Lay trustee volunteer volunteer roles in Birmingham
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Join our Board of Directors
We are looking to appoint a Trustee to the Board with skills specifically focused on Safeguarding Adults & Children, to support and work alongside the Lead Safeguarding Trustee.
Our vision is a world where women and girls lead safe, just and equal lives.
Title: Trustee - Deputy Safeguarding Lead
Reporting to: Board of Trustees
Role Type: Volunteer
Location: London
Renumeration: The role of Trustee is not accompanied by any financial remuneration, although expenses for travel may be claimed.
This post is open to female applicants only as this is deemed a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Advance is committed to equality and diversity and aims to have a board of trustees that reflects the communities we work with. We strongly encourage applications from women with diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, BAME and LBT communities.
About Us
Advance is a women’s organisation, delivering systems change, and trauma and gender-informed community-based support for women and girls affected by domestic abuse, including those in contact with the criminal justice system. We work nationally through our innovative, best-practice approach and systems change initiatives. We deliver wraparound frontline services across the South and East of England, including Greater London. Our expertise lies in decades of providing specialist support by women and for women and girls, to achieve safety, justice and equality at the intersection of domestic abuse and the criminal justice system.
Our whole-system approach is aligned with our values of collaboration and innovation, partnering with other statutory and non-statutory providers, to deliver a coordinated community and gendered response, improving access to services across the whole system, enabling consistency and continuity of support throughout a woman’s journey. Through our advocacy and awareness-raising work, we focus on systemic change and sustainable impact to meet women’s needs and improve their outcomes.
About you
Do you have expertise in the role described below and a belief that your skills will contribute to the strong and effective governance of an innovative medium-sized charity?
We are looking to appoint a Trustee to our Board with skills specifically focused on Safeguarding Adults & Children.
Alongside the Lead Safeguarding Trustee you will provide independent oversight, expert advise and strategic challenge to ensure the organisation upholds the highest standards in safeguarding our staff and our service users of women, young women and children. The role is central in promoting a safe culture and holding the Executive Team accountable for the effectiveness of safeguarding practices and risk management.
You will bring significant experience in safeguarding leadership, regulation or governance (in education, health, social care or the charity sector). You will have a strong understanding of legal duties and statutory guidance on safeguarding and the ability to provide strategic oversight and constructive challenge at Board level.
This is an exciting opportunity for you to join our experienced and committed Board.
You will join a dedicated and skilled group of Trustees and support the charity through a significant period of growth. Our staff team now includes over 150 skilled and passionate women across our programmes and our 10 women's’ centres in London and the South and East of England.
Time commitment
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Five Board meetings per year (in person in Hammersmith west London), plus membership of at least one board sub-committee (four meetings a year online)
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Ad hoc availability as matters arise (by telephone)
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Participate in one strategy away day each year (on a Saturday, usually held in January)
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Commit to the Board of Trustees for at least three years
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Note - the Chair of the Fundraising, Business Development and Communications Committee will be expected to chair a committee meeting four times a year (online) in addition to the Board meetings
The statutory duties of a trustee
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To ensure the organisation complies with its governing document in the articles of association
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To ensure that the organisation pursues its objectives as defined in its governing document
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To ensure the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives - the charity must not spend money on activities which are not included in its own objectives, no matter how charitable and worthwhile those activities are
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To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees' role in giving firm strategic direction to the organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
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To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation
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To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
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To ensure the financial stability of the organisation
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To protect and manage the property of the organisation and to ensure the proper investment of the organisation's funds
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To appoint the Chief Executive and monitor their performance
In addition with other trustees to hold the charity in trust for current and future beneficiaries by:
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Ensuring that Advance has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these
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Being responsible for the performance of the charity and for its corporate behaviour; ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements
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Acting as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application
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Ensuring that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard
As well as the various statutory duties, any trustee should make full use of any specific skills, knowledge or experience to help the board make good decisions. The above list of duties is indicative only and not exhaustive. The Trustee will be expected to perform all such additional duties as are reasonably commensurate with the role.
How to Apply
Please download the job specification below and complete the application form along with a copy of your CV.
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Closing date for applications: 04 September 2026
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Interviews: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a first round interview w/c 7th September. Following this the successful candidates will be invited to an in person interview in Hammersmith, London.
You can find more information on our website.
To learn more about the role and duties of Trustees, please click here.
We would love to hear from you.
Our vision is a world in which women and children lead safe, equal, violence-free lives so that they can flourish and actively contribute to society.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Ministries Committee Lay Members - The Methodist Church in Great Britain
About You
Are you a member of the Methodist Church in Britain seeking to use your skills, expertise and gifts in a new way? Could you make a significant contribution to an important committee in the Methodist Church?
We are seeking new lay members of the Ministries Committee for 2026-27, initially for a term of three years, renewable for a further 3 years if appropriate.
The Role
The Ministries Committee reports to the Connexional Council, the trustee body of the Methodist Church in Great Britain. The Committee is charged with responsibility to keep in constant review the life of the Methodist Church as it relates to Ministries, ordained and lay, to reflect strategically and review ministries related work that will enable the ministry and mission of the Church to be more effective, and to review the formational and support needs of those who exercise lay and ordained ministry on behalf of the Church.
Working collaboratively with other committee members and with the Mission Committee and Resourcing Committee, you will be experienced in chairing committees and bring a range of circuit experiences and other experiences of the Methodist Church to the work of the Ministries Committee.
In order to ensure a diverse mix of lay and ordained members of the committee, applications are particularly invited from lay members of the Methodist Church in Britain including Local Preachers, Worship Leaders and Local Lay Pastors. You are encouraged to apply if you feel that overall your skills and experience meet the person specification requirements. You will have some experience of serving on a church body and some experience or interest in cross-cultural ministry, stationing, candidating or training.
The Methodist Church is an inclusive and supportive employer. We are actively committed to encouraging applications from all backgrounds, including Black, Asian and other Minority Ethnic groups. We also welcome applications from people living with disabilities and those still developing their careers. We are committed to fairness, and all applications will be assessed on merit.
Closing Date: 18 September 2026
Interviews: 28 September 2026 to be held in person at Methodist Church House in London
The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the gospel of God's love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Unreal offers support and information to people with lived experience of Depersonalisation and Derealisation (DPDR) - including people experiencing symptoms themselves and their carers, friends and families. We aim to raise awareness of DPDR, provide up-to date clinically-validated information, signpost people to relevant resources, push for policy change, assist in research studies and enable people living with DPDR to speak with others through our flagship Peer Support Programme to help support each other.
We are supported by a dedicated network of volunteers and ambassadors whose expertise and lived experience are central to what we do.
Despite being a small and relatively young charity, officially founded in 2019, we have established ourselves as the leading voice on DPDR in the UK and are proud of what we have achieved.
Unreal enters this next chapter from a position of real strength. We have established ourselves as the leading charity for DPDR in the UK, with a peer support programme that continues to grow in demand, strong relationships with clinicians, policymakers and researchers, and a clear strategic direction.
We have recently set our key priorities for 2026 to 2030, and we are looking for new board members who are excited to help us deliver on that ambition.
This is a significant moment for the charity. We are recruiting for trustees at a time when we have strong foundations, a clear sense of purpose, and real momentum. The people who join us now will help shape the next chapter of Unreal.
At such a pivotal time for the charity, and to help achieve our ambitions, we are looking for enthusiastic and committed individuals to join our Trustees.
We are currently recruiting:
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A HR/Governance Trustee
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A Finance Trustee
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A Fundraising Trustee
We welcome applications from people with or without previous trustee experience. What matters most is your commitment to our mission and the skills and perspectives you bring.
We have attached our recruitment pack with details of the individual roles.
Time commitment
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Board meetings: monthly (9 per year), held online
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Full trustee days, held in person: twice a year
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Online Trustee meetings, twice a year
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Additional time required for specific projects or sub-committees
Support for new trustees
We are committed to making trusteeship at Unreal as accessible and rewarding as possible. All new board members will receive a full induction and training
Expenses
All reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out your role as a trustee will be reimbursed in line with our expenses policy.
What we are looking for
We are not looking for a particular type of person. We are looking for the right people. Within our trustees and board, we aim to bring together a range of skills, backgrounds and perspectives.
Full role specifications for each position are included below. These set out the specific skills, experience and qualities we are looking for, alongside the responsibilities of the role.
In addition to the specified roles below, we will also be recruiting more widely, and welcome applications from anyone who fulfils the below general criteria.
We particularly welcome applications from:
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People with lived experience of DPDR, including carers, friends and family members.
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Clinicians and researchers working in the field.
Skills and experience that are valuable to us include:
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Finance
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Fundraising
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HR
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Governance
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Expertise in the mental health or charity sector.
We ask all trustees to commit to a term of three to four years. The Chair may be appointed for a term of up to five years.
Before you apply
Trustees of Unreal must meet the following eligibility criteria. Please check these before applying.
You must:
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Be 18 years of age or older
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Not be automatically disqualified under the Charities Act 2011. This includes any person: with undischarged bankruptcy those who has been declared bankrupt; that has entered into an IVA; been disqualified as a company director; or that has certain unspent criminal convictions relating to dishonesty, fraud or contempt of court
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Have no safeguarding restrictions that would prevent you from working with vulnerable people
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Be willing to declare any conflicts of interest and to complete a DBS check
If you are unsure whether any of the above applies to you, the Charity Commission website has further guidance.
All trustees are expected to uphold Unreal's Code of Conduct for Board Members. A copy will be shared with shortlisted candidates and must be signed on appointment.
General Trustee Responsibilities
Candidates should demonstrate:
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Commitment to the charity’s mission and values.
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Integrity, sound judgement and professionalism.
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Ability to contribute to effective governance and strategic decision-making.
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Willingness to act in the charity’s best interests at all times.
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Ability to work collaboratively and constructively as part of a board.
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Good communication and interpersonal skills.
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Understanding of confidentiality, accountability and conflicts of interest.
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Awareness of safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion responsibilities.
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Financial awareness and responsible oversight of resources.
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Sufficient time and commitment to fulfil trustee duties and attend meetings.
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Willingness to undertake training and ongoing development.
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Relevant professional, leadership, governance or lived experience would be advantageous.
How to apply
To apply, please send the following:
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A CV or brief summary of your relevant experience
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A short personal statement of up to 250 words setting out what you would bring to Unreal and why the role appeals to you
We ask that any applications submitted are in the candidate’s own words.
Deadline
The closing date for applications is 27 August 2026.
Interviews are expected to take place in September 2026.
The Recruitment Process
We want to make this process as straightforward and human as possible. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an informal conversation with one or more of our trustees, giving you a chance to find out more about us and for us to learn more about you. Successful candidates will then be invited to a formal panel interview with set questions.
Interviews will be held virtually, though if you would prefer to meet in person we will do our best to accommodate this.
We are committed to making this process as accessible as possible. If you require any adjustments to support your application or participation in the interview process, please do get in touch and we will do our best to accommodate you.
We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in everything we do, including in how we recruit. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of DPDR, and from those who are underrepresented in charity leadership.
Unreal offers support and information to people with lived experience of Depersonalisation and Derealisation (DPDR)


The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.