Part-time volunteer roles

About us:

Write Back is a young charity helping marginalised young people develop their self-esteem, literacy and creativity through storytelling. Currently based in Barking & Dagenham, since 2020 we have run storytelling programmes for more than 200 young people, helping them tell their stories and printing and celebrating their work. 9 out of 10 participants on our programmes see significant improvements in their self-esteem, and in our short period of operations, we have published over 20 anthologies of young writers’ work, exploring themes like immigration, identity and social isolation.

What we do:

We run 10-week long storytelling programmes in Barking and Dagenham, east London, to build self-esteem among young people aged 13-16. In each session we do confidence building activities, engage with the writing of a young author and then develop the participating young people’s own stories. The 10-week project involves developing their ideas individually and collectively and culminates with the publication of their work, including in books, local museum exhibitions and much more.

We are working with six secondary schools in Barking and Dagenham, who have been referring young people to our programmes or inviting us into their premises to run bespoke programmes for selected students Barking and Dagenham is the 9th most deprived local authority in the country and 37% of the young people and children live in poverty. Despite this recent research shows that Barking and Dagenham has the joint fewest charities per head in the country.

About the role:

Write Back has grown considerably since its founding five years ago. Now with paid part-time staff, strong local networks, secure medium-term funding and proof of impact, we are entering a new phase of organisational growth.

To oversee this, we are looking for a new Chair of Trustees to oversee a significant period of strategic choices. We are looking for someone who wants to get closely involved in setting the strategy, direction and priorities of Write Back as we transition from new ‘start-up’ into a more established charity. As a small charity, the Chair will be someone who can think ‘big picture’ but also is happy to get involved with day-to-day matters when necessary - securing new funding, overseeing our staffing model, building networks with other organisations and more. We are therefore looking for an individual with:

• Experience of organisational governance (ideally experience being on a board of trustees before).

• Experience in a leadership role in a growing organisation (either teams/departments or the whole organisation).

• Strong fundraising and networking skills and experience.

• Knowledge and expertise of the charity sector.

• A strong commitment to the work of Write Back and empowering young people.

• The passion and enthusiasm to throw themselves into a new and exciting charity for young people to help us in our next phase of growth.

• The ability and experience of working at a strategic level, providing expert oversight, advice and guidance, but willing to get involved day-to-day where necessary.

• The skills and temperament to collaborate effectively in a small, growing organisation.

• A good understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of charity trusteeship and an appreciation of the personal implications.

• A demonstrable commitment to equality and diversity.

• Experience in the education sector, or in legal, HR or other operational or governance matters, is a plus but not required.

Core requirements:

• This is a voluntary unpaid role, for which any reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

• Your initial term will be for 2 years, with the possibility of renewal.

• Attendance at trustee meetings every two months (either online or in person, for roughly 90 minutes), as well as preparation for these meetings and any follow-up tasks.

• Working with the Director and the Treasurer, overseeing all governance, financial and operational matters and reporting requirements as necessary.

• Fulfilling any or all other requirements for trustees as outlined by the Charity Commission.

• We estimate the time commitment to be no more than two days per month in total.

Type: Volunteer
Commitment: 2 hours a week or 4 posts a month (can be done flexibly, prepared in advance) - with bi-weekly catch-ups
Reporting to: Operational Director
Location: Remote (UK)

We are looking to appoint 2 volunteers for this vacancy

 
What will you be doing?

You’ll create engaging, inspiring content for our Social Media accounts – just 1-2 posts a week – helping us grow our online presence, connect with our supporters, and communicate our values around sustainability, biodiversity, and inclusion. 

This is a flexible, part-time role requiring around 2 hours per week, or less if you can produce 4 monthly posts and leave them scheduled, ideal for someone looking to build their creative portfolio while supporting meaningful grassroots work.

What are we looking for?

Essential:

• Confident using Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn (personal or professional)
• Strong written communication and visual storytelling skills
• Creative flair and alignment with our charity’s mission and ethos
• Reliable and organised, able to contribute consistently each week
• Comfortable working independently and taking initiative
• Ability to work as part of a Team
• Able to use Canva to produce content

Desirable:

• Experience using Canva or similar design tools
• Familiarity with scheduling platforms like Meta Suite, Buffer, or Later
• Understanding of ethical and inclusive communication practices
• Interest in sustainability, holistic living, education, or nature

Candidates should have 3+ years of experience with: 
 

• Marketing Strategy
  Ability to plan purposeful content that aligns with our goals (e.g. awareness, engagement, partnerships).
• Social Media Marketing
  Confident using Facebook and Instagram; understands how to create engaging, platform-appropriate posts that speak to different audiences.
• Graphic Design
  Able to design clear, visually appealing posts using tools like Canva, with attention to accessibility and branding.

What difference will you make?

As our Social Media Content Creator, your work will directly support Willowbrook Farm Charity’s mission to inspire sustainable living and reconnect people with nature. By sharing our stories, values, and programmes online, you will:

• Grow our visibility – Helping more people discover our charity, our values, and our work with biodiversity, sustainable farming, and environmental education.
• Inspire and inform – Creating content that motivates individuals to live more sustainably and engage with nature, while highlighting inclusive and equitable access to green spaces.
• Support fundraising and outreach – Boosting awareness of our community projects and helping us reach potential donors, supporters, and participants.
• Celebrate diversity and belonging – Representing the wide range of people we welcome at Willowbrook, and promoting our inclusive approach to Earth stewardship.
• Build momentum during our rebuild phase – As we relaunch after a period of dormancy, your work will be instrumental in reigniting interest and engagement with our charity.

Your creativity will help turn values into action, and connect our small grassroots charity to a wider world, one post at a time.

Who will be working with you? Our Marketing Team:

· 2x Article writers (writing content for Blog and LinkedIn articles)

· 1 Brand and Development Manager

· 1 Graphic Designer Lead

· 1 Marketing Manager (coming soon)

·       2 Social Media Content Creators (this position)

· 1 Video Editor (coming soon)

How we work (and what you can expect when joining the team)

We don’t believe in KPIs or harsh targets; that’s not our style. We’re a values-led, cause-driven team that measures success by the quality of relationships we build, the opportunities we uncover together, and the impact we make for our beneficiaries. Numbers can be useful, but we don’t use quotas or pressure to motivate people. Instead, we focus on collaboration, learning, and genuine enthusiasm for finding the right people who align with our mission.

What this looks like in the marketing team

In practice, you’ll join a supportive creative team that shares story leads, swaps ideas, and helps each other refine drafts. We celebrate curiosity, voice, and progress, not just outcomes. We’ll agree on simple, shared goals and light check-ins so everyone knows where we’re heading, but we won’t impose arbitrary targets or dashboards. If a post doesn’t land or a campaign underperforms, we treat it as learning—not failure—and we improve it together. Yours and our wellbeing and growth matter to us as much as the content we publish. We understand that content engagement takes time and effort to develop.

How we create together

You’ll have space to research, think, and craft clear, accessible writing across channels (web, email, social, print or channels you have been assigned to). We work from short creative briefs, friendly peer reviews, and a living style guide, so you’re never writing in a vacuum. We co-create with programme colleagues and volunteers, turning real experiences into stories, explainers, and resources that help people connect with our mission.

Ethical, inclusive storytelling

We take ethical marketing seriously. We prioritise respectful, consent-based storytelling, plain language, and accessibility (e.g., clear structure, alt text, readable layouts). We’d rather publish fewer, stronger pieces that we’re proud of than chase volume for the sake of a metric. You’ll have time to fact-check and shape narratives that are honest, strengths-based, and aligned with our values.

Your voice, our mission

Bring your ideas! Pitch topics, test formats, and iterate. We’ll back you with constructive feedback, and opportunities to grow your craft while keeping our shared focus on meaningful content that supports the communities we serve.

If you’re motivated by purpose, teamwork, and thoughtful posts (rather than meeting a quota) you’ll feel right at home with us! But remember, because of this supportive and collaborative culture we maintain, we will honestly rely on you to fulfil your share of the work.

 Before you apply

We’re really grateful for every volunteer’s time and contribution. Please note we’re unable to provide professional references for volunteers who haven’t actively participated and engaged with our work for at least four months and/or delivered tangible outcomes*. Your work is valued even if your circumstances change and you’re not able to fulfil the time and hours we originally agreed. However, because professional references require a higher level of commitment, meaningful contribution, and long-term dedication, we can only provide them when we’ve worked together long enough and seen clear results from your involvement, to give future employers a fair, well-informed reference.

*By “tangible outcomes,” we mean clear contributions such as completing agreed tasks or projects, meeting deadlines, producing work we can review, or making measurable progress toward team goals. If a professional reference isn’t possible, we’re happy to confirm your volunteering dates and role instead.

We’re seeking committed new trustees to help guide a small but ambitious charity supporting children and young people with cerebral palsy, ensuring our funds deliver meaningful, life-changing impact.

Our Board is made up of a small, committed group of trustees who bring a mix of professional expertise and personal connection to our cause. Together, we oversee a grant-making charity that has a long heritage and a clear ambition: to increase our income and ensure we can support more children and young people with cerebral palsy in meaningful, practical ways.

Like many small charities, our challenge is balancing strong governance with growth. We are financially stable and well run, but we want to think more strategically about our future: how we prioritise funding, how we grow awareness and income, and how we ensure every grant we make delivers real, lasting benefit for families. The new trustee will play an active role in shaping these conversations and helping the Board move confidently from steady state to sustainable growth.

The role is hands-on and collaborative. Trustees are expected to attend four board meetings a year, contribute thoughtfully to discussion and decision-making, and engage between meetings when specific issues arise. Depending on interest and experience, the new trustee may also be invited to take a lead role in an area of work or join a small working group, for example around fundraising development, investment oversight, or grant assessment.

This is an opportunity to influence how limited charitable funds are used where they matter most. Trustees are directly involved in decisions that enable children to access therapy, specialist equipment, and support that may not otherwise be available. For someone who wants to make a tangible difference, this is a role where your contribution can be clearly seen in the lives of the children and families we support.

The Board values open discussion, shared responsibility, and a supportive culture, making this an especially rewarding role for someone who wants their time and judgement to have genuine impact.