Lead outreach worker volunteer roles
CHASE Africa is a UK-based international NGO that supports local partners in East Africa to improve health and wellbeing in marginalised rural communities. We are looking for a Trustee with finance skills, to replace our current Treasurer. You will provide scrutiny and oversight of the work of CHASE Africa, with a particular focus on financial issues. You will use your financial knowledge and experience to monitor the financial administration of the charity and report to the Board of Trustees on its state of financial health and provide the board with the confidence and knowledge to make good strategic decisions.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone with extensive financial expertise, who is seeking a voluntary position where they can apply their skills to a meaningful mission.
Since its inception 12 years ago, CHASE Africa has grown from scratch to an income in 2025 of over £830,000 – delivering over 1.5 million healthcare and family planning services to often isolated rural communities. We have a strong and highly motivated staff team and a thriving network of local partners that has expanded from Kenya into Uganda and, later this year, Tanzania.
CHASE Africa’s projects have already brought healthcare and empowerment to tens of thousands of lives, particularly for women and girls, mitigating poverty and helping protect local environments.It has the capacity and opportunity to greatly extend its impact – both geographically and in terms of numbers reached.
We are a small but dedicated team based in Somerset, committed to a collaborative approach to partnership. We're currently going through an exciting period of transition and growth, with a new CEO in 2022, a new charitable structure in 2023, and a new Finance Manager at the start of 2026. Your role will be vital in helping us achieve our future goals.
The Role
- Liaise with CEO and Trustees to ensure the financial viability of the organisation’s strategy
- Advise on the financial implications of CA’s strategic plan (3 year)
- Present CA’s financial position and broader context at Trustees Board meetings
- Support the finance manager with the production of an annual budget
- Ensure that the Board is aware of its financial duties and responsibilities and the need to comply with all legislation
- Take a lead in interpreting financial data for fellow Board members
- Ensure that all financial policies, procedures and the appointment of external financial advisors are reviewed on a regular basis
- Ensure relevant financial policies are in place as required by the charity commission
- Be willing to be available to support the charity’s CEO and Senior Finance Manager as needed
- Review the monthly management accounts report and cashflow with the CEO and finance manager
- Liaise with senior staff to ensure financial reports are user friendly for non-finance trustees
About You
- Good background in financial management and analysis
- Able to communicate financial information clearly and to people with different levels of financial and data literacy.
- Knowledge and experience of finance practice relevant to voluntary and community organisations.
- Have an excellent ability to interpret financial information and the confidence to raise questions and challenge
- Have a good understanding of, or be willing to learn, the rules and regulation around charity finance
- Have the ability to think creatively and strategically, exercising good and impartial judgement
- Knowledge of current accounting processes, tools and procedures
- High proficiency in Excel, Powerpoint for analysis and presentation
- Understands and accepts the legal duties, liabilities and responsibilities of Trustees, and the difference between governance functions and management functions
- High level of integrity and sound judgement
- Commitment to CA’s vision, purpose and culture and its way of working
- Able and willing to devote the necessary time to the role
Additional Desirable
- CCAB/CIMA qualified professional or qualified by experience in financial management
- Awareness and understanding of the campaigning world and the health community in developing countries.
- An interest in international development and the issues we are supporting our partners to tackle in East Africa.
For full information, please see the attached information pack.
To apply for this post, please submit a CV and covering letter by email by the 27th March 2026. The cover letter should be no longer than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.
to support partner organisations, in Africa, that enable access to family planning, healthcare and rights, while protecting the environment.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
About The Uplift Project
The Uplift Project is a UK-based charity dedicated to supporting individuals experiencing emotional distress and financial hardship. We deliver peer-led mental health support, wellbeing workshops, and emergency aid to communities across the UK.
About the Project
Uplift Circles – Local Emotional Resilience Hubs is a 12-month in-house wellbeing initiative that delivers weekly, non-clinical support sessions across Derbyshire and South Yorkshire. The programme creates safe spaces for community members to share, connect, and build resilience through guided group discussions, one-to-one emotional check-ins, and resource sharing.
Role Overview
We are looking for compassionate and committed Charity Outreach Workers to support the delivery of Uplift Circles. You will help facilitate wellbeing sessions, support participants emotionally, and contribute to the smooth running of the programme.
Key Responsibilities
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Support weekly peer-led wellbeing sessions in local community venues
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Offer one-to-one emotional check-ins and signposting support
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Help distribute self-care and wellbeing resources
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Assist with session set-up, attendance tracking, and reporting
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Uphold safeguarding, confidentiality, and data protection standards
Ideal Candidate Will Have
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A caring, non-judgmental attitude and strong interpersonal skills
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A genuine interest in mental wellbeing and community support
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Good spoken English and ability to listen with empathy
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Awareness of boundaries and ability to escalate concerns appropriately
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Previous experience (formal or informal) supporting people is a plus
Training & Support Provided
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Safeguarding and Mental Health Awareness Training
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Volunteer Induction and Supervision
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Ongoing support from trustees and project coordinators
Visa Compliance Note
This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Temporary Worker – Charity Worker visa route. Applicants requiring sponsorship must meet UKVI eligibility criteria for voluntary charity roles.
This is a callout for an honorary co-facilitator to work 1 day a week in CNWL NHS Trust’s Arts in Health team.
Arts in Health (AiH) is a step-down service for CNWL adult patients who have accessed secondary mental health services, such as the Community Mental Health Hubs (CMHHs), who are looking for creativity and further support after moving on from treatment. AiH participants often have complex emotional needs (CEN), may have experienced trauma or have a diagnosis such as schizophrenia, personality disorder or severe anxiety/depression.
We run a weekly art studio and organise monthly visits to museums and galleries. Our service is non-clinical and sits under the umbrella of creative health, using art for wellbeing. We also organise outreach visits, where we invite select community organisations to visit our studio to share more about their services, acting as a bridging service between CNWL and the community. We have ongoing partnerships with Mind, Westminster Adult Education Service and Community Living Well.
Our aim is to provide participants with a safe space to explore creativity, build confidence, reduce anxiety, promote independence and improve holistic wellness. Participants can attend for up to six months. To learn more about the work we do, please see our public-facing website with information about our service.
Who do we work with?
Participants referred to Arts in Health may feel too anxious to join a regular community group, may not feel as stable as they would like to, or may find it difficult to get out and about. Many have arts backgrounds and feel reassured by attending sessions led by CNWL staff with mental health experience. Some participants may have additional needs including access needs, neurodiversity or English as a second language.
Our aim is that participants build confidence and independence, enabling them to broaden their horizons and engage with their local arts and community offers to support ongoing wellbeing.
Why apply?
Working within creative health is a fascinating and rapidly growing field. We are seeking a co-facilitator with experience supporting adults with mental health challenges, strong interpersonal skills, and the confidence to lead in a group setting.
Our service is non-clinical, and we do not provide therapy. However, this role offers an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in using art to promote wellbeing in adults with complex needs, working alongside a team of skilled clinicians.
Our team includes arts and integrative psychotherapists who are creatively minded, therapeutically informed, and highly experienced in managing risk and safeguarding. If you are thinking about applying for an MA in the arts psychotherapies (art, music, dance-movement, drama), working at AiH will provide you with a strong foundation.
As part of working at CNWL NHS Trust, you will gain a broader understanding of working in community and healthcare settings and have access to a wide range of NHS training, benefits, and professional development opportunities. This includes mandatory NHS training as well as additional learning to support your growth.
What does the work involve?
We are seeking a co-facilitator to support our weekly sessions, 1 day per week on Thursdays. Currently, our schedule includes three consecutive weeks of art studio sessions and one week of cultural visits, all on Thursdays.
For those interested in office-based tasks only, there is the option to contribute on Mondays, supporting research, communications, and administrative work.
The team works both from home and on-site. On non-delivery days, remote tasks include participatory engagement aligned with your skills and interests, such as enhancing co-production and service user involvement, supporting evaluation and learning, and designing content for facilitation, alongside learning about the administration and internal processes needed to run such a service.
As a valued member of the team, you will benefit from monthly team supervision with an external psychotherapist, access to NHS training, and other CNWL staff benefits.
Who would this role suit?
This role is ideal for someone looking to gain further experience using the arts to support wellbeing, particularly with adults experiencing mental health challenges. Strong interpersonal skills and confidence in a group setting are essential.
You might be:
• A psychology graduate with an arts background
• An artist with experience running groups in healthcare settings
• A professional considering an Arts Psychotherapy MA
• A recent art therapy graduate seeking further NHS experience
It is important that applicants can commit to the role’s timeframe. We recognise the challenges of working on an honorary basis and aim to create a sustainable experience for team members, offering a range of meaningful work opportunities, support, and training.
Onboarding to CNWL
We follow an academic calendar. After interview and HR processes, successful candidates will start a few months in advance of in-person sessions, in order to complete induction and NHS mandatory training over summer, so they are ready to begin working in-person with our group at the start of the new term (Sept 2026).
Essential requirements
- Creative and/or strong interest in the arts
- Experience working in mental health
- Reliable and proactive approach
- Good communication skills
- Confident working with individuals and groups
- Travel to London on delivery days
- Available to work 1 day/week on a Thurs (or Mon if admin only)
Working pattern
- Frequency: 1 day/week
- Days: Mondays (team support only) / Thursdays (facilitation)
- Delivery locations: Central and NW London
- Remote work: From home or community sites (e.g., Woodfield Road W9 / The Exchange W9)
- Start date: Approximately 2 months before a new term (before Easter, September, or January)
Timeframe
Our service follows an academic calendar, with usual breaks for half terms and holidays. Arts in Health honoraries are expected to commit for a minimum of 1 year, ensuring consistency for participants and the team.
• Term 1: Autumn - Sept 2026 to Dec 2026
• Term 2: Winter - Jan 2027 to Mar 2027
• Term 3: Summer - Apr 2027 to Jul 2027
How to apply:
Please email us:
• Your availability (Mon/Thurs)
• Attach your CV (2 pages max)
• Attach answers to the following questions (as a Word doc / PDF)
- Tell us about yourself, including arts and mental health experience (150 words max)
- What are your plans for 2026-27? How does AiH fit with these? (150 words max)
- Share an example of a group facilitation experience and your learnings from it (150 words max)
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
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.
We welcome refugees into Sevenoaks District, supporting social integration and economic independence through practical support and access to services.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Northern Rascals CIC is at the beginning of an exciting new chapter: we are recruiting a Chair and Board members to support our next chapter. As a leading dance-theatre company from Calderdale, Yorkshire, we are excited to share our work more widely than ever before and build the sustainability and resilience of the company over the next few years. Our Board will be central to making these ambitions a reality.
We want our Board to reflect our work and communities, and welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds across England, especially those from underrepresented groups.
You may bring relevant professional experience, or your own lived experience. You might have been on a Board before, or you might be joining a Board for the first time.
Desirable skills areas
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Experience in marketing, communications and audience development
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Experience in finance and accounting
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Experience in community outreach and partnerships
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Experience in the legal sector and / or with governance experience
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Experience leading or managing arts and cultural organisations and venues
Purpose of the role
The Chair and Board will provide strategic leadership and oversight of the CIC, ensuring it operates effectively, legally, and in line with its community benefit purpose.
Statutory duties (as the Board)
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Promote and ensure good governance
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Review and support the strategic direction of the CIC, setting ambitious targets, evaluating performance and measuring achievements
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Ensure activities continue to meet the community interest test (by demonstrating that Northern Rascal’s activities are carried on for the benefit of the community and do not result in private profit)
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Make sure the CIC’s finances and property are protected and used only for community benefit
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Oversee financial management, budgets, and risk
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Ensure compliance with Company law; CIC regulations; Companies House filing requirements
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Approve and sign off the annual CIC report
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Appoint, support, and oversee senior staff
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Act in the best interests of the CIC at all times
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Declare and manage conflicts of interest
Further responsibilities
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Ensure the organisation adheres to the funding criteria for the grants received from Arts Council and other funders
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Promote a progressive understanding of and commitment to diversity in all forms
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Extend the company’s networks of contacts and open doors
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Support and contribute to the development of fundraising
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Review and approve internal policies, such as Equality & Diversity, Safeguarding, Finance.
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Support the Co-Directors with insights from your own experience and knowledge
Please see the recruitment pack for full details - available on Northern Rascals website.
Please tell us:
* If you are interested in the Chair position
* Why you are interested in joining the Board of Northern Rascals
* About your experience and qualities, and what you will bring to Northern Rascals
* How you think you can help us to achieve our mission and vision
We proactively seek to ensure equality of opportunity and representation in our company, including our Board. Please let us know if you have experienced any barriers to your personal or professional development.
Please include contact details for a referee who knows you in a professional capacity.
Please complete our Equal Opportunities form: https://forms.gle/HtZEWBe2kw9AxCcp6
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
The Nehemiah Project is a small charity that supports men with experience of addiction to break the cycle of addiction and crime. We do this through supported living, programmes, key worker support, rebuilding family connections and providing move-on support to aid transition to independent living. We currently operate from houses in Streatham and Croydon.
We are a Christian-based charity open to men of all faiths and none. We have a partnership with the British Association of the Order of Malta who provide expertise, funding and volunteer support.
Our trustees play a vital role in making sure that The Nehemiah Project (TNP) achieves its core purpose of breaking the cycle of addiction and reoffending. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that TNP has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as importantly, they support and challenge the executive team to enable TNP to grow and thrive.
As well as fulfilling the duties of a Trustee, the Treasurer maintains an overview of the Nehemiah Project' s financial affairs. The Treasurer ensures that effective and appropriate financial measures, controls and procedures are put in place and reports to the Board at regular intervals about the financial health of the organisation. The Nehemiah Project is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee.
Treasurer Role
- Overseeing the presentation of budgets, internal management accounts and annual financial statements to the Board of Trustees.
- Ensuring that proper accounting records are kept, and that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.
- Ensuring that robust and comprehensive financial policies are in place and being implemented, and supporting the development of policies covering financial reserves, and cost management.
- Monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity.
- Overseeing financial controls and adherence to systems, regularly liaising with Chief Executive
- Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plan, including overseeing the charity’s financial risk-management process Ensuring investments and assets are maximised.
- Lead on the appointment of and liaison with external auditors.
- Oversee the development and implementation of systems for appraising, mitigating and reporting corporate risk.
- Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by relevant statutory bodies, for example, the Charity Commission and/or the Registrar of Companies.
- Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities and liaising with the Chief Executive to develop the financial understanding of the Board of Trustees.
What we are looking for?
- A finance professional. A knowledge of charity finance is an advantage. Otherwise an enthusiasm to learn, drawing from sound commercial experience and an understanding of SMEs.
- A strategic thinker with an ability to balance risk and opportunity.
- Clear communicator with the ability to bring the financial information alive to non-finance specialists. Willing to play an active role in areas such as forecasting, setting budgets, liaising with auditors
- We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board.
In addition to the above, the Treasurer will also have the responsibilities and qualities of all trustees. Board members have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees always act as a group and not as individuals.
Responsibilities of all trustees
- Support and provide advice on TNP' s purpose, vision, goals and activities.
- Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their implementation.
- Oversee TNP' s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress.
- Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.
- Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.
- Review and approve TNP’s financial statements.
- Provide support and challenge to TNP’s CEO in the exercise of their delegated authority and affairs. Keep abreast of changes in TNP’s operating environment.
- Contribute to regular reviews of TNP' s own governance. Attend Board meetings, adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.
- Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect TNP’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third party interests.
- Contribute to the broader promotion of TNP’s objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.
Personal skills and qualities
- To be sympathetic to and supportive of our Christian ethos. Practising Christian preferred.
- Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member. Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion. A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Enthusiasm for our vision and mission
Trustee Role Overview
Term: 4 years, renewable up to 7 years, with possible extension in exceptional cases under the Memorandum and Articles.
Remuneration: Voluntary role; reasonable expenses reimbursed.
Meetings: Attend four Board meetings a year (in person in Putney, with remote option).
Strategy Days: Up to one per year.
Events: Four annual celebration events at our houses; Trustees are encouraged to attend where possible
Committee Membership
Trustees may join one of three sub-groups — HR, Finance, or Fundraising — which meet remotely four times a year, with occasional ad hoc support to working groups or the executive team.
Financial Commitment No donation is required, though regular modest giving is encouraged.
More Information can be found in the Trustee Pack below.
To be a centre of excellence for rehabilitating men from crime and addiction through the transformation of their lives
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Fine Cell Work (FCW) is a UK-based rehabilitation charity and social enterprise. We are supported by an incredible team of prison volunteers who are the link between the charity and the stitchers we work with in prison. Our volunteers run fortnightly stitching groups in the prisons we work with to facilitate our stitchers’ production of high-quality needlework.
Our prison volunteers work in small teams to teach our stitchers’ embroidery and needlepoint, organise their group sessions, and liaise with the prison and FCW office.
What you will do as a prison volunteer:
- Teach people in prison how to stitch and support the completion of our premade kits in our cell groups, which consist of around 10-15 stitchers.
- Communicate with staff at our hub in Battersea to receive kits and supplies for your group and send back completed work for your stitchers to be paid.
- Encourage and help stitchers to complete our Open College Network certifications in creative needlework.
- Develop stitchers’ skills and confidence by encouraging them to take responsibility as peer mentors.
- Act as an ambassador for the charity and sharing our vision and values throughout your volunteering.
Who we are looking for:
- Skills in embroidery and/or needlepoint or a willingness to learn to stitch is essential for this role.
- Ideally some teaching experience or experience working with socially-excluded groups.
- Someone with a non-judgemental attitude and commitment to rehabilitation.
- Someone who is an excellent team worker.
- Someone who is good at observing personal boundaries.
Commitment: our stitching groups run for 2 hours every fortnight, so with travel time and some admin work after groups we ask prison volunteers to set aside a morning or afternoon every 2 weeks.
You must be over 18 for this role with the ability to travel to the prison. Travel expenses will be reimbursed by the charity.
Please take some time to read the role description to find out more details about the role and what we offer to our prison volunteers.
At Fine Cell Work, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented amongst FCW’s prison volunteers. This includes applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, and male identifying applicants.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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!
Role: Trustee
Hours: Attendance at Board meetings six times a year, with reading and preparation before meetings
No Salary: Unpaid volunteer role, expenses paid
Location: Meetings held on zoom or at our head office in London SE20
Deadline: 17th May 2026
Interviews: In person in London SE20
ABOUT US
Bromley & Croydon Women's Aid (BCWA) aims to empower anyone suffering domestic abuse so they can make informed choices about their future. Our services are confidential, non-judgmental and respectful of diversity.
BCWA puts anyone who contacts us for support at the heart of decision making, so that they can gain the confidence, strength and self-respect needed to free themselves from abusive relationships
Our Ethos
BCWA believe in providing high-quality services to anyone fleeing domestic abuse. We have been working since 1975 to:
- focus on maintaining the independence, confidence and self-esteem of anyone we help
- be responsive to the needs of individuals in a culturally appropriate and sensitive way
- treat our residents, clients, staff and partners with integrity, honesty and respect.
Our Mission Statement
Our mission is to end all forms of domestic abuse in our community. Our vision is to support and empower women to create change in their lives, so that they and their children can live free from domestic abuse and improve their quality of life.
OUR SERVICES
BCWA provide a wide range of services including:
Refuge
We provide safe accommodation for any woman and her children who is experiencing domestic abuse, or who is at risk of abuse.
Children are welcomed by Child Support Officers. Refuges have fully-equipped playrooms, where the project workers organise activities, after-school clubs, play sessions, fun days and one-to-one therapeutic activities.
BCWA is a registered housing provider with the Regulator or Social Housing (i.e. a Housing Association) and operates supported housing in a mix of owned and leased properties, some as managing agent for other housing associations, some operated independently.
Advice & Support
BCWA telephone Helpline supports women in the community who want to know what their options are around domestic abuse, or who need a non-judgmental listening ear. We run 12-week ‘Keys to Freedom’ support groups which offer a path to recognising abuse and peer support for recovery.
We offer advice to the friends and families of anyone experiencing domestic abuse. We give our expertise to legal and social services professionals, and we support women at appointments, accompany them to court, and also put them in contact with other services that can help them.
Our other services include:
Japanese service - BCWA, in partnership with the Japanese Embassy in London, offers outreach advice in Japanese to survivors of domestic abuse
NRPF/EEA service - Our specialist advisor works with migrant women without recourse to public funds (NRPF) and those from the EEA to regularise their immigration status and access benefits & support.
Men's service - All BCWA locations are women-only spaces, but men can be supported via our One Stop Shop service or by the IDSVA (high-risk) service in Bromley.
Our Approach to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Our work is based on building meaningful, supportive, enduring and respectful relationships with women from all cultures. We cannot do this without a strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. BCWA’s approach is to try to make sure that EDI is central to everything we do and informs both our services and our organisational culture.
Our goal is to develop and deliver consistently inclusive programmes, projects and services that support and bring together survivors of domestic abuse and their children and facilitate empowerment and recovery. We believe this enables best practice domestic abuse support, hope this will make everyone's experiences richer, and ultimately lead to more inclusive communities and sector best practice.
BECOMING A TRUSTEE
What is a Trustee?
Trustees ensure their charity has a clear strategy, and that its work and goals are in line with its vision. A trustee's role in a charity is to be the ‘guardians of purpose’, making sure that all decisions put the needs of the beneficiaries first. They safeguard the charity’s assets – both physical assets, including property, and intangible ones, such as its reputation. They make sure these are used well and that the charity is run sustainably.
Why become a Trustee?
Being a Trustee can be very rewarding. As a Trustee you have the chance to support and shape the work and strategic direction of an organisation, and you can make a significant difference to a cause that matters to you.
Being a Trustee offers the opportunity for professional development. It can let you gain experience of strategy and leadership, and boost your CV. It will give you experience of being a non-executive director, such as setting a strategic vision, influencing and negotiation, and managing risk. If you already have significant experience in these areas, it can be stimulating to use it in a different and potentially challenging context. You will be part of a team and will have the opportunity to apply your unique skills and experience while learning from others. Working closely with a passionate team of people who have different perspectives is often one of the most enjoyable aspects of the role. Trustees often say that being a board member has been one the richest sources of learning in their professional lives.
Why join our board?
BCWA was founded by a group of local women in Bromley who wanted to do something practical to support women in their local community and has been run by women and for women ever since. Over the past few years the organisation has grown considerably but still operates very much in the spirit of grassroots feminist women’s movement of the 70s, out of which it was founded.
Many of our trustees, staff and volunteers have lived experience of domestic abuse, and the organisation actively welcome survivors at all levels. We are a supportive, warm and friendly group and we genuinely strive to foster great relationships. Our Board is made up of a diverse group of women with a broad range of backgrounds, skills and experience. This team operates on mutual respect and true collaboration in order to provide the best leadership possible to the charity. We are solutions oriented, creative, forward-thinking and passionate about working to end domestic abuse.
BCWA has seen sustained growth over the last few years and has increased its property portfolio to provide a range of dispersed ‘move on’ accommodation for women leaving refuge, with continued support.
The charity is also committed to an ongoing process of service improvement via stakeholder feedback and analysis of needs and gaps in provision. Our local knowledge and specialist expertise positions us very well to innovate in co-producing new services.
In addition to trauma-informed accommodation and community-based services, BCWA has developed a therapeutic service alongside, which encompasses child play therapy and a specialist in-house counselling service for women. This supports the health and wellbeing of survivors going forward as well as working towards the prevention of repeat victimisation.
A trusteeship with BCWA is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic organisation, contribute to the local community and impact thousands of women’s lives for the better. It is a truly pivotal time to join the board at BCWA, as we develop and implement innovative new services that will add significantly to the breadth and impact of support available to survivors of domestic abuse in Bromley & Croydon.
What skills are we looking for?
We are looking for a range of new trustees with a range of different skills to shape and steer the future of this dynamic organisation, as well as bring wisdom, energy and new perspectives to our governance. We would particularly welcome applications from women with knowledge of or experience working in the following sectors:
· Social housing, social investment, housing, company or charity or general legal background
· Provision of mental health services
· AI expertise
ROLE DESCRIPTION
We are looking for strategic-minded individuals with a variety of skills to join our board. Our trustees play an essential role in making sure that BCWA achieves its core purpose. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that we have a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision.
Trustee duties
- To ensure the BCWA is carrying out its purposes, as set out in its governing document.
- To ensure the charity complies with its governing document, charity law and any other applicable laws.
- To act in the charity’s best interests, making balanced and adequately informed decisions.
- To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees in giving firm strategic direction, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets (including evaluating performance against set targets).
- To provide guidance using previous experience and expertise on a range of aspects of BCWA's business, including support to set up new initiatives.
- To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the Organisation.
- To monitor the financial, strategic and operational performance of BCWA.
In addition to the above responsibilities, each Trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they possess, to enable the Board to reach sound decisions. This may involve leading discussions, focusing on key issues, scrutinising reports, providing advice and guidance on new issues, particularly where a Trustee has specific expertise. Our board meets bi-monthly and holds an Annual General Meeting.
Personal skills and qualities
- Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member.
- Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
- A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Enthusiasm for our vision: working to end domestic abuse.
- Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
What impact will you have?
You will be joining an organisation actively opposed to all forms of discrimination providing a service that is confidential, non-judgmental and respectful of diversity.
You will have the opportunity to showcase your skills as well as learn new ones.
We are a feminist organisation and recognise the gendered nature of domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women and girls.
Time Commitment
- Attendance at board meetings which take place six times a year. Meetings are held in the early evening, mostly on-line, with one or two held in-person at our south-east London Head Office.
- Trustees will also need to carry out any pre-meeting reading and preparation and may be contacted occasionally for advice.
Further Information
We are very happy to have informal discussions about the role and warmly welcome candidates to visit us or observe a board meeting if they wish.
New Trustees are assigned an existing member who is responsible for their induction and support for a period of 6 months.
As our organisation works with extremely vulnerable clients, safeguarding is one of our key priorities. Please contact us if you would like more info or to view our SG policies. In light of this, offers are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
Female applicants only: In light of the nature of work, the candidate’s gender is considered to be an occupational requirement in accordance with Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: BCWA is committed to supporting and promoting equality & diversity and creating an inclusive working environment. To achieve this, we seek to employ a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds to better represent the communities we serve.
BCWA is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
Reg. Charity No.1068007.
Our mission is to end all forms of domestic abuse in our community.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.