Human resources volunteer roles

Can you help the Bristol Oxfam Online Shop raise money to support and empower some of the world’s most vulnerable communities?

We are looking for people with an eye for detail to help us research, prepare, photograph, describe and dispatch our homewares on Oxfam’s bespoke online shop. Our specialist online shop sells an eclectic range of clothing, accessories, books, music, film and homewares, sourced from our generous donors at Oxfam shops across the area.

We have had some very interesting homewares donations over the years, from antique postal scales to vintage bears and Wedgwood tea sets. If you know your homewares and can help us identify, price, list and photograph our stock your help will be invaluable! You will receive full training and support from our friendly and knowledgeable team.

What you can do at the shop:

We believe in empowering our volunteers so, depending on your interests and what you would like to get out of the role, you can get involved with any of the following aspects of running the online shop (and more!):

· Researching rare and valuable stock

· Selection, preparation and presentation of stock

· Photography and editing

· Creating accurate and engaging online listings

· Creating engaging content for the shop's social media platforms

· Packaging and dispatching items

What we can offer:

Oxfam's core values are empowerment, inclusiveness and accountability, and we stand by these in all aspects of our work. We provide a safe, friendly and supportive environment and we have a range of tasks to suit all potential volunteers. When you volunteer with us you will have the opportunity to develop your skills (and enhance your CV) and bring your own ideas into the shop. You will be warmly welcomed and you will feel a sense of ownership over the work you do. We will provide full training, giving you the benefit of our experience. We provide references for our volunteers, and we believe nobody should be out of pocket to volunteer with us, so if you live outside the Cotham area we can help with reasonable travel costs. Our shop only sells online and we are not open to the public, so if are interested in gaining ecommerce experience but would value a quieter, relaxed working environment, you will love it here!

What our team have to say about working at the shop:

“Oxfam has given me my first relevant volunteering experience – I’ve learnt about a range of different items as well as how an organisation works – and it gives me a chance each week to switch my focus away from uni work!”

“You come across lots of interesting items, but it can be a thrill when you find something rare or out of the ordinary”

“I’ve been here for four years and I love it – very friendly team, very varied – dealing with high end clothing, antiquarian books, household items and much more – it’s great to find new homes for unwanted goods”

What we ask for:

· Enthusiasm for selling stuff online!

· A willingness to learn and to work within Oxfam's core values

· A commitment of a 3 hour shift per week for at least 3 months

· A commitment to abide by all shop health and safety processes

What your help will enable us to do:

Every pound raised in these incredibly challenging times supports Oxfam’s aim of ending extreme poverty. This income is vital to empower people to help themselves out of poverty, and, crucially, it allows us to act immediately when a disaster happens - saving lives and providing essential resources to help rebuild communities.

Can you help us raise as much as we can to continue our work this year? We won't live with poverty. If you feel the same way we would love to work with you!

The Cyber Helpline is a charity founded by the cybersecurity community to ensure no one faces cybercrime alone.

We provide free, expert support to individuals affected by cybercrime, digital fraud and online harm, helping them understand what has happened, secure their accounts and devices, recover safely and regain control.

Since launching, we have supported more than 100,000 people through our helpdesk and millions more through accessible self-help guidance. Every month, more than 25,000 people access our self-help service for practical advice and support.

We bridge the gap between technical cyber response and human support, combining expert digital guidance with empathy, clarity and care.

As demand for our services grows, we are investing in a stronger brand, marketing and audience engagement to ensure more people can find us when they need us, and more supporters can help sustain and grow our work.

The Cyber Helpline is a dynamic, fast-growth charity that has the ability to really drive change in the online world. We offer a flexible working environment, the chance to work with highly motivated colleagues, work with exciting partners and provide the chance for you to help make a difference.

Role Summary

The Company Secretary is the guardian of The Cyber Helpline’s compliance with both the law and best practice. The Company Secretary will play a key role in ensuring that Board procedures are followed and regularly reviewed. Acting as a resource for the Board, the Company Secretary will also provide guidance on Board members' responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

The Company Secretary will be responsible for the following:

• Ensuring the charity operates in accordance with its governing document, the Charities Act, and the Companies Act 2006. Advising the board on their duties and on any legal and regulatory changes.

• Being the subject matter expert on charity law and regulation within the Board. 

• Organising, attending, and taking minutes at trustee meetings (board and sub-committees), including preparing agendas and circulating papers.

• Supporting the trustees by commissioning papers and other work required by the board, recording and tracking progress of actions agreed

• Ensuring all mandatory returns, including the annual report and financial statements, are filed on time with Companies House and the Charity Commission.

• Informing the Charity Commission of any significant changes in the charity’s structure or management, for example, the appointment or resignation of Trustees.

• Assisting with the recruitment, induction, and training of new trustees, and managing conflict-of-interest registers.

• Maintaining accurate records, including the register of members and trustees, the register of any charges on the company’s assets and managing high-level correspondence.

• Maintaining the charity's registered office as the address for any formal communications. Ensuring that all the charity’s business stationery carries its name, registered number, country of registration and registered address. 

• Ensuring the security of the charity’s legal documents and owning the charity’s policy for the filing and retention of documents.

• Ensuring The Cyber Helpline has adequate insurance in place. 

• Ensuring the charity is compliant with relevant UK law & regulation. 

• Supporting the protection of intellectual property. 

Person Specification

This role would suit either someone in a Company Secretary role or someone with aspirations to become one. We are happy to support someone looking to make the transition into this role.

Essential Experience

• Experience of auditing against standards and policies. 

• Experience consulting with subject matter experts on complex issues. 

• Strong attention to detail. 

• Strong planning, organisation and analytical skills. 

• Strong communication skills. 

• Ability to turn theoretical models and guidance into practical frameworks that achieve results. 

• Ability to deliver project work, as well as communicate and plan at a strategic level. 

• Strong integrity and honesty. 

• Passionate about our mission of supporting victims of cybercrime. 

Preferred experience

• An understanding of or experience in the cyber security industry. 

• Experience in the not-for-profit / charity sector.

• Membership (or on path to membership) of any of the following bodies:

  • the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

  • the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland

  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

  • the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland

  • the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators

  • the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

  • or the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accounting

• Be a barrister, advocate or solicitor called, admitted or part-qualified, in any part of the UK

Additional Requirements

Candidates must be 18 years old or older and resident in the UK with the right to work in the UK. 

Due to the nature of this role, successful candidates will be required to undergo a criminal record check (e.g. DBS). This is because the role involves access to sensitive information. Any disclosures will be considered on a case-by-case basis in line with relevant legislation.

Engagement: Trustee meetings are quarterly (three remote and one in-person). The individual will provide additional time as required, we expect this to be between 2-4 hours a week for 42 weeks of the year.

What we offer

• High-street discounts - Thousands of discounts on travel, shopping, wellbeing, entertainment and more.

• Flexible and remote volunteering - we are a remote-first organisation, you’ll have the freedom to volunteer from home (or away - subject to approval).

• Cybersecurity at home - we offer free cybersecurity tools to protect your home devices to stay safe online personally, and professionally.

• Professional development - Access to ad-hoc training based on your role and professional growth interests

• Cybersecurity community - Join a supportive network of over 150 cybersecurity professionals in the UK and USA

The Position

We are looking for a Grants Officer who can support us with diverse tasks that include looking for grants opportunities, project development, proposals writing, and liaising with potential partners and donors. In this role you’ll be a key contributor to the continued existence of Second Tree, which is dependent on grants to survive, and to the creation of new projects and partnerships. To do this successfully, you'll need to employ meticulous time-management and organisation skills, as juggling multiple tasks with competing deadlines is common in this role.

The role will include:

• Researching and identifying new grant opportunities on a weekly basis

• Summarising relevant grant opportunities and suggesting how to best respond and comply with them

• Researching information and data necessary for grants and grant reporting

• Supporting the design of new projects

• Supporting with proposal writing

• Maintaining necessary records, files, reports, databases, and resource materials for the Grants team

• Working with the wider Second Tree team to ensure that all project proposals align with organisational, and programme strategies

• Establishing and maintaining connections with funding bodies

You should be able to:

• Professionally communicate in English (verbally and in writing)

• Read, comprehend, interpret, summarise and follow proposal guidelines

• Work to tight deadlines with flexibility and a problem-solving attitude;

• Conduct thorough, high-quality, independent research

• Work both independently and as part of a team

• Manage and prioritise projects effectively to meet team and proposal deadlines

The ideal candidate will have:

• Working knowledge of project management techniques such as LFA

• Knowledge of and experience with grant-giving bodies and other external funding sources (e.g. European Commission)

• A strong sense of logic while building an argument

What We Offer:

• A nurturing and collaborative working environment. We work hard to help our team members grow, investing in personal and professional development.

• Accommodation in a shared house

• Transportation to/from work

• After completion of a three-month trial, if you commit long-term, a small monthly expenses refund

In certain periods of the year, demand is extremely high, and the shared houses might be full. If you have the means to pay for your own accommodation, please let us know. We would still be happy to host you if space is available. However, in a situation where the shared houses are full, this would allow us to offer an opportunity to someone that cannot afford to pay rent.

Have experience leading a team of this type?

Consider applying to become a Grants Coordinator. Whether your experience lies in the humanitarian sector or elsewhere, we are looking for people with expertise that can drive us forward as an organisation.

Looking for an internship?

If, because of your degree or for any other reason, you would like to have your period at Second Tree credited as an internship, just apply to the vacancy that you’re interested in and mention this. We have agreements with several universities across Europe, and in many other cases, these agreements can be developed on an ad hoc basis.

NOTE: If you require a visa to stay in Greece for the minimum ten-week commitment, please know that as a Greek NGO, we are unable to sponsor your visa.