Lived experience volunteer roles

Inclusive Boards is pleased to be supporting Together Active in their search for two new Trustees.

About Together Active

We’re Together Active, a charity working across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to make it easier for people to be active in ways that fit their lives. 

We focus on the systems that shape who gets included, and who doesn’t. That means looking beyond individual behaviours to understand how policy, funding, culture, and place shape people’s choices, freedoms, and access to movement. We support local organisations, influencing decision-makers, and helping the system work better for the people it serves.

We focus on the people most likely to be excluded: those living on low or no income, with poor health, discrimination, or long-term structural disadvantage. Our strategy for 2024-2030 centres on Stoke-on-Trent and the parts of Staffordshire where inequality is most entrenched. 

About the Trustee roles

The role of trustee at Together Active is an integral position that ensures the charity operates on the foundation of effective governance. That means providing oversight at strategic level and supporting a robust, informed decision-making process.

Together Active is seeking to appoint two trustees that have specialist knowledge across two key areas:

• Governance expertise

OR

• Strategic safeguarding expertise

​​​​​​Essential criteria

Knowledge and Skills:

• Experience of either charity sector leadership and governance; strategic communications or community development
• Ability to actively monitor the performance of the organisation
• IT literate
• Understanding of and commitment to Charity Commission’s Code of Governance
• Able to understand financial information

Leadership:

• Inspires confidence and creates stability

Communication:

• Exceptional communication skills particularly when speaking to others
• Active listener
• Confident networker
• Evidence of being able to persuade and influence in a range of settings
• Strong commitment to partnership working

Desirable criteria

Knowledge and Skills:

• Lived or professional experience of the challenges facing communities in Stoke on Trent
• Previous experience of trusteeship
• Understanding of risk and its effective management
• Knowledge and understanding of the sport and physical activity landscape

Communication:

• Understanding of principles of non-violent communication

What Will You Be Doing?

As a Trustee of Autism Together, you can make a very real difference to the lives of the people we support.

The Board is looking to add to the existing Trustee team, to support Autism Together with its ideas for growth and implementation of its ongoing strategic business plan. As a new Trustee, you can play a pivotal role in driving new pathways to grow our charity and further improve support for the people in our care.

Successful applicants will be joining the board of one of the UK's leading specialist service providers, a charitable organisation which directly supports over 400 autistic adults, through a workforce of more than 900 staff.

Founded in Wirral, Merseyside, in 1968 by a group of pioneering parents, today the charity ranks among the top 1,500 charities by turnover in the UK.

Autism Together is a complex, stimulating, award-winning organisation with an annual income of over £33m and a substantial property portfolio. The charity provides Residential care, Supported Living, Day Services, specialist autism training, and offers advice and support to families across the region.

The organisation manages two farms, an expansive woodland, three cafés, and a rock band led by people the charity supports.

As a charity, our mission is to help autistic people develop to their full potential, and to educate and develop their community around them.

Our Charity Values Are:

• To promote positive communication.
• Be person-centred.
• Promote learning.
• Be respectful.
• Enhance community connection.

Autism affects everyone differently, so we work with each individual to help them overcome the difficulties the condition presents them with, helping them to lead a more active, creative, and fulfilling life.

As a Trustee, you will help us to maintain our missions, values, and ethos as we work towards our strategic goals.

What Are We Looking For?
We are seeking Trustees who will bring relevant skills and experience in at least one of the following areas:

• Community-led development and action.
• Financial management.
• Legal and HR experience in the field of commercial and charity law.
• Communications experience.
• IT and governance structures.
• Property and Estates.
• Governance and/or knowledge of quality assurance.

Beyond technical and strategic abilities, we are looking for individuals who are committed to our mission and values, with strong interpersonal skills to constructively challenge the Board and the Executives in the best interests of the people we support.

Joining the Board of a leading national provider of services to autistic people, you will work alongside the current Board of Trustees and the Executive Team to provide a sector-leading service to propel the organisation into a bright, secure and successful future, supporting autistic people and their families to live rich and fulfilling lives.

We look forward to hearing from you.

What Difference Will You Make?

This is an exciting time to be joining our organisation, as we start to see the fruits of our ongoing strategic business plan and continue to expand our portfolio of estates.

This Trustee position is key to supporting the governance of Autism Together, helping guide the organisation in the right direction, while giving our staff the tools and opportunities to provide the best possible care for the people we support.

The Board plays a key role in the running of Autism Together. It sets out the organisational strategy and is responsible for agreeing the direction and values of the charity, while overseeing the finances and managing risk.

With the recent appointment of a new interim CEO, it is an important time for our Trustees to support our existing plans for growth, while looking towards the future of our charity. We need individuals who can offer professional and practical experience, in order to bolster our Board as they undertake key governance decisions in the best interests of the organisation.

Our Trustees contribute significantly to the strategic planning and direction of Autism Together and successful candidates will need to demonstrate experience in governance and good communication, while conforming to our Trustee Code.

The Board recognises that diversity of Trustees is vital if we are to operate with excellence, and we warmly welcome applications from individuals of diverse backgrounds.

Trustees are expected to attend 8 board meetings per year, become actively involved in at least one quarterly sub-committee, and to familiarise themselves with all aspects of the charity's work.

Interested in the Position?

Please apply via this site, letting us know why you wish to become a trustee of Autism Together and what skills you believe you will bring to this position.

All applications will considered by the Board’s Nominations Committee. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted for an informal chat with a trustee, the CEO or a member of the Executive Team and a visit to view some of our facilities to gain a better understanding of the services. Following this, a mutually convenient date for interview will be arranged.

Brightview Farm – Trustee Opportunity

Help shape a charity that actually changes lives, not just policies.

Brightview Farm isn’t a typical education charity. It’s a place where young people with Special Educational Needs find safety, purpose and a way back into themselves through animals, land, meaningful work, and steady adult relationships.

We’re growing — in impact, ambition and responsibility — and we’re looking for new Trustees who want to use their expertise where it genuinely matters.

Why Join Us?

As a Trustee, you’ll play a key role in guiding a charity that blends education, care and nature-based practice to help young people build confidence, skills and independence. You’ll be joining a Board that believes in doing things properly: thoughtful governance, trauma-informed practice, and a deeply human approach to learning.

You’ll help us:

• Set a clear, values-driven strategic direction
• Support a passionate CEO and a team working at the sharp end of SEN provision
• Strengthen and expand our high-quality Alternative Provision offer
• Ensure the environment remains safe, nurturing, and genuinely transformative
• Bring your insight, curiosity, judgement and lived experience into conversations that shape the future of the farm and the young people we serve

Who We’d Love to Have Around the Table

You don’t need to be an expert in everything — nobody is. But experience in any of the following would be a real asset:

• SEN, education, youth work or social care
• Mental health, behaviour support, occupational therapy
• Horticulture, farming, land management or animal care
• Safeguarding, charity governance, fundraising, finance or communications

What Matters Most

• A grounded commitment to inclusion and person-centred practice
• An understanding — or willingness to learn — about the realities faced by young people with SEN and their families
• Integrity, humility, and good judgement
• The ability to both challenge and support in equal measure
• A belief that diverse voices make better decisions

If you want your time and expertise to directly support young people who deserve better than the system often gives them, we’d love to talk. We are ideally looking for someone in Essex/Herts who would be able to visit our site and meet other trustees/staff face to face on occasion

Get in touch for an informal conversation. We are currently based near Great Dunmow Essex.

A Peer Mentor is a volunteer who has experienced similar challenges and experiences as the person they are supporting. Being a peer mentor is seen as a positive and secure way to progress towards education, work, or employment.

Volunteers who take on peer support roles can feel empowered, have a greater confidence and a more positive sense of identity.

Could you provide an authentic voice that our clients can relate to?

· Do you have 1-2 hours a week to support a client at our Supported Accomodation - Oasis House

· Can you inspire others, give them hope through self-disclosure and by being an example of recovery?

· Build relationships based on trust, acceptance, understanding and an empathy from a shared lived experience?

· Can we rely on you to tap into your own experiences to help us identify barriers and gaps in our services and how we can be improving and identify good practice?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities:

· Inspiring service users by using your own life experiences and by being a positive role model

· Providing a safe sounding space, listen in a non-judgemental way

· Helping to improve wellbeing, confidence, and independence by exploring activities that promote this

· Assist service users to engage with formalised support

· Attend appropriate training and development opportunities as required

We are looking to grow our Board of Trustees to help to increase our reach, enhance our profile, spread our message and continue to develop sustainably.

We are seeking Trustees who will bring creative vision champion the role art plays in public cohesion and transforming people’s lives.We would like to recruit up to three new Trustees during 2026, ideally with experience of Finance, Fundraising or Artistic Programming.Arts at the Old Fire Station (AOFS) is known and respected for its values-led approach and passion for social change, and all Trustees are expected to share that commitment.  

External Trustee   

Durham Students’ Union  
Location: Durham  
Commitment: Voluntary  

Term: Four years (renewable)  
Closing date: Midday on 29 May 2026  

Atkinson HR  and Marble Mayne are pleased to be supporting Durham SU in their search for two External Trustees to join their Board.  

Durham students created Durham SU in 1899 as the Student Representative Council, the first and only thing owned by every single student at our university, no matter what their course or College.   

Over one hundred years later, student life is very different, but much of what we think is important and the way we work would be recognisable to our founders. We’re still unique at Durham, because we belong to every single student, and we’re where every single student belongs.  

 Durham is a leading students’ union, working with a world-class university, in an exceptional city, and our foundations are strong. We’re proud and privileged to be able to use this heritage to be ambitious about our future.   

 Our Board of Trustees is now looking for two new members of, and we’re so pleased you may be interested in helping us to bring students together to make Durham University fairer and better.  

About the Role  

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of students in Durham. As an External Trustee, you will play a key role in setting and monitoring Durham SU’s strategy, providing financial oversight, managing risk, and ensuring the organisation remains fit for purpose. The Board meets five times per year, with trustees also invited to engage in other opportunities such as sitting on an appointments panel, meeting with auditors or attending a student awards ceremony 

Durham SU is keen to hear from individuals who are curious, genuine and enthusiastic about Durham SU doing well. They are particularly interested in candidates who bring knowledge of the Higher Education sector or Students' Unions, and experience in political, corporate or financial settings. 

Durham SU will also welcome applications from first-time trustees and aim to have an inclusive Board with diverse perspectives and backgrounds.   

How to Apply  

To apply, please submit your CV and complete the application form, where you will be asked to answer three questions:  

• Tell us why you’d like to join Durham SU as a Trustee and how do your personal values align with the SU’s?  

• What knowledge, abilities, and experience can you contribute to our Board’s collective skills?  

• How would you add value to the Board and our work to support students?  

Each answer should be a maximum of 400 words.  

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Atkinson HR via. the details in the candidate pack. 

Key Dates  

Closing Date: Midday on Friday 29th May 2026 

Interviews: Monday 8th June 2026 

We're looking for African, Black and minoritised women of any age to mentor the next generation of changemakers tackling violence against women and girls.

You don't need to be an expert or hold a fancy title. You just need to:

• Have a genuine interest in mentoring and supporting young women
• Care about ending gender inequality
• Identify as an African, Black or minoritised woman

As a mentor, you'll be matched with a Fellow aged 18–30 as she leads her own social action project over the course of a year. Our Fellows work across a wide range of projects–from social media campaigns and books to event hosting, community workshops, and more–so whatever your background or experience, there's a Fellow who could benefit from what you bring.

You will be expected to keep in contact with your mentee throughout the year, be available via your preferred contact method, and attend online meetings with your mentor once a month. You are also encouraged to attend an in-person event in mid-December where the fellows pitch their social action projects.

Your guidance, lived experience, and encouragement could be the thing that makes all the difference.

Give back. Stay inspired. Be part of something bigger.

Sign up to become a mentor today: https://forms.gle/PXDcJW8icMFuKjZH7

The Choir with No Name runs choirs and builds joyful singing communities with people impacted by homelessness and marginalisation across the UK. Our vision is simple but powerful: that everyone going through tough times can find a place to sing their hearts out, among friends. We are now looking for passionate and skilled people to join our board of trustees and help us deliver on that vision.

As a trustee, you will be joining a committed and experienced board at an exciting moment in our charity's development. We are currently developing a new three-year strategy with ambitions to grow our reach, open new choirs, and deepen our impact with the people we serve. Our board is supported by four sub-committees - Finance and Fundraising, Artistic Direction, Business Development, and People - and we are looking for trustees who can contribute meaningfully to one or more of these areas.

We would particularly welcome applications from people with experience in areas where we are looking to strengthen the board, including communications, PR, choral singing and music and health. We are also keen to build a board that reflects the communities we serve, and we actively encourage applications from people with lived experience of homelessness or marginalisation, and from those who are currently underrepresented in the charity sector.

Trusteeship with the Choir with No Name is a voluntary role, but it is far from a passive one. We are an organisation full of warmth, creativity and ambition, and we want trustees who will bring their skills and experience to bear while sharing our deep commitment to using the power of singing to change lives. If you believe - as we do - that singing together can transform people's wellbeing and open up new possibilities, we'd love to hear from you.

Closing date 20th May 2026.

Our client is a national movement, bringing together community foundations across the UK, connecting philanthropy with local knowledge to strengthen communities and improve lives. 

Through 47 accredited community foundations covering every postcode of the UK, the network has distributed more than £2 billion to grassroots organisations and local causes over the last fifty years, creating significant impact where it is most needed.  

We are now seeking an outstanding new Chair to lead the Board of at a pivotal moment. 

Chair  
UK-wide, Access to London   
Voluntary, expenses paid  

With a new 2026–2030 strategy, increasing national relevance, and growing opportunities to influence philanthropy, policy and place-based giving, this is a rare opportunity to help shape how capital, leadership and trust reach communities across the country.  

Working closely with the Chief Executive, the Chair will provide strategic leadership to the Board, champion the organisation externally, and help strengthen their impact, profile and partnerships.  

We are particularly interested in hearing from individuals who bring:  

• Significant senior leadership experience in business, philanthropy, the public sector or civil society   

• Strong networks and the credibility to convene senior stakeholders   

• Board or chairing experience, with sound governance judgement   

• Strategic insight and the ability to support and challenge constructively   

• A strong commitment to equity, opportunity and thriving communities   

We are keen to engage with accomplished leaders who share the organisation’s mission and values, and who would like to influence philanthropy nationally and locally across the UK.  

We welcome a broad range of perspectives and lived experience to our Board, and warmly welcome applications from individuals from backgrounds typically underrepresented at board level.  

The time commitment is approximately three days per month with an initial term of three years, renewable once.  

For further information, to access the appointment brief and to apply to this role, please visit the Prospectus website.

If you have any queries or wish to have an informal discussion about the opportunity, please contact our retained advisors Anna Gardet or Tammy Stewart 

 
Recruitment Timetable 
Deadline for applicationsTuesday 2nd June 2026 
Interviews with Prospectus:w/c 8th June 2026 
Engagement sessions with stakeholders:w/c 15thJune 2026 
Interviews with the organisation:22nd June 2026 

Portland Charity is currently recruiting for at least 3 trustee positions following the retirement of two trustees and a review of the skills mix of our current Board.

Portland Charity has been operating for 75 years from a beautiful woodland campus in the heart of historic Sherwood Forest. Our Further Education College is one of the UK’s leading specialist colleges for disabled people, rated Outstanding by Ofsted and holding Advanced Accreditation status from the National Autistic Society. We also operate highly regarded residential and day adult social care services, a multi-award winning community adult education programme and an active theatre and activities outreach programme. Every year we make a positive difference to lives of hundreds of disabled people and those with mental health difficulties.

Our trustee board play a pivotal role in keeping us at the top of our game and we are now seeking to appoint new trustees with specific expertise in one of the following areas:

• Legal services
• Adult social care
• People development and management
• Mental health support

Our Board meets 4 times per year and most trustees also support one of our sub-committees or working groups (Audit, Remuneration, Quality & Standards, Finance and Estates Planning).

We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience (personal or family and friends) of disability and/or mental health issues. A personal induction, Governor Handbook, access to free training courses and buddying are all provided.

We welcome people with no previous, or limited, experience of a non-executive role. Out of pocket expenses can be paid.

We welcome expressions of interest at any time but we would particularly like to hear from you by Friday 17th April 2026 if you are interested in one of the current opportunities.

Are you passionate about making a real difference to families facing financial hardship?
Bromley Brighter Beginnings is a local charity founded in 2012 which provides essential baby, child and household items to families facing poverty.
We believe no child should be disadvantaged because of financial hardship, and no parent should have to struggle to meet their family’s basic needs.

Join our team as a Grants & Fundraising Volunteer and help secure the funding that keeps our services going. In this role, you’ll support our Fundraising & Communications Lead with tasks that directly impact how many families we’re able to help.

What You’ll Do

• Research and identify potential grant funding opportunities (“horizon scanning”)
• Help maintain our 'tracker' of funding opportunities
• Assist with drafting and editing grant applications
• Attend relevant online events or webinars to stay up to date with funding trends
• Support the preparation of reports and updates for current funders

 About You

You’ll thrive in this role if you have:

• Experience of researching and / or writing grant applications / funding bids
• Great attention to detail
• Good IT skills
• An understanding of the charity sector (helpful but not essential)
• The ability to work independently and meet deadlines
• A genuine commitment to supporting families living in poverty

For further information on the role and details of how to apply please visit our website.

A Peer Mentor is a volunteer who has experienced similar challenges and experiences as the person they are supporting. Being a peer mentor is seen as a positive and secure way to progress towards education, work, or employment.

Volunteers who take on peer support roles can feel empowered, have a greater confidence and a more positive sense of identity.

Could you provide an authentic voice that our clients can relate to?

· Do you have 1-2 hours a week to support a client

· Can you inspire others, give them hope through self-disclosure and by being an example of recovery?

· Build relationships based on trust, acceptance, understanding and an empathy from a shared lived experience?

· Can we rely on you to tap into your own experiences to help us identify barriers and gaps in our services and how we can be improving and identify good practice?

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, then we would love to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities:

· Inspiring service users by using your own life experiences and by being a positive role model

· Providing a safe sounding space, listen in a non-judgemental way

· Helping to improve wellbeing, confidence, and independence by exploring activities that promote this

· Assist service users to engage with formalised support

· Attend appropriate training and development opportunities as required

Chair of Trustees at Watford and Three Rivers Refugee Partnership (WTRRP)

Job summary: 

We're looking for a Chair of Trustees to help shape the strategic vision of WTRRP as we move forward into our 25th year as a charity. This would be someone to support us with our strategy in line with our mission and our values. In this role, you will lead the Committee and other Trustees co-chairs of the charity, share responsibility for the agenda and actions of Trustee meetings and AGM, improving good governance and acting as a senior ambassador of the organisation. We are looking for someone with enthusiasm, availability and leadership skills to work collaboratively with our small staff and our volunteers.

WTRRP exists to support asylum seekers and refugees in Watford and Three Rivers who do not yet have settled status in the UK or may have specific needs relating to their application process or welfare. The main services of the charity are a drop-in session and social hub every Tuesday (at St Mary’s Church in central Watford), ESOL classes, providing advice and financial support to its clients and assisting them to integrate into the local community.

The Partnership has grown dramatically over the past 5 years, which is why we are looking for a Chair to join us. WTRRP is run by a committee that meets typically every 1-2 months and it also provides supervision to our 3 staff members and support to our 70 volunteers.

We would welcome applicants with any of the following experience:

• Governance and previous Committee experience
• Business development and charitable fundraising
• Human resources and people management
• Lived experience of being a Refugee or Migrant
• Financial background

Principal responsibilities:

1. Be part of the Committee, supporting the organisation as it grows and develops.
2. Have availability to regularly attend the Tuesday hub/drop-in at St. Marys church from 11- 2pm to support the team.
3. Oversee the administration and coordination of sub-committees.
4. Serve as line manager to our Operations Manager, helping to conduct planned supervision and appraisals.
5. Represent the Partnership as required to the public or external parties such as funders and Community groups.

This is an important role that will support the charity as we adapt and change. If you feel that you may have some of the skills we are looking for and want to have an initial chat with our chair, then please contact us.

Who are LRMN?

We offer refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants a specialist and holistic service. We advocate for people’s rights, campaign for wider change, meet their basic needs and help them improve their wellbeing.

Why do we need you?

The Women Together Project supports refugee and asylum-seeking women who have experienced trauma, including Gender-Based Violence (rape, torture, FGM, forced marriage, domestic violence etc.). We are a member of the BACP and adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework. Our approach is broadly integrative, drawing on woman-centred/ feminist, holistic, cross-cultural and mind-body perspectives.

The project consists of 1-1 counselling and advocacy and a weekly women’s nurture/ health group. 

We are currently seeking to recruit an enthusiastic and committed female volunteer counsellor to support our work.

What activities will you be involved in?

As a Volunteer Counsellor, you will:

• Offer 1-1 counselling to women from diverse cultures and backgrounds who have experienced trauma, including gender-based violence (this may involve working with an interpreter). This can be done at LRMN’s office or remotely as per clients’ need.

• Meet and maintain our standards regarding confidentiality and equal opportunities, and manage and be accountable for your own work.

• Keep accurate and up-to-date records of all counselling interventions on file and/or electronically.

• Carry out monitoring and evaluation tasks as advised by the Women’s Project Manager.

• Attend team meetings and contribute to information-sharing and discussion around best practice.

• Incorporate project approaches into practice – eg holistic/ feminist/ cross-cultural theories.

• Undertake training in areas relevant to VAWG, refugee and asylum policy and own professional development.

• Work flexibly and from a human rights perspective, remaining open to the challenges faced by this client group.

• Communicate effectively with other members of the therapeutic team and LRMN advice teams, making effective and sensitive referrals where necessary.

• Undertake own clinical supervision either in house or externally.

What can you gain from this opportunity?

By volunteering with LRMN, you will:

• Be part of a small, passionate team working towards improving the lives of some of the most disadvantaged women in UK society

• Monthly group clinical supervision

• Receive direct support and guidance from the Project Manager, as well as additional support from LRMN’s other staff

• Have the chance to attend a monthly team meeting to share information and support (this is not formal supervision)

• Offered places on training organised by LRMN or by external organisations

• Be provided out of pocket expenses to the value of £6 for lunch per day (4+ hours) & up to £15 travel expenses (this applies to qualified volunteers in the office for 4+hours)

Is there induction and training?

Yes, we provide a comprehensive induction to all new volunteers. This covers roles and responsibilities, safeguarding and record keeping.

You will be provided with the training (not clinical) needed to perform the role and will have the opportunity to join training with the whole LRMN team. 

Who are LRMN looking for?

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has membership of a professional body (BACP or similar)

• Is passionate about supporting migrants, refugees and asylum seekers

• Is passionate about the issue of trauma and gender-based violence and its impact on women

• Is friendly and approachable and can manage professional boundaries

• Respects and adheres to the BACP ethical framework in their work

LRMN is committed to equality and diversity. We pride ourselves on having a diverse team with a range of experiences. We encourage people with lived experience of the asylum and/or immigration system to apply. If you need additional support to apply or volunteer, please contact us.

What commitment do you need to make?

We ask volunteers to commit to one morning or afternoon a week (3 clients per week).