothian -based social enterprise on a mission to provide warmth, dignity, and comfort to those experiencing rough sleeping. Using a "buy one, give one" model, the profits from our premium, hand-made in Scotland outdoor robes directly fund the production of our bespoke, weather-proof, sleeping coats which we donate free to rough sleepers across the UK.

To help us scale our impact and protect more people from the harsh elements, we are looking for a superstar Volunteer Grant Writer & Fundraiser to join the team and help us secure vital funding.

Why You’ll Love Volunteering With Us

·Ultimate Flexibility: This role is 100% remote. Work from wherever you are comfortable, whenever suits you best.

·Low Time, High Impact: We’re looking for just 8 hours a month (approx. 2 hours a week). It easily fits around a full-time job, studies, or retirement.

·Direct, Tangible Impact: Every successful grant you write translates directly into more sleeping systems manufactured right here in Scotland and delivered to people who need them most. You will see the direct result of your hard work.

What You’ll Be Doing

Working directly with me, you will:

·Research Opportunities: Scout out trusts, foundations, and corporate grants that support homelessness, social enterprise growth, and Scottish community manufacturing.

·Craft Compelling Bids: Take The Ootsider’s proven impact story and weave it into persuasive, professional funding applications.

·Manage the Pipeline: Help keep a simple calendar of upcoming deadlines so we can plan our applications effectively.

What We’re Looking For

·A Passion for the Cause: You care about tackling homelessness and believe in the power of social enterprise.

·Strong Writing Skills: You can write clearly, persuasively, and concisely to meet strict word counts.

·Independence: You are comfortable working on your own initiative, managing your 8 hours a month effectively.

If this sounds like you, then please get in touch.

"Together we can achieve so much more". John

Recovery Support Volunteer - With Duty Support

Location: The role will be based in Weymouth

Timing: We are looking for someone who can offer around 8 hours per week. Exact hours can be flexible and discussed at interview.

About Waythrough

Waythrough provides specialist support across mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. We delivery high-quality, evidence-based services designed around the real needs of the people we serve.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through over 250 services - and it's all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community 

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. 

REACH Drug and Alcohol Service is the commissioned community drug and alcohol provision for Devon. It provides a range of support, interventions and treatments for those wanting to make positive changes to their drug and/or alcohol use, as well raising awareness and supporting family members.

Details of the role & tasks

Recovery Support Volunteers can be involved in various aspects of service delivery. It is a front line, client facing role and may involve a focus on one particular area, such as group work or Duty support, or, it may involve a combination of tasks and activities. We are looking for a team player with a willingness to learn.

Tasks may include:

• Support people engaged in support with Together to achieve their Recovery Plan goals
• Support the facilitation of structured and unstructured group work programmes, both virtually and face to face
• Support and empower individuals to engage in recovery activities, including those provided by Together and the wider community
• Conduct welfare and check-in phone calls
• Be a first point of contact for individuals, professionals, or family members, taking referrals as appropriate
• Provide Brief Interventions, including those focussed around harm reduction
• Use Halo (internal case management system) to document sessions and support the team with updates and audits
• Identify and report any concerns or risks to the Duty staff or Duty Manager
• Potential to offer 1-1 support to individuals and hold a small caseload; from point of assessment through to ongoing recovery support – once confident and competent to do so, and alongside the support and guidance of your supervisor

Personal qualities

Skills we would like you to bring to the role:

• Welcoming, friendly and an ability to put other people at ease
• Good IT skills
• Good written communication skills
• Non-judgmental towards people facing challenges in their lives, including around drug and/or alcohol use and/or mental health
• Confident to contact people by email / phone
• Good time keeping
• Able to work as part of a team, on own initiative and to instruction
• An understanding of Waythrough – information is available on our website
• A genuine interest in being part of the mission and vision of Waythrough
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries, adhere to Waythrough policies and media guidelines, engage in supervision, and complete relevant training

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy:

• Discounts from various schemes

• Training and personal development

• A chance to make a real difference in people’s lives

• Free induction and role-specific training

• Support from experienced staff and regular supervision

• Opportunities to meet new people and develop your confidence

• Reimbursement for travel and agreed expenses

• Valuable experience that can support your personal or career development

Inclusion and accessibility 

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. 

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

£Volunteer - Travel expenses only

Flexible - Monday to Friday

West Midlands Area – based around local treatment services - Bloxwich, Bournville, Coventry, Oldbury,

Perry Barr, Stechford and Wolverhampton

Closing date: 31st August 2026 at 9.00am

Interview date: Rolling Basis

Ref LEP 252

Are you a proactive, collaborative and compassionate individual with proven experience of working positively with adults to engage successfully despite ‘challenging’ behaviour?  Do you have the ability to be a positive role model, demonstrating the virtues of engaging with treatment support services?

If so, St Giles is looking for a Lived Experienced Peer Volunteer to join our team and provide interventions and build meaningful, peer-led relationships with service users to encourage them to engage in drug and alcohol treatment following arrest.

About St Giles Trust
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need.  Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.

About this key role

As a Peer Volunteer, you will increase client engagement with drug and alcohol treatment services by providing vital peer-led support and building trust and motivation among a client group that has been historically disengaged/not offered support previously.  You will provide holistic, short-term intervention to bridge the gap between referral and full treatment engagement, capture client experiences and barriers to improve service design and accessibility and develop a strong service user voice to inform future service improvements.

Areas of support from Peer Volunteers may also include initial engagement and motivation such as welcome calls, check-ins, peer-led conversations and motivational chats over coffee.  You may also offer practical support such as appointment reminders, transport assistance and paperwork support, plus help to build positive routines such as activity-based engagement and supporting small lifestyle changes, including meal planning, budgeting, and time management.

What we are looking for

• Personal experience of the criminal justice system or lived experience of the issues facing this client group (i.e. experience of substance misuse and recovery)
• Proven experience of working in a high intensity environment, being self-motivating, with an ability to effectively manage your own wellbeing
• Knowledge of the issues facing those arrested for potential criminal offences
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, safeguarding practices and policies
• The ability to use monitoring systems to record all aspects of the work
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, verbal and written.

Please note:  as an organisation that works with children and adults at risk we are committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the safety of our clients and successful applicants will be subject to an Enhanced Child Workforce with Child Barred list DBS.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi- heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

To apply visit our website via the apply button.

We will be reviewing applications as they are received and reserve the right to close this advert early if a suitable candidate is appointed. We therefore strongly encourage early applications to avoid any disappointment.

Job Description:

The Women & Families Resource Centre (WFRC) is a registered charity based in Wolverhampton which supports, empowers and advocates for women and children. We aim to actively encourage women to be self-reliant, through empowering them to identify their own needs, make their own choices and create their own solutions.
We offer short term home visits, counselling sessions, baby bank, practical & emotional One to One support, Domestic violence groups, Awareness raising workshops and drop in or chat groups to help women facing crises or challenging situations.

Purpose
To manage and grow our social media presence through creative content, audience engagement, and analysing audience engagement to help amplify WFRC’s mission.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Help create, implement, and maintain a social media strategy and content plan
• Use social media platforms to promote the activities, impact, and achievements of WFRC
• Keep social media channels regularly updated with engaging and relevant content
• Encourage audience interaction by increasing comments, shares, and engagement across platforms
• Ensure communications reach a wide range of local stakeholders and diverse audiences
• Develop and manage content for our website and social media platforms, including Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube
• Identify and select the most effective channels to engage our diverse audiences
• Stay up to date with WFRC events, projects, and news, identifying key opportunities for promotion across social media channels
• Develop publicity materials and communication approaches to better engage underrepresented communities
• Visit projects and attend events to gather content and write articles or stories for our blog and online platforms
• Manage the organisation, filing, and archiving of photographs, videos, and other digital media content

Qualifications:

• Experience managing social media accounts for a charity, organisation, business, personal project, or student initiative is preferred.
• Familiarity with social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X/Twitter, and YouTube.
• Experience using content creation and design tools such as Canva, CapCut, Adobe Express, or similar platforms is an advantage.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to create engaging content for diverse audiences.
• Creative thinking skills with the ability to develop new ideas, campaigns, and promotional content.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with staff, volunteers, and community members.
• Interest or experience in community work, charities, or social impact initiatives is desirable.
• A passion for our mission and a commitment to helping us increase our impact and strengthen community engagement.

Job Type: Volunteer

Benefits:
Flexitime
Store discount

Work Location: In person

Volunteer Administrator

Location:  HAGA 590 Seven Sisters Road, London, N15 6HR

Timing: Maximum of up to 15 hours per week

About Waythrough

Waythrough provides specialist support across mental health, alcohol, drugs and related areas. We delivery high-quality, evidence-based services designed around the real needs of the people we serve.

Every year, we support around 125,000 people through over 250 services - and it's all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.

Make a real difference in your community 

Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change. 

We're looking for a friendly and organised volunteer to support our Haringey service with a range of administration tasks.

We support our Haringey residents in making positive changes in their alcohol or substance use recovery journey. We have one-to-one, group, and counselling services all under one roof. We understand that many people who want help with their substance use also face challenges with other areas including housing, employment, benefits, gambling, and smoking – we’re here to help.

You'll help people access the support they need by contacting clients, arranging appointments and assisting with clinic bookings. You'll also help keep our records accurate and up to date, supporting important projects that improve health outcomes for the people we work with.

This is a great opportunity to develop administration and communication skills, gain experience in a health and wellbeing setting, and make a real difference in your local community.

What We Offer

We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy:

• Discounts from various schemes

• Training and personal development

• A chance to make a real difference in people’s lives

• Free induction and role-specific training

• Support from experienced staff and regular supervision

• Opportunities to meet new people and develop your confidence

• Reimbursement for travel and agreed expenses

• Valuable experience that can support your personal or career development

Inclusion and accessibility 

Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support. 

We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme  - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.

Rights & Security International (RSI) is offering this exciting opportunity for new volunteer Trustees to join our Board.

About us

We are a small, expert charity dedicated to promoting the freedoms of expression, belief and identity, while stopping governments from treating people as ‘terrorism’ threats simply because of who they are.

We challenge religious, racial and gender bias in national security programmes, promote justice and transparency, and ensure that the voices of communities facing discrimination are heard.

We were founded by a group of women activists in Northern Ireland in 1990 to seek justice for rights violations committed as part of the conflict in the region, and now work throughout the UK and internationally.

Today, we focus especially on ending Islamophobia and racism in counter-terrorism programmes, stopping governments from treating migrants and asylum-seekers as ‘security’ threats unfairly, and upholding the rights of peaceful protesters.

Globally, we work primarily to support civil society and expose harmful ‘security’ or ‘emergency’ laws in several parts of Latin America and East Africa; our project on environmental human rights defenders also brings together activists from Southeast Asia. We raise the profile of rights violations and help develop new narratives and strategies.

We have a large impact for our size, publishing groundbreaking investigations and carrying out effective advocacy in Westminster, at the UN and elsewhere.

About you

The successful candidates will bring a dedication to upholding human rights and equality, especially in the counter-terrorism and national security contexts. You should have a strong dedication to human rights principles and an understanding that human rights are for everyone.

You should have experience in a field that is relevant to charity work, such as community organising/grassroots activism, law, communications, advocacy, accounting, management or supporting human rights defenders.

We are especially interested in applications from candidates with lived experience of:

· Migration to, or seeking asylum in, the UK; OR

· Promoting people’s fundamental rights in El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru or Chile.

About the Trustee role

As a Trustee, you will have an active role in shaping our organisation and ensuring that we are well run. We welcome enthusiastic, active governance and a curiosity about why and how we do our work. You would have an impact by shaping our strategies, helping us build our networks and (as appropriate) collaborating directly with staff. We work from the grassroots level (advising migrants) to the international one (drawing UN attention to rights violations), so your impact as a Trustee will ultimately make a difference to both individual lives and broader systems.

Trustees are expected to attend remote Board meetings approximately six times per year.

Trustees who live in/near the UK are also expected to attend one annual in-person ‘away day’ in London.

We are looking for Trustees who will enthusiastically promote RSI, including to potential donors.

All Trustee roles are unpaid, although reasonable expenses arising due to the role will be reimbursed.

Application Details: If you are interested in this volunteer role, please send a statement of interest (no more than two pages) and your CV through Charity Job.

RSI strives to be diverse, equitable and inclusive. We treat all staff, trustees and interns like team members and encourage everyone to bring their full selves to our work. We welcome applications from candidates from groups that have historically been underrepresented in the human rights, legal or policy fields, and/or who are from communities that have been directly impacted by the issues we address. All applications are considered on an equal-opportunity basis.

By submitting your application, you consent to our processing and retention of your personal data to the extent, and for the time period, necessary to consider the application. We will keep your application on file for no more than one year.

Are you a fluent Farsi speaker with a passion for helping others? We are seeking dedicated volunteers to assist women in improving their English language skills. Improving someone’s understanding and spoken English language, will allow individuals to communicate and connect with people in their local community, widen their network of friendships and relationships, and provide people opportunity to improve their employability skills. 

We are looking for a face-to-face volunteer for a minimum of 1 hour per week who is available between hours 11am – 2.30pm Monday-Friday!

What you will be doing

• To support individuals who are not confident with spoken English to develop their reading, writing and conversational skills through one-to-one sessions.
• Agree a mutual agreeable time and frequency that works for both parties
• Engage in conversation, allowing the person to feel supported and comfortable to practice speaking English Preparing and delivering sessions independently including setting work and assessing
• To keep records of conversations and update the support worker on progress of sessions.

The skills you need

• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere
• Fluent in Farsi and English

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.