Head of communications and events volunteer roles

VOLUNTEER ROLE: COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Lead the Voice of a Movement Built for Men

MINDSET isn’t just a charity. It’s a cultural shift. A brotherhood. A mission to redefine what strength looks like for men across England.

We speak to men in a way that feels real — through action, honesty, challenge, and connection. No jargon. No judgment. No shame. Just real conversations, real growth, and real change.

Now we’re looking for a Communications Manager who can take that voice and amplify it — across communities, across platforms, across the country.

If you’re someone who believes in the power of storytelling, who understands how words can change lives, and who wants to help men feel seen, heard, and understood — this role is for you.

Why This Role Matters

Men are struggling in silence. Men are carrying weight they never talk about. Men are searching for spaces where they can be honest, vulnerable, and strong.

Your work will help:

• Break the silence around men’s mental health

• Challenge stigma and stereotypes

• Share stories that inspire courage and connection

• Build a national voice for preventative men’s wellbeing

• Bring men into a movement that feels like home

This isn’t just communications. This is impact. This is identity. This is giving men their voice back.

What You’ll Lead

As our Communications Manager, you will:

• Shape and lead MINDSET’s communications strategy across all channels

• Craft powerful, honest, human‑centred storytelling that reflects our mission

• Manage social media, newsletters, campaigns, and public messaging

• Work with the Head of External Affairs to amplify our national voice

• Support service teams by sharing stories from workshops, programmes, and events

• Build a consistent brand tone rooted in honesty, courage, and brotherhood

• Create content that speaks directly to men — in language they actually respond to

• Help position MINDSET as a leader in men’s wellbeing and personal growth

You’ll be the storyteller behind the movement.

Who We’re Looking For

• A passion for communication, storytelling, and human connection

• Strong writing skills and a feel for authentic, emotional messaging

• An understanding of social media and digital engagement

• A belief in preventative mental health and positive masculinity

• Emotional intelligence and a people‑first mindset

• A desire to help shape a national movement

• The courage to speak up for men who feel they can’t

If you’ve ever thought, “Men deserve to be heard — and I want to help tell their stories,” then you already understand the heart of this role.

What You’ll Be Part Of

MINDSET is building:

• Peer‑led support groups across England

• Action‑based wellbeing programmes

• Workshops that build resilience, confidence, and emotional strength

• Talk Zones in barbershops, gyms, and workplaces

• A digital platform for mental fitness and personal growth

• A national movement that redefines strength, vulnerability, and brotherhood

Your voice will help carry this movement into the world.

What You’ll Gain

This is a volunteer role — but the impact is real and lasting.

You’ll gain:

• Leadership experience in communications and brand storytelling

• A powerful portfolio of mission‑driven content

• The chance to shape the public identity of a growing national charity

• A supportive team that feels like a brotherhood

• A role that grows with you as the movement expands

• The knowledge that your words helped change — and even save — lives

If This Mission Speaks to You… Step Forward.

Men need us. Men need you. And together, we can build something powerful — something that helps men not just survive, but thrive.

Apply now. Join the movement. Reset the mindset — for others, and for yourself.

Overview:
Drive the charity’s income growth by leading fundraising, partnerships, and donor engagement to secure sustainable funding for programmes and community work.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy

• Identify and apply for grants, trusts, and foundations

• Build relationships with corporate and community partners

• Oversee donor stewardship and reporting

• Lead fundraising events and campaigns

• Support digital fundraising and storytelling

Skills & Experience:

• Proven experience in fundraising or business development (preferably nonprofit sector)

• Track record of successful grant applications

• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills

• Creative, strategic thinker able to work independently

* We agree to pay a percentage for each succesful Bid or Grant. To be discussed futher during the interview.

VOLUNTEER ROLE: HEAD OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

Lead the Voice of a Movement Changing Men’s Lives

MINDSET is not just a charity. It’s a cultural shift. A brotherhood. A mission to redefine what strength looks like for men across the country.

We speak to men in a way that feels real — through action, honesty, challenge, and connection. No jargon. No judgment. No shame. Just real conversations, real growth, and real change.

Now we’re looking for a Head of External Affairs who can take this mission beyond our walls and into the national conversation.

If you’re someone who believes in bold ideas, who knows the power of storytelling, influence, and strategic relationships — and who wants to help build something that genuinely matters — this is your moment.

Why This Role Matters

Every message we share, every partnership we build, every conversation we spark has the power to change a man’s life.

Your work will shape:

• How the public sees men’s mental health

• How policymakers understand prevention and early support

• How communities engage with our mission

• How partners, funders, and allies join our movement

• How MINDSET becomes a national force for change

This isn’t PR. This is purpose‑driven influence.

This is using your voice to help men find theirs.

What You’ll Lead

As our Head of External Affairs, you will:

• Shape and lead MINDSET’s public voice, messaging, and external presence

• Build relationships with partners, community leaders, influencers, and organisations

• Support media engagement, press releases, and public statements

• Help position MINDSET as a national leader in men’s wellbeing and preventative mental health

• Work with the CEO and leadership team to influence policy, research, and national conversations

• Represent the charity at events, meetings, and public forums

• Ensure our values — honesty, courage, growth, brotherhood, inclusion, action — shine through everything we say and do

You’ll be the bridge between our mission and the world.

Who We’re Looking For

• A passion for communication, storytelling, and influence

• Confidence in representing a mission publicly

• Strong relationship‑building skills

• Emotional intelligence and cultural awareness

• A belief in preventative mental health and positive masculinity

• A desire to help shape a national movement

• The courage to speak up for men who feel they can’t

If you’ve ever thought, “We need to change the way society talks about men,” then you already understand the heart of this role.

What You’ll Be Part Of

MINDSET is building:

• Peer‑led support groups across the country

• Action‑based wellbeing programmes

• Workshops that build resilience, confidence, and emotional strength

• Talk Zones in barbershops, gyms, and workplaces

• A digital platform for mental fitness and personal growth

• A national movement that redefines strength, vulnerability, and brotherhood

We’re not waiting for change. We are the change.

What You’ll Gain

This is a volunteer role — but the impact is real and lasting.

You’ll gain:

• Leadership experience at a national level

• A chance to shape the public identity of a growing charity

• A powerful portfolio of communications, partnerships, and influence work

• A community of passionate, purpose‑driven people

• A role that grows with you as the movement expands

• The knowledge that your voice helped change — and even save — lives

If This Mission Speaks to You… Step Forward.

Men need us. Men need you. And together, we can build something powerful — something that helps men not just survive, but thrive.

Apply now. Join the movement. Reset the mindset — for others, and for yourself.

Support Our Founder & CEO and Help Shape the Heart of SUNSHINE

SUNSHINE is a grassroots, volunteer‑powered community charity bringing joy, connection and belonging to people who need it most. We create warm, uplifting spaces where no one stands alone — ever. From coffee mornings to community socials, every SUNSHINE moment is designed to spark smiles, laughter and genuine human connection.

As we grow, we’re looking for a compassionate, capable and people‑focused Head of HR & Volunteering to support our Founder & CEO in building a thriving, inclusive and well‑supported volunteer community.

This is a senior leadership volunteer role for someone who believes in kindness‑led culture, strong people practices and the power of human connection.

The Role

As Head of HR & Volunteering, you will lead the development of SUNSHINE’s people culture, volunteer pathways and HR foundations. You’ll work closely with the Founder & CEO to ensure our volunteers feel valued, supported and empowered — and that SUNSHINE grows with warmth, integrity and good governance.

This role is perfect for someone who:

• Has experience in HR, people management or volunteer leadership.

• Loves building positive culture and supporting others to flourish.

• Is organised, emotionally intelligent and grounded.

• Wants to help shape a young, hopeful, community‑led charity.

• Believes in kindness, dignity and belonging for all.

Key Responsibilities

1. Volunteer Leadership & Support

• Develop and oversee volunteer recruitment, onboarding and engagement.

• Create clear volunteer pathways, role descriptions and support structures.

• Ensure volunteers feel welcomed, appreciated and connected.

• Support wellbeing, inclusion and positive team culture.

2. HR Foundations & Good Practice

• Help build simple, ethical HR processes and policies.

• Support with safeguarding, training, documentation and compliance.

• Advise the Founder & CEO on people‑related matters.

• Help ensure SUNSHINE is a safe, supportive and empowering place for all.

3. Culture & Community

• Champion SUNSHINE’s values of joy, kindness and radical welcome.

• Help nurture a warm, inclusive, intergenerational volunteer community.

• Support conflict resolution, reflective practice and healthy communication.

4. Strategic Partnership with the Founder & CEO

• Act as a trusted advisor on people, culture and volunteer strategy.

• Help shape the long‑term development of SUNSHINE’s volunteer‑powered model.

• Bring insight, steadiness and leadership perspective to organisational decisions.

What You Bring

• Experience in HR, people leadership, volunteer management or organisational development.

• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence.

• A calm, supportive, grounded presence.

• Commitment to inclusion, kindness and community‑led values.

• Reliability, integrity and a collaborative spirit.

What You’ll Gain

• A meaningful senior leadership role in a growing grassroots charity.

• The chance to shape a volunteer culture rooted in warmth and belonging.

• A close working relationship with the Founder & CEO.

• The joy of seeing your work directly improve people’s lives.

• A community that values kindness, humanity and connection.

Help Us Build a Community Where No One Stands Alone

If you’re someone who leads with heart, believes in people and wants to help build something hopeful and human‑centred, we’d love to hear from you.

Together, we can bring more SUNSHINE into the world.

The Widening Participation Officer tries to recruit, engage and support as many 16-18 year old volunteers as possible across all of our chapters, with particular focus on those that’d benefit the most from additional WP volunteers, often those
chapters doing the most events.

Due to the sizable scope of the role, the WP Subcommittee is there to help as needed. This is primarily through admin work. You should ensure that you have a suitable number of keen volunteers within the subcommittee that you can delegate tasks to, ensuring that they were well informed, supported and any tasks followed up. This is likely to involve plenty of messaging and occasional meetings.

A primary part of the role that you can delegate is to conceptualise and write the policy for managing 16-18 year old volunteers. This should have a focus on appropriate safeguarding and you can get input from the subcommittee and other Trustees/Officers but should include things like recruitment methods, required paperwork, risk assessments, management at events etc. These policies need to then be communicated effectively to committee and volunteers. 

There are several ways that WP volunteers should be recruited. Schools/6th Forms should be proactively reached out to and a long-term connection formed, ideally through a named person such as a head of year, head of medicine applications or career progression advisor. They can then pass the information on to their students using a range of methods ranging from email to sending a video to, if the local chapter is keen or a member of the subcommittee is nearby, an  in-person visit to an assembly or lunchtime/after-school training session.  

Efforts should be made to build relationships with National bodies that provide volunteering or work experience to 16-18 year olds such as In2MedSchool and Medic Mentor, working closely with them to advertise our volunteering to their
students. 

Once students are interested, they should be able to register as volunteers and attend an Introduction Training session. This can be a WP-specific session with particular focus on benefits and support for WP volunteers such as Duke of Edinburgh hours.

Once volunteers are involved, they should be supported through their time with us including email updates, check-ins, social media posts and training sessions around key times such as university applications.

Finally, of particular note, you should work with the Conference Officer to ensure that WP volunteers are supported in attending the Annual National Conference, in a safe way and have talks of interest to them.
 

Saving Strays is looking for a dynamic fundraising co-ordinator with experience in grass roots and event fundraising to help take our team of dedicated fundraising volunteers to the next level! The role will include initiating and implementing regional team leaders to run local fundraising events and recruit local people to support offline and online fundraising activities. You will liaise with our Head of Fundraising and help to inspire and grow the current team. Think Tank experience, great communication skills and a love of dogs is a must. Although the role is remote there will be opportunites at the charity's main fundraising concerts and events to work alongside the team members in person. We are a fun loving dedicated group of like minded people and we would love to welcome you to the team. 

Overview:

The Administrator will play a vital role in supporting the smooth and efficient running of the organisation. This position involves handling administrative tasks, maintaining records, supporting communications, and assisting with event coordination. The role requires excellent organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

General Administration:

• Maintain and update records, databases, and files.

• Handle correspondence, including emails and phone enquiries.

• Prepare reports, documents, and presentations as required.

• Support meeting coordination, including scheduling, agenda preparation, and minute-taking.

Financial & Office Support:

• Assist with processing invoices, expenses, and financial records.

• Monitor office supplies and place orders when necessary.

• Support the Head of Operations with budget tracking and financial documentation.

Event & Programme Support:

• Assist in organising events, workshops, and meetings.

• Coordinate logistics, including venue booking, catering, and materials.

• Support volunteer and participant communications.

Communications & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Maintain mailing lists and support donor communications.

• Assist in preparing newsletters, social media updates, and website content.

• Liaise with stakeholders, including funders, partners, and volunteers.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Previous experience in an administrative role.

• Strong organisational and time-management skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and cloud-based tools

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.

• A passion for nonprofit work and community engagement.

This role is ideal for a detail-oriented and proactive individual who enjoys providing essential support to ensure the smooth running of a charitable organisation.

Do you want to take part in vegan volunteering around your local area?

You can do that – right here at The Vegan Society. 

We have an ever-growing Community Network of vegans just like you, who have a passion to volunteer and promote veganism where they live. 

Every month, our Network choose from a range of outreach tasks. These could include town centre stalls, writing to a councillor or MP, sharing our campaigns on social media or contacting local businesses. You're in control of how much or how little you do. 

As an Advocate, you will have a network of other Advocates and an Organiser in your area. Your Organiser will be your main point of contact. They will send you tasks every month and ask you to feed back on what you've completed and any positive outcomes. 

Why do we need you to volunteer?

As the vegan community grows, veganism itself becomes better understood. We're finding that more people are looking to The Vegan Society to find out what being vegan is all about.

Local communities are starting to see the vegan movement as something real and something that’s happening in their area. More people are embracing a vegan lifestyle, which we welcome. From new businesses, to families, to councillors, many people need support. This could be with a range of topics: going vegan, finding correct information around a vegan diet, providing vegan options in their business, MPs listening to vegan constituents, and learning about our work.

Local issues are often unique and more varied than national issues. Our volunteers from local areas are vital! They enable us to share our messages and campaigns in an effective way. Research tells us that people are far more likely to trust information from a peer rather than an outside expert, so community volunteering vastly increases the impact of our campaigns.

Our network of committed local vegans across the country is growing! The Vegan Society organises various outreach activities to influence change in every level of society. There are a range of activities going on all the time, from general educational stalls at events to meeting with local policy influencers.

Advocates are a crucial voice in their own community. They ensure that our campaign messages are spread far and wide. They provide a strong vegan presence in local communities.

What does the Advocate role involve?

Being an Advocate for veganism with The Vegan Society will mean communicating with people in your local community. You'll share the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. You will form part of a local group, headed up by a local Organiser. The Organiser will feed back your collective efforts to staff. You will also be invited to our private Facebook group, for vegan socialising and ideas sharing.

You’ll stay in touch with the Organiser and bring your passion to tasks. Activities can range from staffing a stall to giving a talk at an employee event. It could also mean writing to a local newspaper or lobbying an MP.

Messaging can differ every month. Part of our mission statement is to ensure people can remain vegan, so you might focus on getting more vegan options available in local businesses. Or within our Live Vegan for Less campaign, you may share cheap vegan recipes to help people with the cost of living.

When acting as an Advocate, you will use The Vegan Society’s branding and messaging guidelines. Your local Organiser will guide you in doing this, as they hold physical resources and handbooks. You can report any issues and feedback you have to your Organiser. You can also contact staff if your Organiser isn't available or you have any problems.

What training and support is available?

You will be provided with a big welcome and full induction from your local Organiser. They will introduce you to the group and any actions that are ongoing. Any training and development will be provided via your Organiser, and you can also ask for specific training on any areas that you need some development in.

What skills would be useful in doing this role?

• The ability to stay motivated in order to achieve the best possible outcomes
• Good email etiquette, responding in a timely manner
• Committed to veganism and the mission of The Vegan Society
• Ability to stay calm if confronted with differing opinions or challenges
• A good communicator, with the ability to be persuasive
• Confident in communicating with people from a range of backgrounds
• Experience of campaigning
• Any experience in talking with members of the public through customer/public service would be helpful
• Awareness of current affairs, especially those that relate to veganism
• Regular availability and a willingness to stay committed to actions
• Good team player

How much time do I need to invest? 

For Advocates, we ask for people to engage in a minimum of four to six actions per year. An example of an action could be writing to an MP or holding a stall. But the more you can do, the better! On occasion, there may also be online meetings to plan for actions or provide training.

Board of Trustees  (Voluntary)

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

Chair of the Board of Trustees

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

Trustees will help guide Ben’s strategy, ensure effective oversight, champion good governance and support the senior team. We welcome professionals at senior level who can bring fresh perspectives, strong judgement and a commitment to our mission.

We are looking for Trustees who can bring senior-level insight and expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Automotive industry (retail, manufacturing or aftermarket)
• Fundraising, philanthropy, income generation or business development
• Welfare, health and wellbeing
• Impact measurement, evaluation or outcomes frameworks
• Brand, marketing, communications, social media or customer experience
• Finance, audit and risk
• Technology, digital or data
• Research and development
• Governance

We welcome values driven leaders who bring strong judgement, collaboration and diverse perspectives, and who are motivated by improving wellbeing across the automotive industry.

The Board meets 4 times a year, with approximately 50% of those taking place in-person. Trustees will serve up to 9 years.

About the Role

We are seeking a proactive, confident, and highly organised Volunteer Housing & Asset Management Administrator to support our busy Housing and Asset Management teams.

This role is ideal for someone looking to gain experience within a housing association or supported housing environment while making a meaningful contribution to services supporting vulnerable residents.

What we do

Causeway is a small housing association, originally set up to accommodate young Irish migrants, and now providing housing and support services to people from anywhere in the world, with a wide range of needs – from those who just need an affordable place to live, to those who need a helping hand to achieve their life goals.

What we offer

We offer the opportunity to be part of a diverse, multi-disciplinary team, where your skills and creativity will be valued. You will grow and develop with colleagues in similar roles and work collaboratively with other team members, gaining experience in new areas while contributing to the learning of others. As a volunteer, we will cover reasonable travel expenses, provide training opportunities internally and externally, and offer fully flexible working days and hours. 

We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds and abilities. We can provide reasonable adjustments to support volunteers who may need them, at interview stage and/or once in the role.

Minimum Age: 18

References Required: We will ask for two employment/character references: These can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)

Criminal record check: This is conducted by CIHA at no cost to the potential volunteer. This role requires a basic check.

*A disclosure certificate that contains convictions, cautions, warnings, reprimands, or other information may not nessessarily mean that you are not able to volunteer. All certificates will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

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

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

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

We are looking for:

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

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

This is a great opportunity to get involved and make a real difference by providing valuable administrative support at our Head Office in Newmarket. We are looking for a reliable and enthusiastic volunteer who would like to use their existing admin skills and experience to support a dynamic charity at the heart of the racing industry.
If you’re organised, proactive and enjoy being part of a friendly team, we would love to hear from you!

As a Volunteer Administrator, you'll bring your office experience and IT skills to support Racing Welfare’s daily operations. You’ll be comfortable using Microsoft Office programmes like Outlook, Word, and Excel and able to work independently with flexibility. All volunteers must maintain confidentiality and follow Racing Welfare's confidentiality policy and procedures.

Time Commitment: Approximately 1 day per week, flexible based on availability.

Key Responsibilities:
• Photocopying and scanning documents
• Responding to general enquiries via email and telephone
• Contacting external organisations/suppliers for quotes
• Processing card payments over the phone, including donations
• Sending letters and cards
• Compiling attendance lists/ coach registers for events
• Maintaining accurate, up-to-date records according to organisational guidelines and procedures
• Participating in supervision and ongoing training as required
• Helping with other miscellaneous office duties such as tidying/sorting the offices, stock checks and stationary orders etc.
• Taking telephone messages

Required Skills and Attributes:
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook and Office programmes, including mail merge.
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent written, verbal, and face-to-face communication skills
• Reliability, punctuality and a professional attitude
• Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to collect, review, and disseminate information effectively
• Ability to work well within a team and establish effective working relationships

Support and Training:
We will provide all necessary materials and training, including safeguarding training, health and safety and data protection. You will receive continuous support and guidance from a dedicated member of staff throughout your volunteering role.

Benefits of Volunteering with Racing Welfare:
• Be part of a friendly, dedicated team and meet new people
• Continued development of your administrative and communications skills
• Experience the reward of supporting your local and national community
• Gain valuable skills and experience to enhance your CV
• Claim previously agreed out-of-pocket travel expenses

Important Information
• Safeguarding Training: Must be completed before starting the role.
• DBS Check Required: This role is subject to a Basic DBS check, which will be organised and paid for by the charity.
• Two references: Must be completed before starting the role
• Access to Transport Required: No, however, it may be needed if not local to the head office in Newmarket.
• Age Requirement: 18 years or above.

Interested?
For more information, or to apply, please contact use via email outlining your skills and experience and providing a short summary of how you meet the role description.
If you’re shortlisted, we will invite you to our Head Office for an interview. After that, there will be an informal face-to-face chat with a few members of the team, so you can get to know us and we can get to know you a little better. Volunteers join us for an initial six-month trial period, with continuation based on mutual agreement and shared expectations. 

To learn more about what we do visit our website.

Trustee Opportunity at Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire is seeking new trustees to help shape the future of our high-performing advice charity.

With offices in Grantham, Spalding and Stamford, plus outreach centres across the region, we support a population of 225,000 people. Last year, we helped 14,000 clients with 60,000 issues and secured over £7 million of additional income for them. We are here for everyone to help people move on with their lives.

As a trustee, you’d join a well-known, respected charity, influence strategy, strengthen governance and contribute to meaningful change. This is an opportunity to share your expertise with other professional, dedicated trustees, gain valuable experience, build on your leadership and strategy skills, and increase your employability. Prior Board experience is not required.

We welcome expertise in digital media, finance, fundraising, HR, IT, law, marketing, PR, risk management, senior management, local government, or strategy.

What do you need to become a trustee?

Trustees don’t need specific qualifications, but we expect all trustees to have six core skills:

● Insight into the organisation: considering CASL’s objects and its public benefit strategically

● Challenging constructively: clarifying facts; stimulating thought

● Analysing issues: being objective; evaluating risks; using evidence; planning ahead

● Weighing up opinions: using evidence; balancing long- and shortterm; prioritising value

● Interpersonal skills: communicating clearly; listening actively; supporting a healthy culture

● Confidence and self-awareness: collaborating with others; treating everyone with respect.

The Board also values specialist skills as assets among its members:

● experience or qualifications in:

 ‣ business or charity leadership

 ‣ equity, diversity and inclusion

 ‣ facilitation

 ‣ finance and accountancy

 ‣ human resources

 ‣ IT, AI or digital media

‣ law or governance

‣ local government

‣ marketing, PR or communications

‣ risk management, or

‣ strategy development

● past experience as a client or service user of this (or a similar) organisation

● a track record of charitable fundraising, or

● being an effective chair. 

Finally, competent trustees should have these six personal qualities to some extent, and demonstrate them in their behaviours:

● Committed - motivated, dedicated, persevering; plays an active role.

● Responsible - accountable, independent, reliable; accepts collective responsibility.

● Trustworthy - ethical, principled; is a critical friend and focuses on continuous improvement.

● Collaborative - team-oriented, approachable; builds relationships and seeks consensus.

● Confident - independent; contributes constructively and expresses opinions courageously.

● Thoughtful - curious, adaptable, open-minded; appropriately challenges the status quo

About the board and Trustee role 

Trustees are volunteers who oversee the strategic direction of the charity and ensure its compliance with regulators and the law. They are also ambassadors for the charity; and they provide the staff team, which does the day-to-day work, with both scrutiny and support.

The full board meets quarterly. Two meetings focus on ‘business’ – approving budgets and policies, making key decisions, etc. The other two are more discursive, covering strategic issues.

We have four sub-committees: Finance Audit Investment & Risk, Impact & Income Development, Research & Policy, and Governance & People. Trustees are generally encouraged to join at least one sub-committee, which gives them more detailed insight into the charity’s work in that area. A number of trustees choose to sit on multiple sub-committees (there is no upper limit) and trustees are also welcome to attend any sub-committee, for example as a one-off, to see what happens or if they have an interest in a particular agenda item. Sub-committees also meet quarterly.

And there is usually one strategy day a year.

We currently have eight trustees on our board, with experience in public affairs, law, policing, business, research, marketing, inclusion and influencing government. We are looking to a recruit four further trustees. Our primary focus is to bring different perspectives to the board rather than skills, given that the delivery of the charity’s work is delegated to a skilled staff team. 

• One trustee with experience of research (of any type) – an attitude of curiosity, intellectual rigour and open-mindedness. 

• One trustee with professional experience of alcohol treatment (at any level) – the perspective of delivering compassionate support via treatment services, whether charity or NHS settings. 

• One trustee with experience of strategic charity finance – especially interest in weighing up long-term financial strategic choices (not month-to-month financial management: we have a finance team). 

• One trustee from any background. 

 All trustees are asked to bring a commitment to and passion for our vision, mission and values.

What we can offer 

1. Our board of trustees, and our charity as a whole, is warm and welcoming.

2. Everyone is entitled to have their views heard and we work hard to be inclusive of everyone.

3. We are well organised and professionally run.

4. We are a dynamic and fast-paced organisation, with a huge range of interesting work happening.

5. You will have opportunities for personal development and to attend a range of interesting events in your role as a trustee.

6. Finally, and most importantly, we are laser-focused on making as much difference as possible to end alcohol harm.    

Trustees’ Role Description and Person Specification 

Being a Trustee of Alcohol Change UK 

Our Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for the UK’s leading charity in the field of alcohol harm. We are a registered charity (No. 1140287) and a company limited by guarantee (No.

07462605). Our trustees are also members of the charity and directors of the company. Governance is in accordance with both charity and company law. This role description uses the term ‘trustee’ to refer to all three roles (trustee, member, director).

As well as overseeing proper governance, the Board is responsible for strategic decision-making, upholding the reputation of the charity and ensuring that it delivers on its charitable object to reduce alcohol harm. As a trustee you will share this collective responsibility and bring your personal perspectives, skills, experience and connections to bear.

This is an important time for the charity, as we are in the third year of our five-year strategy (Apr 2024 to Mar 2029). Our new trustees will play a key role in helping us deliver on this strategy and in particular navigating a major change in our financial position. 

The Duties and Responsibilities of Trustees 

Governing Documents 

Our primary governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association which sets out the formal duties and responsibilities of the trustees, directors and members. It is complemented by our Scheme of Delegation. We have also adopted the Code of Good Governance, and remain compliant with the rules of the Charity Commissioners and Companies House. 

General Duties and Responsibilities 

The following are general duties, based on documentation from the Charity Commission and Companies House: 

1. To act in the interests of the charity’s objects – that is, its cause and its beneficiaries. 
2. To act reasonably and prudently in all matters. 
3. To avoid personal views and prejudices affecting your decision-making. 
4. To protect – and actively promote – the property, interests and reputation of the charity. 
5. To set the strategic direction, provide strategic oversight, and make critical decisions. 
6. To always make decisions collectively as a board and in particular to actively support all board decisions (that are made in accordance with the charity’s constitution) regardless of your personal position on such decisions. 
7. To understand how the charity works, including being fully aware of the charity’s general risks and its financial position. 
8. To ensure compliance with all statutory requirements as set out by Companies House and the Charity Commission and by other relevant statutory bodies and legislation. 
9. To challenge and support the CEO and, through them, the broader staff team. 

Additional Duties and Responsibilities 

The following additional duties and responsibilities have been adopted by Alcohol Change UK: 

1. To abide by Alcohol Change UK’s policies, such as those on equal opportunities, health and safety, safeguarding, code of conduct, conflicts of interest, GDPR, etc. 
2. To endeavour to achieve at least 75% attendance at Board meetings. In accordance with the governing documents, trustees missing three consecutive board meetings without reasonable cause will normally be asked to step down. 
3. To undertake training as required and to participate in an annual development appraisal. 
4. To join at least one of the charity’s four sub-committees. 
5. To represent Alcohol Change UK at events and to act as a positive ambassador for Alcohol Change UK amongst its key audiences. 
6. To understand and respect the boundary between governance and the operational matters that are delegated to the staff team. 
7. To respond to Alcohol Change UK correspondence in a timely manner. 

Person Specification

All trustees need the following:

1. Strong commitment to the vision, values and mission of Alcohol Change UK.
2. An ability to think strategically; that is, thinking of the big picture and the long-term, being impact-focused, and considering the relationship between internal and external factors.
3. An ability to work as part of a team, especially understanding and respecting the nature of collective decision-making.
4. Excellent communications skills, especially active listening, succinctness, clarity, positivity and tact.
5. Commitment to the 7 Nolan Principles on Public Life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
6. Discretion and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
7. A willingness to contribute your individual skills, perspectives, knowledge and experience without acting as representative of any particular interest.

Trustees are appointed for an initial term of three or four years, following which they may be re-elected for a second and third term of three years. 

Trustee roles are unremunerated but reasonable travel, accommodation, childcare and subsistence expenses are of course covered.