Housing volunteer roles

The Role

Our Lotus Community works alongside the City of Edinburgh Council to provide accommodation for 14 young people (aged 16-18), who are unaccompanied asylum-seekers. They come from a variety of different countries.

The community is a step towards independent living, whilst they await a decision about their ‘leave to remain’ in the country. The asylum procedure can be a long, complicated, overwhelming and challenging process. We support the young people in the best way during this stressful time (and after). They are supported by social workers and a guardianship service as well.

What will you do as a volunteer?

We are looking for highly motivated individuals who work well independently, are proactive and can get involved in community activities. You will support the residents of the community and help look after your shared spaces in the flats. Most of the residents have basic living skills, including cooking, cleaning and budgeting. We offer further support where needed.

We can also help them gain confidence and knowledge of the local area. This is to enable them to take further steps towards independence and integration in the local community. This is also with the purpose of them moving on to accommodation that better suits their needs in the future.

Depending on the season, and interests and abilities of the residents, your tasks can include:

• Being a peer mentor and staying in touch with the residents via WhatsApp
• Organise our monthly community meeting
• Organise activities, which can be walks, cycling, board games night, karaoke, tea and cake (whatever your interests) for the residents to come along.
• Reporting issues with the flat, repairs etc.
• Making sure that all rooms always have the equipment needed (cleaning products, toilet roll, hand sanitiser, condoms etc).
• Updating your (online) calendar for the week, so everyone knows when you are volunteering and not.
• Working together with your fellow volunteer(s) to organise activities and arrange rota.

What you get:

Location: You will live in a studio bedroom in the flat alongside the young residents. You will not pay for rent or bills (including internet).

Time: 20 hours per week for minimum 6 months. These are during the evening and weekends, with exception for a few hours spent in meetings and alike.

You can volunteer and work part time at the same time. You will organise your volunteering hours with the other volunteer.

We will provide support and training needed for you to engage with the tasks and young people in a safe manner. Support, supervision and team meetings are every month.

Location: Shepherd’s Bush, West London

Time Commitment: Approx. 1–2 days per month (including quarterly board meetings and annual Away Day)

Type: Voluntary

Start Date: Early 2026

Join a unique West London charity creating lasting change in people’s lives

The Upper Room is seeking a Chair of Trustees (Designate) to join our Board in 2025/26 and, after a year of active trusteeship and shadowing, to step into the role of Chair when our current Chair reaches the end of their tenure in 2027.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a passionate, values-led individual to help shape the next phase of our work, from strategic resilience to community innovation.

About Us

From small beginnings more than 35 years ago The Upper Room has grown into a thriving charity with an annual budget of around £650K.

Food provision has always been at the heart of what we do. UR4Meals serves approximately 40,000 meals a year, operating five days a week.

UR4Driving works with ex-offenders and young people identified as at risk of offending. We help them pass their driving theory test, and then provide free driving lessons. Last year 37 students gained a full driving licence with us. This has a significant impact on their employability and self-esteem, and dramatically reduces re-offending.

UR4Jobs helps people become work-ready, and supports their wellbeing.

We are still based in our original home at St Saviour’s Church near Shepherd’s Bush in west London.

About the Role

As Chair, you’ll lead a committed and skilled Board of Trustees, working closely with our CEO and senior team to guide strategy, ensure good governance and champion our impact.

You’ll also play a key role externally, acting as an ambassador to funders, partners and supporters.

We’re looking for someone who can

• Provide strategic leadership through a period of growth and innovation
• Foster a culture of inclusion and respect, both on the Board and across the organisation - Support and challenge the CEO, acting as a critical friend and sounding board
• Ensure excellent governance, compliance and risk management
• Represent the charity publicly, building relationships and influence

About You

We welcome candidates with prior Board experience as a Trustee, Chair or Non-Executive Director, and a strong commitment to social justice.

We especially encourage applications from those with lived experience of disadvantage, as well as those from under-represented backgrounds, including individuals from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

We’re interested in candidates with

• A clear understanding of charity governance and the role of a Chair
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Strategic thinking and sound judgement
• A collaborative, values-driven approach
• The time, energy and commitment to make a lasting difference

Additional experience in fundraising, partnerships, organisational development or public sector engagement would be welcome, though not essential.

Time Commitment

• As a Trustee in 2025/ 26 (approx. 1–2 days per month)
• Transition to Chair in 2027, subject to mutual agreement and Board approval
• Quarterly evening Board meetings (in person in London)
• Annual summer Away Day with staff and trustees
• Optional involvement in sub-committees or events depending on interest and availability
• Representing the charity at local events

Why Now

By inviting a prospective Chair to join our Board as a Trustee in 2025/26, we can ensure a smooth, informed transition, with the support and handover of our current Chair, and plenty of time for deep onboarding and relationship-building.

The new Chair will help consolidate our growth, and lead our Board through the next chapter, ensuring our mission continues to serve those who need us most in the years ahead.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a brief covering letter explaining your interest and suitability to the Upper Room.

If you would like to have an informal conversation before applying, feel free to reach out via email to arrange a call.

Because we are planning for the long term we are not placing a deadline on this process. However, we aim to appoint in the first quarter of 2026.

Interviews will be held in two stages, including an in-person meeting with key Board and staff members.

Unify is building a social impact platform that helps get direct, practical support to people who need it most — with dignity, transparency, and real-world usability at the core.

We’re looking for a Senior Developer / Tech Lead (Volunteer) to guide the build, unblock the team, and help us ship a solid, scalable product. This is a light commitment (2–5 hours per week), but a high-leverage role: you’ll be working closely alongside the founders and our Product Manager.

What you’ll do (2–5 hrs/week)

• Lead engineering direction: keep the build clean, pragmatic, and shippable.

• Review PRs and raise code quality (architecture, security, performance, maintainability).

• Help prioritise technical work with the founders + Product Manager.

• Support and mentor a small volunteer/dev team (light-touch guidance, not heavy management).

• Set up or improve engineering foundations (CI/CD, environments, observability, release process).

• Identify risk early (security, data handling, scalability) and propose solutions.

What we’re building

• A production product with real users and real-world constraints.

• A platform where trust, safety, and reliability matter as much as features.

Tech stack

MERN stack

• MongoDB (database)

• Express.js (backend framework)

• React (frontend)

• Node.js (runtime / API layer)

What we’re looking for

• Senior-level software engineering experience (ideally with leading small teams or acting as tech lead).

• Strong product sense: you can balance “build it right” with “ship it”.

• Comfortable in ambiguous, early-stage environments.

• Solid judgement around security, data handling, and best practices.

• A collaborative communicator who can keep things calm and moving.

Nice to have (not required)

• Experience with marketplaces, payments, identity/verification flows, or credit/voucher systems.

• Experience setting up CI/CD, testing strategy, and deployment pipelines for MERN apps.

• Previous work in startups, charities, civic tech, or social impact.

Why join (and what you’ll get)

• Real ownership and influence — your decisions shape the product.

• Work directly with the founders + Product Manager.

• A mission-led build where shipping matters and the work is tangible.

• Flexibility: async-first, lightweight weekly rhythm.

Time + format

• Volunteer: 2–5 hours per week

• Remote / hybrid (where relevant)

• Async-first with a short weekly check-in

Interested?
Send a short note with your background + links (GitHub/LinkedIn/portfolio) and we’ll set up a quick chat

Position Title: Deputy Volunteer Lead
Reporting to: Volunteer Leadership Team (VLT) - Volunteer Lead
Organisation: Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees (SWR) 
Location: Sevenoaks Town and surrounding areas within the district council area
Time Commitment: 2-3 hours per week
Remuneration: Voluntary Position (Expenses Reimbursed)

Background to the charity
Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees is a local charity formed in March 2017. We are a small and growing charity, whose volunteers and supporters have come together to welcome and help support the refugees who have fled the fighting and persecution in Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and are now resettling in our community.
Starting with just one refugee family, we have expanded our efforts over the years and are proud to have supported about 50 families as they settle and rebuild their lives in our community.

Purpose of Role:
Would you like to make a meaningful and lasting difference in the lives of refugee families as they settle into life in Britain—supporting them to achieve independence and integrate confidently into their new communities?
As Deputy Volunteer Lead, you will be an integral part of the SWR Voluntary Leadership Team (VLT), which oversees both our core services for refugees and the coordination and welfare of our valued volunteers.
Our work spans general support with settling in, integration, building independence, language learning, educational guidance, and assistance in accessing suitable employment. You will work closely with the Volunteer Lead on the VLT, with a particular focus on the general support function.
Each refugee family is supported by a small group of volunteers, led by a designated lead volunteer. In this role, you’ll collaborate directly with these volunteer teams, ensuring they are supported, informed, and empowered to deliver high-impact, person-centred support.
This is an opportunity to join a growing, well-regarded, and professional charity, working alongside dedicated and compassionate volunteers who share your passion for helping others.
Key Responsibilities: ● Act as a bridge between the lead volunteers and central SWR services to source the equipment and help needed by the families. ● See over the welfare and requirements of the families which will change incrementally over time. The level of support should gradually diminish as the families become more independent. ● Liaise with local government support workers where families are still receiving support from them. ● Help establish and monitor the family Path to Independence Plans. ● Liaise with Education, Language and Employment specialities. ● Keep the VLT and Volunteer Lead up to date as needed.
Skills & Qualities Needed
You need to be:
● compassionate, patient, and non-judgmental
● good at communication
● organized with good attention to detail.
● flexible and adaptable to different family needs and cultural backgrounds.
● reasonably IT literate
It would help if you had an employment background of teaching, social services or other service related charities - BUT it is not essential.
Support & Training Provided
All SWR volunteers are expected to complete an induction, including mandatory safeguarding training. We also provide training on cultural awareness to help volunteers support families sensitively and effectively.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage you to highlight any specific adjustments that would enable you to participate fully in the recruitment process.

Support the work of St John Ambulance in your community by volunteering as a Community Volunteer, an exciting new role which is designed to revamp how volunteering looks in the modern world; flexible, innovative and is open for all.

We need people who have a passion for helping others, care about their communities and want to make a difference, supporting them to become safe and more resilient. Community Volunteers can choose from a wide selection of activities – including fundraising, talks and demonstrations, supporting at events, volunteer welfare, social media and administration support.

Through supporting the growth of community partnerships, you will bring people along to our cause, growing our membership and fundraising base and spreading the message that First Aid Saves Lives.

Give as much (or little) time as you can afford. With this new role, you simply volunteer when it works for you. That means you can give as much time as you like or as little as 24 hours across a whole year, whenever it suits you. It’s perfect for busy lives, changing schedules, or for anyone seeking a low-commitment involvement. 

The Community Volunteer provides an easy way to stay connected and contribute meaningfully to your local community. Here are some examples of what you could do: 

• Community fundraising
• Talks and demonstrations
• Support at events
• Volunteer welfare
• Community Roadshows
• Supporting national campaigns
• Counting and banking money
• Booking events
• Supporting Networks  
• Administration support
• Writing thank you and community letters
• Media and social media
• Community news and Network newsletters 

Through volunteering as a Community Volunteer, you’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time.

Once we have completed your selection and screening for this role, we will provide you with an induction, as well as invite you to any necessary training sessions. We will also provide you with a supportive environment while you are volunteering with us. Information about our volunteer roles are included in the role descriptions. What you can expect from SJA, and what we expect from those who volunteer with us, is included in the volunteer charter.

we will be looking to run volunteering selection events throughout the year, if successful you will need to complete an interview, volunteer screening and online training

Closing date for these opportunities is: 30/06/2026

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Support SPEAR’s mission to end homelessness through strong governance and collaborative leadership as Chair of Trustees.

Applications close at 9 a.m. Tuesday 3rd February

SPEAR works towards a clear and ambitious vision: communities in which anyone facing or experiencing homelessness can quickly move into secure accommodation, receive effective support and work towards their hopes and aspirations.

For over 35 years, SPEAR has supported people across South West London who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness; particularly people with experience of rough sleeping. Their work enables people to move from crisis to stability by providing secure accommodation, holistic support and the opportunity to work towards a positive future. Its work spans outreach to people sleeping rough, accommodation and tenancy support, health and well-being services, and longer-term interventions that address the underlying causes of homelessness.

Led by an experienced executive team and supported by a committed Board of Trustees, SPEAR works closely with local authorities, health services and other partners, and continues to adapt its approach in response to rising need and a changing external environment.

They now seek a new Chair of Trustees to provide strong, values-led governance and to help guide the Board as it continues to develop its effectiveness. Working in close partnership with the Chief Executive, you will support clear decision-making, constructive challenge and a collaborative Board culture, ensuring SPEAR remains well-governed, ambitious and true to its mission.

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Tuesday 3rd February 2026.

Position Title: Language Programme Lead
Reporting to: Volunteer Leadership Team - Chair
Organisation: Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees (SWR)
Location: Sevenoaks Town and surrounding areas within the district council area
Time Commitment: 3 hours per week
Remuneration: Voluntary Position (Expenses Reimbursed)

Organisation Overview
Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees (SWR) was founded in 2017 and became a registered charity in 2019. Initially focused on supporting Syrian refugees resettling in the Sevenoaks district under the UK Government Resettlement Scheme, SWR’s mission has since expanded to assist 16 refugee families from Syria and Afghanistan, as well as 50 Ukrainian families. In 2023-24, SWR raised over £70,000 to further its work, collaborating closely with local councils and partner organisations to achieve its objectives. With seven trustees, 110 active volunteers, and a supporter base of approximately 750 people, SWR is poised for a new phase of growth.

Role Overview:
As the Language Programme Lead, you will provide leadership in developing and delivering tailored language learning plans for refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Your role is crucial in promoting independence and successful integration into society for these individuals and families, aligning with the charity’s strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities:
● Manage the delivery of language support tailored to the individual needs of each refugee through a team of 30 or so well-motivated language volunteers, usually, but not always operating one to one. This team have delivered at least 8,000 hours of language support since the charity started.
● Be actively involved in the recruitment of new language volunteers as required.
● Oversee necessary training for language volunteers and develop the promotion of best practice across the language programme group.
● Arrange for initial assessments on the arrival of all new families into the area and producing suitable teaching programmes that link with whatever other family support is required and what other stakeholders are providing.
● Work with the Volunteer Leadership Team to provide an effective overall support for our refugee beneficiaries.
● Liaise with key stakeholders such as Kent Adult Education(KAE), and the Kent ESOL Networking Group to maintain good relationships that support the provision of our language programme.

Qualifications
A working knowledge of ESOL and associated exams and qualifications would be beneficial.
Driver’s licence and access to a car would be extremely useful, given the geographical spread of the beneficiaries in the wider Sevenoaks area. This is not a role that can be performed online.

Impact and reward:
The Language Programme Lead will play a critical role in empowering refugees to achieve greater independence and integration within their new communities. You will help our refugee beneficiaries gain the language skills, confidence, and vocational training necessary to navigate daily life, access employment opportunities, and participate fully in society. You will play a big role in transforming the lives of refugees. In some cases of refugees who are illiterate in their own language, this will be genuinely life changing.

Position Title: Family Liaison
Reporting to: Volunteer Leadership Team - Family Support Lead
Organisation: Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees (SWR)
Location: Swanley or able to travel to Swanley
Time Commitment: 1-2 hours per week
Remuneration: Voluntary Position (Expenses Reimbursed)

Organisation Overview
Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees is a local charity formed in March 2017. We are a small and growing charity, whose volunteers and supporters have come together to welcome and help support the refugees who have fled the fighting and persecution in Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine, and are now resettling in our community.
Starting with just one refugee family, we have expanded our efforts over the years and are proud to have supported about 50 families as they settle and rebuild their lives in our community.

Purpose of Role:
Would you like to make a crucial difference for the better to the life and welfare of a refugee family as they settle into life in Britain helping them to achieve independence and social integration in their new surroundings? As a Family Liaison, you will be a vital friendly link and mentor for the family to help them navigate through difficulties that they may encounter on their path to independent living in our district. It is a very important and rewarding role.
Key Responsibilities: ● Where the family is new, help them to settle in and pass on requests for help and equipment. ● See over the welfare and requirements of the family which will change incrementally over time. The level of support should gradually diminish as the family becomes more independent. ● Liaise with local government support workers (Refugee Council) as needed while the family is still receiving support from them. ● Liaise with the team around the family - general support, language and education - so that they work together; moderate a Whatsapp group for all volunteers supporting the family, whatever their role. ● Encourage and monitor the family’s path to independence ● Liaise with Education, Language and Employment specialities.
● Keep the Volunteer Leadership Team (VLT) Family Support Lead up to date as needed.
Skills & Qualities Needed

You need to be:
● compassionate, patient, and non-judgmental
● good at communication
● organized with good attention to detail.
● flexible and adaptable to different family needs and cultural backgrounds.
● reasonably IT literate
It would help if you had a background in health, teaching, social services or other service related charities - BUT it is not essential, a practical attitude is needed.

Time and location
The weekly commitment might be 1-2 hours particularly initially, tapering down as the families become more independent. This is not an online job and the family is located in Swanley.

Support & Training Provided As well as general training for SWR volunteers on the essentials such as safeguarding and cultural awareness, we run workshops to find out more about how we can help children in their path through education, language learning and other matters that may be relevant. The VLT will ensure that the Family Liaison has support and backup as required and a mentor will be appointed to help a new Family Liaison in the initial stages of taking up the role.

How will I be ending homelessness?

Based in or near one of our Skylight offices, you will be supporting people to share their experiences in ways that feel comfortable to feed into our fundraising work. 

This role would support us in implementing our story processes and completing story write ups to bring real life experiences to life and show the impact of Crisis’ work to get more donors, increase awareness and challenge perceptions.  

What do I gain?

Using your skills and experience to have a direct impact on a cause you are passionate about is rewarding. Working closely with the Stories Lead will enable us to share more stories in our funding reports, communications, and projects. 

This will inspire more people to support and/or donate to Crisis to end homelessness.  

• A professional development opportunity in a friendly and supportive charitable environment  
• Opportunity to practice and enhance your writing and editing skills  
• Opportunity to make new connections and networks within the charity sector  
• A greater understanding of the structural causes of homelessness and how your volunteering supports the solutions  
• Give back to the community by using your skills

What will I be doing?

As a volunteer within our Stories team, you will:

• Support people accessing Crisis at Christmas services to share their stories through Crisis in line with best practice guidelines
• Build relationships with lead workers and the local Skylight teams to raise awareness of stories work 
• To support colleagues in the stories team by completing write-ups of stories from the Christmas period

Who are we looking for? 

Someone with drive, ambition, and passion to enhance our storytelling work. We welcome people from a variety of experiences and professional backgrounds with the desire to support achieving our mission to end homelessness 

• Ability to interview individuals about their experiences sensitively and to frame follow-up questions to support individuals to build their own narratives.
• Ability to build relationships and rapport with a wide range of people.
• Excellent writing and editing skills.
• Understanding of the importance of protecting the dignity of people who are sharing their stories and experiences.
• Ability to work as part of a team towards shared goals and objectives.
• A commitment to completing any training (including e-learning) required for the role.  
• You will need access to your own computer and broadband/data. 
• You will need a basic disclosure check for this role

Join Us as Treasurer – Make a Lasting Impact

The Maypole Project provides vital emotional and practical support to children and young people with complex medical needs, and their families. We are seeking an experienced Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees and help steer the charity’s financial future.

Why This Role Matters

Your expertise will ensure our finances remain strong and sustainable, enabling us to continue delivering life-changing support to families when they need it most.

What You’ll Do

• Oversee financial governance and compliance.
• Present budgets, accounts, and financial reports to the Board.
• Advise on financial strategy and sustainability.
• Support fundraising and investment decisions.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong financial background (accountancy or financial management).
• A recognised accountancy qualification (desirable)
• Understanding of charity finance and governance.
• Ability to explain financial matters clearly to non-financial trustees.
• Strategic thinker with sound judgment.

Commitment

• Attend quarterly board meetings in person at our offices in Orpington and/or online, reviewing monthly management accounts, preparation for and actions arising from board meetings plus ad hoc support working from home.
• Average one day per month.
• Induction and ongoing training provided.

Why Join Us?

You’ll be part of a passionate team making a real difference to families across South East London and beyond. Your contribution will help shape the future of a charity that truly changes lives.

Interested? 

Please visit our website and download the role description and application form.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Do you have an interest or experience in mental health care service design and delivery? Join us in supporting services in the Lambeth community as Chair of Mosaic Clubhouse!

This is a fantastic opportunity to use your senior leadership skills at a charity impacting the quality of life for so many in our community. You'll also work closely with our executive team while providing sound judgement for our Board.

Can you bring a great understanding of governance to our decision-making? If you are keen to act as an ambassador for a mental health charity, then we'd love to hear from you!

WHO IS MOSAIC CLUBHOUSE?

Mosaic Clubhouse is a unique, internationally renowned, mental health recovery community provider. We are right in the heart of Lambeth and wider south-east London, supporting the mental health system. We help over 400 Lambeth residents living with poor mental health each year through our work.

Mosaic people are not defined by their diagnosis but by their potential. They are our members, working side by side with staff to run every part of the Clubhouse. From reception to communications, café operations to fundraising, our model builds a sense of belonging.

WHAT MATTERS TO US

Our community reflects the heart of Brixton and Lambeth; diverse, creative, and resilient.

Mosaic runs on collaboration, not hierarchy. Our members both shape decisions and co-deliver our programmes and services. They also serve on our Board of Trustees, ensuring lived experience drives everything we do.

Our vision is for people, from all walks of life facing mental health challenges, to achieve their potential and feel respected.

IF YOU JOIN US…

You'll be joining us at an exciting time for Mosaic Clubhouse! We just celebrated our 30-year anniversary of proudly holding a positive reputation at the heart of our community.

As Chair, you'll lead on developing a new strategy to improve the mental wellbeing of our members, extending our reach to help more people.

Are you ready to guide us through this invigorating time in our history? This is a great opportunity to lead on our priorities over the coming years through a person-centred approach. 

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for someone who is motivated by our purpose and mission – to change the lives of people affected by poor mental health. You'll need to bring successful board leadership experience to ensure effective operation of our governance.

We are particularly looking for:

• effective decision-making in line with Charity Commission and International Clubhouse standards
• clear commitment to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout our work.
• goals for financial sustainability and increased employment opportunities for our members

Please make sure you read our Candidate Information Pack before applying. It contains important details about the role and our organisation.

Don’t think you quite meet all the specifications? Please don’t count yourself out. We’d still love to learn more about your interest in joining Mosaic Clubhouse!

WHAT’S NEXT?

Eastside People is supporting Mosaic Clubhouse in the recruitment of this role. You can follow the link to apply today.

The closing date for applications is Mon 2nd March. Shortlisting interviews will take place shortly after. Shortlisted candidates will then have an interview with Mosaic Clubhouse shortly after this.

We acknowledge every application. You’ll always hear from us after taking the time to apply - we look forward to hearing from you!

Join Taunton Brewhouse Board as Finance Trustee, develop skills in charity finance and support us in bringing entertainment and culture to our community.

Having grown substantially over the past 12 years, we are moving into a new era of development.   This includes and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the theatre which takes place in 2027.

Our current Trustee for Finance retires shortly, and we seek a new Finance/Director to take forward this key area.

As Trustee responsible for Finance, you will have specific responsibilities for

• providing financial guidance to the Board on matters put before it
• chairing quarterly meeting of the F&GP Committee
• oversight of financial management through monthly meetings with senior finance team
• liasing with professional advisers as necessary

You will share with other trustees the regular responsibilities for all:

• agree strategy and goals for the charity and Taunton Brewhouse
• appoint and set salarie for senior management
• give oversight and support to management
• ensure due diligence in regulatory matters including safe-guarding
• pay attention to financial management
• ensure a robust approach to the management of risk.

Apart from time commitments indicated for Finance, the Board meets quarterly on Monday evenings with other meetings as necessary (sometimes on line).  There is an annual 'away-day' for trustees and the AGM which takes place in November.

We’re seeking committed new trustees to help guide a small but ambitious charity supporting children and young people with cerebral palsy, ensuring our funds deliver meaningful, life-changing impact.

Our Board is made up of a small, committed group of trustees who bring a mix of professional expertise and personal connection to our cause. Together, we oversee a grant-making charity that has a long heritage and a clear ambition: to increase our income and ensure we can support more children and young people with cerebral palsy in meaningful, practical ways.

Like many small charities, our challenge is balancing strong governance with growth. We are financially stable and well run, but we want to think more strategically about our future: how we prioritise funding, how we grow awareness and income, and how we ensure every grant we make delivers real, lasting benefit for families. The new trustee will play an active role in shaping these conversations and helping the Board move confidently from steady state to sustainable growth.

The role is hands-on and collaborative. Trustees are expected to attend four board meetings a year, contribute thoughtfully to discussion and decision-making, and engage between meetings when specific issues arise. Depending on interest and experience, the new trustee may also be invited to take a lead role in an area of work or join a small working group, for example around fundraising development, investment oversight, or grant assessment.

This is an opportunity to influence how limited charitable funds are used where they matter most. Trustees are directly involved in decisions that enable children to access therapy, specialist equipment, and support that may not otherwise be available. For someone who wants to make a tangible difference, this is a role where your contribution can be clearly seen in the lives of the children and families we support.

The Board values open discussion, shared responsibility, and a supportive culture, making this an especially rewarding role for someone who wants their time and judgement to have genuine impact.

Lay Directors of the Governing Board (x2)
£200 - £250 per day, plus expenses
Part-time, hybrid working with occasional travel to London

 
The British Acupuncture Council​​​​​​​ is seeking to recruit two Lay Directors to join our Governing Board to replace the directors who stood down in 2025.

The ideal candidates will have previous experience as a non-executive director or trustee of a charity, company or community interest company, an understanding of regulatory compliance requirements and the experience of working with a strategic risk management structure.

The successful applicants will also have a keen interest in acupuncture and a passion for promoting it as a valid healthcare choice.

Person specification and skills:

· Clear, strategic thinker.

· Ability to think creatively.

· Strong diplomacy and listening skills.

· Ability to maintain confidentiality under the GDPR and data protection legislation.

· Ability to demonstrate integrity, objectivity, accountability, and openness.

· Good, independent judgement and willingness to speak their mind and be prepared to make unpopular recommendations to the Governing Board.

Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of being a Director:

· Ability to work effectively in a team and accept collective responsibility for decisions taken.

· Commitment to the BAcC and its objectives.

· Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to the BAcC, with a focus on your area of expertise.

Additionally, we are seeking individuals with specific skills and expertise in one or both of the following areas:

Business development and fundraising 

· Experience in business development and income diversification especially within the health and well being sector.

· Experience of identifying and critically assessing strategic opportunities and threats and developing effective organisational strategies.

· Oversight to drive income generation strategy and apply objective scrutiny to complex funding initiatives within a highly regulated healthcare sector.

Healthcare management

· In-depth experience and understanding of the wider UK health and wellbeing sector.

· Senior level management experience in a complex organisation (ideally NHS).

· Extensive network and connections with stakeholders within the healthcare sector, including policy-makers.

· Experience in membership services and public relations.

Commitment

Four Governing Board meetings per year.
One additional away day and attendance at annual conference.
Ad-hoc interim meetings by agreement.
Committee participation by agreement.

For further information on the role, please see the attached candidate pack. 

In order to apply, please submit your CV along with a supporting statement outlining how you meet the person specification by 2 February 2026 via the application link.

Online interviews will take place on 17 February 2026. 

The BAcC reserves the right to close applications early depending on volume of applications.