Grants operations manager volunteer roles

Are you passionate about building a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient economy? Are you looking for a meaningful way to use your finance expertise?

ECU is a small, dynamic non-profit working to transform the economy so that everyone has the freedom and security to live a good life. 

We are now recruiting for ECU’s first Treasurer, who will lead at board level on monitoring ECU’s financial performance and sustainability, ensuring that we have robust financial policies and processes in place, and supporting other board members to fulfil their collective responsibilities around finance. 

This is an exciting time to join ECU. We have an ambitious vision for change, a strong analysis of the opportunities and barriers to progress, and a clear view of our role in building a better economy. Our board is committed, collaborative and inclusive, with a strong understanding of its role and remit, and a culture of open dialogue. Our work is challenging, fascinating, and fulfilling – and, with rising levels of inequality, an unfolding climate emergency, overstretched public services and a growing concentration of corporate power, it couldn’t be more important.

Do you have experience in digital and social media? Can you help us improve our communications and raise the profile of the work we do?

We are seeking an expert, creative Volunteer Digital and Social Media Lead. You will help us promote our programmes supporting people in prison and young people at risk of entering the justice system, as well as our Community Bike Shop, which funds and strengthens this work.

What you’ll do:

• Design and schedule engaging posts, stories, and reels across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and more to grow our audience.

• Develop strategies for viral campaigns and collaborations to boost awareness and donations and share your expertise with our team.

• Analyse metrics (engagement, reach, growth) and refine tactics based on what resonates.

• Create eye-catching visuals using tools like Canva.

• Update our website as required and make suggestions for improvements.

• Work with our expert Trustee to consider how we can use online retail platforms to sell our refurbished bikes.

What we’ll provide:

· Creative freedom within agreed priorities and tone of voice.

· Access to the right tools plus shared photos, stories and impact stats.

· A named contact, light-touch sign-off, and occasional check-ins to remove blockers.

Time commitment: we’ll agree a realistic scope with the right volunteer based on their availability.

Reasonable agreed expenses will be paid.

Thank you

Mark Flannagan
Chief Executive

About us

UpCycle, works with individuals in prisons and young people at risk in marginalised communities.  We use bicycle maintenance workshops to help build life skills, enhance employability, prevent offending and reoffending, and foster social reintegration.  We also offer lead rides, bike fit-it sessions and other ways to engage with vulnerable people.

In prisons

· We delivered 956 un-refurbished bikes and received back 768 refurbished bikes across eight prisons and one Young Offenders Institution, training over 238 individuals.

In the Community

· Over 1034 bikes were donated to our Community Bike Shop, of those we refurbished and distributed more than 612 to underserved communities locally and overseas.

· Workshops in Bradford engaged 361 participants in diverse cycling-related activities across the area.

· "Bike to the Future" and other initiatives reached 220 young people with more complex needs.

Would you like to support people who have served in the Armed Forces?  You don’t need a military background, just the ability to listen, some basic I.T skills and good written and spoken English.  If so, this could be the role for you.

Our Branch provides lifelong support to anyone who has ever served, in the British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and their dependants. We also give support to those who has been in the Merchant Navy, Seafarers, Fishermen and their dependants, and British Airways staff past and present. Our main role is seeking welfare benevolent grants on behalf of clients who reside in the 26 counties in the Republic of Ireland. They can arrange anything from household goods, funeral costs, mobility aids or other general needs. Legal fees are not considered. We would advise clients to seek state and local benefits by signposting them to the relevant agencies.

What is a caseworker?

Caseworkers visit clients to work out what type of help they need, this might be funds for special equipment for someone with a disability, adaptions to a property so an older client can remain at home or funds for a rental deposit.  Caseworkers also sign-post clients onto specialist local services for advice on benefits, housing, mental health, debt, finding work etc.

Why do we need you?

Volunteer Caseworkers are the lifeblood of SSAFA, supporting a growing number of people in need of financial, practical and emotional support. Clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like Iraq or Afghanistan.  Our trained volunteers listen without judgement to assess and provide tailored support to help people navigate life in and beyond military service.  We need you to join your local SSAFA team to help us achieve this.

When would you be needed and where would you be based?

The essential part of the role is visiting clients, so you will need access to a vehicle or another way to travel to meet clients at home or in a care home setting. Our volunteers are based at home with a yearly AGM invite.

What does this role involve?

• Contacting clients and arranging to meet them at a mutually convenient time

• Meeting clients and completing a form to assess their circumstances

• Sign-posting clients onto local services providing specialist advice

• Keeping in touch with your branch so they know your availability

• Keeping up to date with training and SSAFA news so that you are best able to support clients

• Being a positive ambassador for SSAFA remembering that anyone you meet could be a potential client, volunteer or fundraiser

• Volunteering within the standards and values of SSAFA including observing our policies such as the

Volunteering policy and data protection policy (these will be covered in your training and local induction.)

What can you gain from this volunteering role?

• Support people in your community with a military background and their dependents

• Use your skills, knowledge and life experience to benefit others

• Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community

• Experience, training and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews

• Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!

What training and support will you receive?

• On-line or face to face instructor led training and e-learning modules, to prepare you for your voluntary role.

• Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.

• Local induction including assigning a person from the team who will be your main point of contact. •

• Range of support from central and regional volunteer operations team.

• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses

What skills or experience do you need?

• Good listening and communication skills including written and spoken English

• Respectful and non-judgemental with clients, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues

• Willingness and ability to learn basic digital skills.  Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role  

• Ability to make enquires on behalf of clients by phone, email, letter or by filling in forms

• If required, willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the caseworker training course)

• Ability to keep within boundaries of the role with regards to friendship or giving advice

• Reliable attitude, contact clients promptly, keep appointments, update the branch regarding your availability 

• Access to public transport or a car to travel to appointments with clients

• Friendly and approachable with some experience of coordinating people and admin

•       Practice confidentiality and data protection in line with SSAFA policies. 

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.

Minimum Age: 18  

Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience

References Required: Yes. We will ask for two references, this can be former employers or people that know you well (other than relatives)

Is a criminal record check required?  Yes, Garda Vetting, this is provided by SSAFA at no cost to the potential volunteer.

The Politics Project is looking to expand its board and bring in new perspectives, skills and experience to support the next phase of our work.

We are at an exciting point in our development. We have funding secured for the next 2–3 years, a growing staff team, and a strong national profile. This period of growth coincides with a pivotal moment for democratic education in the UK. As Votes at 16 is introduced, The Politics Project is playing a leading role in supporting schools, youth organisations, civil society and policymakers to ensure young people are equipped to participate meaningfully in democracy. We are seeking new Non-Executive Directors to help guide our strategic direction, strengthen our governance, and support our long-term impact.

About The Politics Project

Established in 2015, The Politics Project is a Community Interest Company (CN: 09413132) that supports young people across the UK to use their voice by providing them with outstanding democratic education.

We are a non-partisan organisation working with young people, teachers, youth practitioners and elected representatives to help young people learn about, experience and engage in democracy and politics in meaningful ways.

We currently employ 11 full-time members of staff and work in partnership with schools, youth organisations, civil society organisations, and democratic institutions across the UK.

Our work aims to: 

• Support young people to meaningfully engage in politics by building their confidence, knowledge and skills.
• Train and support teachers, youth practitioners and professionals working with young people to deliver high-quality democratic education.
• Support politicians and decision makers to engage constructively with young people to co-create policy. 

Youth voice is embedded in this work through our Youth Steering Group, which brings together young people from across the UK to shape and inform The Politics Project’s programmes and priorities. 

Non-Executive Directors sit on The Politics Project Board and share collective responsibility for the governance, strategy and long-term sustainability of the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring The Politics Project meets its legal and regulatory responsibilities and delivers its aims.
• Working with the Director to develop and realise the organisation’s vision, values and strategic direction.
• Supporting financial planning and oversight.
• Contributing to organisational policies and good governance.
• Providing strategic challenge, insight and support to the senior leadership team.
• Attending 3–4 Board meetings per year (with additional meetings if required). Meetings are primarily remote, with occasional in-person meetings.
• Acting as an ambassador for The Politics Project and advocating for its work.

Non-Executive Directors are registered as directors with Companies House and are appointed for a three-year term, renewable up to two times.

The role is unpaid, but reasonable expenses agreed in advance will be reimbursed. Time commitment is approximately one day per month.

In line with our safeguarding responsibilities, all Non-Executive Directors are required to undertake an enhanced DBS check.

Who are we looking for? 

We are particularly interested in applicants with experience or expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Democratic education or civic engagement (including academic expertise).
• Education (secondary, further or informal education).
• Network development and leadership.
• Youth sector practice or leadership.
• Business, charity or non-profit development.
• Communications, media or public engagement.
• Digital, data or technology strategy.
• Finance, financial strategy, budgets and governance.
• Fundraising and grant-making.
• Legal and governance expertise.
• Evaluation, research and impact measurement.

We are especially keen to hear from applicants from underrepresented groups and from those whose perspectives are currently less represented in the democracy and education sectors.

You do not need to have previous board experience to apply.

How to apply

To apply please submit a CV and a covering letter via Charity Jobs. The covering letter should be no longer than one side of A4  / a maximum of 500 words. Please apply through Charity Jobs.

In the letter can you explain why you are interested in becoming a Non-Executive Director of The Politics Project and describe how your experience and skills would contribute to our work.

We will conduct interviews as we receive suitable applications.