Operations and business development director social care volunteer roles

Thames Reach is a leading London-based charity with a particular focus on rough sleeping, and helping people who are, have been, or are at risk of rough sleeping to find decent homes, build supportive relationships and lead fulfilling lives. The charity provides innovative services aimed at preventing rough sleeping, intervening where people are sleeping rough, and helping people to recover from the impact of life on the streets. As well as street outreach work, our services include tenancy support, emergency shelters, day services, hostels and accommodation, and help with health and employment. We work across London and the South East.

Thames Reach is a strong organisation that is growing in response to need. Our services are rooted in our understanding of the issues surrounding street homelessness, and we use this understanding to influence decision making at a local, regional, and national level. We have an excellent reputation for effective service delivery, working with people who may have very high levels of need, and using our experience of delivering services to develop and improve our approach. The majority of our services are delivered to local and regional authorities on a contract basis and we understand that our continued effectiveness requires us to sustain and develop our financial viability; and to retain and grow our excellent employees and volunteers.

We have just over 400 employees and around 150volunteers, and our organisational turnover is around £28 million per annum.

We have an effective and long-standing non-executive Board with a wealth of relevant experience in both the public and commercial sectors. They provide valuable support to the Executive team, as well as attending around five Board meetings every year, sitting on one of the three Board sub-committees (Finance, Audit and Fundraising; Services; Governance and People) that meet around four times a year. Board members are also asked to participate in an annual away day, usually in the autumn, with separate preparatory visits to our services.

We are now looking for up to three new members. As well as interest in and commitment to ending street homelessness as a board member and the ability and interest in providing strategic oversight for the organisation, we are hoping to recruit members with specific skills in the following areas:

People/ Human Resources

Candidates with current understanding of the recruitment, management, retention and development of staff (and volunteers) in an organisation of Thames Reach’s size.

Lived experience

Candidates with lived experience of street homelessness and/or service use (for example substance misuse or mental health services), and an understanding of how this lived experience can improve and develop services.

Finance/accounting

Candidates with knowledge of financial management in medium large complex organisations, particularly those with knowledge of Charity Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) requirements.

Communications

Candidates with current knowledge of approaches to internal and external organisational communication, with understanding of both conventional and new media. 

Thames Reach is committed to achieving a diversity that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief. We particularly welcome applicants who may have experience of homelessness and/or of using services that support people with complex support needs.

Thames Reach Housing is the registered provider subsidiary of Thames Reach Charity, a leading London-based charity with a particular focus on rough sleeping, and helping people who are, have been, or are at risk of rough sleeping to find decent homes, build supportive relationships and lead fulfilling lives. The charity provides innovative services aimed at preventing rough sleeping, intervening where people are sleeping rough, and helping people to recover from the impact of life on the streets. As well as street outreach work, services include tenancy support, emergency shelters, day services, hostels and accommodation, and help with health and employment. We work across London and South East England.

Thames Reach Housing completed the process of registration with the Regulator of Social Housing in February 2023 and has taken ownership of one of the hostels managed by Thames Reach Charity. Becoming a registered provider offers the opportunity to consider the transfer of other hostels and supported housing schemes where this is the best way to secure their future; as well as possible ownership of new hostel and supported housing developments where revenue funding is available.

The Thames Reach group (Thames Reach Charity and Thames Reach Housing) is a strong organisation that is growing in response to need. Our services are rooted in our understanding of the issues surrounding street homelessness, and we use this understanding to influence decision making at a local, regional, and national level. We have an excellent reputation for effective service delivery, working with people who may have very high levels of need, and using our experience of delivering services to develop and improve our approach. The majority of our services are delivered to local and regional authorities on a contract basis and we understand that our continued effectiveness requires us to sustain and develop our financial viability; and to retain and grow our excellent employees and volunteers.

The group has just over 400 employees and around 150 volunteers, and our turnover is around £28 million per year. The employees at the hostel which is owned by Thames Reach Housing are employed by Thames Reach Charity under a local authority contract. Thames Reach Housing therefore does not have any direct employees and its key function as the owning registered provider is to ensure the delivery of high-quality accommodation that supports the work carried out by Thames Reach Charity.

Thames Reach Housing has an effective and experienced non-executive board. They are supported by group sub-committees shared with Thames Reach Charity with a focus on the specific areas of Governance and People, Finance, Audit and Fundraising, and our Services. The Board meets around four times a year and participates in an annual group awayday in the autumn. There are currently three board members; one Thames Reach Housing Board member is shared with the Thames Reach Charity Board, and acts as the link between the Finance, Audit and Fundraising and Governance and People sub-committees. The Chair and other Board member are independents, not forming part of the Thames Reach Charity Board structure.

We are now looking for a new independent member, with an interest in and commitment to ending street homelessness and the ability and interest in providing strategic oversight for Thames Reach Housing.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who may be considering becoming a Board member for the first time and we want to prioritise interest in homelessness and understanding of how housing associations operate above existing governance experience. We are able to provide governance support and training to new Board members and you would be joining a board with considerable governance experience aligned with a competent Thames Reach Charity senior team to support you in your role.

Thames Reach is committed to achieving a diversity that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief. We particularly welcome applicants who may have experience of homelessness and/or of using services that support people with complex support needs.

This is an unsalaried volunteer role.

Are you an experienced charity fundraiser? We are looking for a new Trustee with strong fundraising experience who shares a passion for our work and who, through their professional expertise, can offer support, guidance, and strategic insight to our Board, CEO, and senior management, helping to bring about positive impact and lasting change through the work of our Christian partners.

ROLE PURPOSE

Embrace the Middle East is a Christian Development charity (registered No. 1076329), established in 1854, with a mission to improve the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the Middle East by working in partnership with local Christians, focussing on education, healthcare and community development. Its Board of Trustees (the Board) is responsible for the overall governance, monitoring and strategic direction of the charity. It works with the charity’s management to ensure that the charity fulfils the objects defined in its Articles, acts in accordance with the charity’s vision and mission, and complies will all legal and regulatory requirements.

Key responsibilities of trustees are:

To formulate and regularly review the strategic aims of the charity in accordance with its legal objects and to ensure that the policy and practices of the organisation are in keeping with its aims.

1. To monitor the performance of the charity against the agreed strategic aims.
2. To ensure that the organisation functions within the legal and regulatory requirements of a charitable organisation and strives to achieve best practice.
3. To act as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application

For further information about the role, please download the Candidate Pack.

To express an interest in becoming a trustee at Embrace the Middle East, please complete the online application form via the apply button.

The closing date for applications is 4 May 2026.

About us

VoiceAbility is an independent charity and one of the UK’s largest providers of advocacy and involvement services. We deliver a wide range of service contracts funded by local authorities, health trusts and other voluntary and private sector organisations.

We’ve been supporting people to have their say in decisions about their health, care, and wellbeing for over 40 years. We make sure people are heard when it matters most.  For more information on what Advocacy is and the services offered then please visit our website.

About the role?

Our Trustees play a critical role in the organisation, helping set the strategy and review progress in relation to it, providing support, challenge and expertise to the Chief Executive and Directors.

A Trustee plays an essential role in seeking to maximise VoiceAbility’s positive impact as well as to stretch and hold to account the Chief Executive.

The role also has ultimate responsibility for the compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, as well as ensuring that the organisation acts in line with its charitable objectives and is financially stable. Trustees work as a team, applying good judgement and taking collective responsibility.

About you

We are looking for a Trustee with sound independent judgement, strategic vision and the ability to think creatively.  You will embody the organisations values and act in the best interests of the charity at all times. 

You will be engaged and motivated by the work of VoiceAbility and be able to build strong relationships and have experience of working as a non-Executive director or Trustee; however, lived experience is equally important.

We are seeking to recruit Trustees who bring Expertise in Finance, Safeguarding, Human Resources, Commercial and Operational Delivery.

Time commitment

Approximately one day per month.  Please note that this time commitment will be spread across multiple days and is likely to be cyclical.

There are four board meetings per annum.  Board meetings tend to be online, but face-to-face, or hybrid meetings may take place from time to time.  There would also be a commitment of two to four committee meetings per annum, a board strategy or development day and site visits.  Each trustee will also belong to at least one committee.

Equality and Diversity

VoiceAbility believes in fostering an inclusive workplace which welcomes, values, and celebrates the diversity of its staff and partners, treats all on a basis of equality and encourages all to meet their maximum potential.

VoiceAbility are a Disability Confident employer, any applicant that identifies themselves as having a disability and can demonstrate that they meet all the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview.  If you need to apply in a different way, please contact HR for further options.

How to apply

Please follow the link to our latest vacancy page

Important Dates:

Closing date for applications: ongoing

 Interviews to be held: ongoing

We believe in the power of holidays to transform lives. Time away matters. For many families facing tough times -whether through financial hardship, illness or other challenges - a short break can feel out of reach. Yet, these moments of escape and connection are vital for well-being, resilience, and hope.

Our mission is simple but powerful: to provide families who wouldn’t otherwise get a break with the chance to spend quality time together, make memories, and return home stronger. 

As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in shaping our future. You’ll help guide our strategy, ensure we remain true to our values, and support us in reaching even more families who need our help. Your expertise, insight, and passion can help us grow and innovate, so that no family is left behind when it comes to the simple joy of time away together.

About our Trustee Team

Our Trustees are a team of volunteers who use their diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives to set the strategic direction of the charity and make sure it’s doing what it was set up to do in the best possible way.

Family Holiday Charity has an ambitious strategy over the next few years, which will see us expand our services to families, develop our influencing work within the travel and leisure industry and government, and evolve our ways of working so that we can accept and use gifted breaks, travel and other services at scale, to give families who really need it a holiday.

To help us do all that we’ll need the guidance, challenge, connections, and support of all our Trustees.
Given our goals, we’re particularly looking to add the following professional skills and experiences to our team.

• HR-Focused- a Trustee who will serve as Chair of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee, providing strategic oversight of people, culture and organisational development whilst acting as the Board’s Safeguarding lead and supporting the Charity’s safeguarding assurance framework. Prior safeguarding experience is desirable but not essential.

The Commitment 

We’ll ask you to participate in four two-hour Board Meetings per year, typically in person at our office in London or remotely.We also get together for a Strategy Day in September/October, which is held on a weekday in London, and you’d need to attend that in person.

We can support with any access needs for in-person meetings.,

There are two Board sub-committees- one which focuses on our Finances and Risk, and one which considers our people (Trustees and Staff). Once you’ve settled into the role, most Trustees join one of them. They meet remotely around four  times a year.

Outside of formal meetings, you’ll be warmly encouraged to get to know the staff team, and attend fundraising events 
or other events to meet referrers, families, and supporters wherever possible.

Overall, you’ll need to be able to commit around 6 hours each month for a mix of meetings and events, contributing
your skills and perspective to projects, building your knowledge of the charity and developing as a Trustee.

See the trustee pack for more information and for the application and interview process - click apply to see this. Please note the deadline has been extended to midnight on Sunday 19th April 2026 to ensure the professionals skills and areas of experience (as listed above) are captured.

The food system is unsustainable and unjust, and it’s damaging the health of a generation. We are a youth activist movement set up to challenge a food system that’s been set up to fool us all. We're looking for a new Chair who shares our passion for empowering youth leadership and transforming our food system

Could your leadership skills help shape the future of a Hopian?  Hopian is a registered charity that provides advice and support for adults and children who have experienced Domestic Violence and Abuse through the provision of refuge accommodation and community support services.  We also provide support and access to counselling for people affected by Child Sexual Exploitation.

The Role of Trustee and executive Trustee roles are voluntary positions. A Trustee for the Board is expected to meet the requirements of the board in line with the charities governing documents, governing good practice and legal requirements.  We also have a vacancy for a Treasurer should you be interested please visit our Hopian website - recruiter link below for further details.

Trustee Responsibilities :

The Board as a whole is collectively responsible for the success of the charity. A Trustee is a Board Member and has a number of responsibilities in order to ensure robust management of the charity including:

• Make decisions objectively in the interests of the charity.
• Implement Hopian’s Vision, Mission, and Values.
• Lead on the aims and objectives of Hopian by raising awareness of domestic and sexual abuse, and child sexual exploitation and abuse and its impact on individuals and their families.

Trustee Duties :

• Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy.
• Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document (i.e. constitution or memorandum and articles of association), charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources in pursuance of its charitable objects (i.e., the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects) .
• Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets.
• Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation.
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place.
• Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation.
• Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds.
• To work in the interests of the charity and not for personal gain.
• To ensure that the Board Members takes proper professional advice on matters in which it does not have competence.
• Following proper and formal arrangements for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the chief executive.

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Tasks:

• To work with other Board Members to form an effective governing body for the charity.
• To attend meetings and to read papers in advance of meetings.
• Ensure that the charity’s focus places services users centrally.
• To understand and be committed to the mission of the charity.
• To maintain a long-term overview of the charity and its work.
• To make strategic and major decisions about the charity objectives, policies and procedures.
• To attend sub-group meetings as appropriate.
• To participate in other tasks that may arise from time to time such as interviewing for new staff, helping with appeals and fundraising.
• To keep informed about the activities of the charity and wider issues which affect its work.
• To monitor and evaluate the work of the charity on a regular basis. This includes receiving reports from staff, staff supervision, receiving feedback from service users and other agencies .
• To ensure that the charity is a good employer of its paid and voluntary staff .
• Provide opportunity for staff to meet with the board.

Person Specification

We are looking for a  Trustee who has an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship. It is expected that a Trustee takes ownership to develop and maintain this understanding and application of duties. In addition to having:

• A commitment to the organisation.
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Good, independent judgement.
• An ability to think creatively.
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership

Experience & Knowledge

• Understanding and evidence of commitment to equal opportunities and diversity statement 
• Be objective and unbiased 
• Be supportive and approachable 

Time Requirements

To be able to attend scheduled committee meetings each year and read papers for each board meeting. To be available to for consultation, support and guidance on an ad hoc basis. Much of this contact will be via online, telephone or email.