Senior programme officer volunteer roles

RSPCA Oxfordshire Branch

Are you passionate about animal welfare? We are looking for an enthusiastic person who understands charity finance to support us in our mission to prevent cruelty, promote kindness and alleviate the suffering of animals.

Overview of the Branch Treasurer opportunity

We are looking for someone to volunteer as a Branch Treasurer for our OXFORDSHIRE Branch. This role would play a vital role in supporting the Branches affairs so that it is governed and managed effectively, whilst continually having animal welfare at the forefront of their mind.

As a minimum, trustees would generally attend a monthly committee meeting lasting some 1-2 hours. However, the commitment may vary depending on whether the trustee takes on additional duties.

About the RSPCA

Founded in 1824, we have been saving animals for over 200 years and are proud to be the oldest welfare charity around. It has always been our vision to live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion, so our volunteers and employees work tirelessly to ensure that all animals can live free from pain and suffering.

Through our numerous campaigns, we seek to raise standards of care and awareness of issues affecting animals today. We rely heavily on our volunteers, who play a significant role in enabling us to carry out this important animal welfare work every day!

The RSPCA OXFORDSHIRE Branch

The OXFORDSHIRE Branch was founded in 1875, we are also a separately registered charity looking after animals in our local area. Much of the animal welfare work of RSPCA is carried out through local branches, which is run by our Operations Manager and a team of volunteers who have the support of the National Society of RSPCA.

The main activity of our branch is on rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals, we take in the animals the Inspectors rescue from cruelty and neglect, we provide them with the veterinary attention, love and care, then we find them loving new homes. We also to help members of the public with financial assistance for their animals for neutering, microchipping and unexpected veterinary fees

Primary responsibilities of the Branch Treasurer

• Implement and maintain sound financial systems.
• Take a lead role in ensuring the committee set annual financial budgets and plan the branch income and expenditure.
• Provide a written financial report for every branch meeting.
• Liaise with auditors/independent examiners regarding the production of the annual branch accounts and treasurer’s report.
• Maintain control of all bank accounts as authorised by the committee.
• Execute and operate branch committee financial decisions and act as branch co-signatory.
• Maintain control over all branch paying-in books and receipt books and to ensure their correct use.
• In the absence of a branch box secretary, to assume responsibility for the branch network of collection boxes.
• Arrange payment of the annual branch contribution to the appropriate RSPCA fund.
• Coordinate financial control of all branch fundraising activities.
• Make quarterly VAT returns to headquarters promptly.
• Ensure the production, monitoring and annual review of the branch’s financial risk management strategy following the charity commission’s requirements.
• Liaise with branch officers, Branch Partnership Managers and Branch finance coordinator on Financial affairs as necessary and alert them immediately to any possible difficulties or irregularities.
• Ensure the retention and safekeeping of the branch’s financial documentation for the appropriate time as set by the charity commission.

Core Branch Trustee responsibilities

• Appreciate and support the aims and policies of the RSPCA.
• Work in conjunction with fellow trustees and branch officers and jointly act in making decisions for the best interest of the branch and the RSPCA.
• Work with national RSPCA staff to ensure that the branch meets all minimum animal welfare standards (MAWS).
• In conjunction with your fellow trustees and Branch Partnership Manager, write, adopt, monitor, and review a development plan setting out your branch's short and long-term aims.
• Actively participate in branch committee meetings and attend the branch annual general meeting and regional conference.
• Be aware of the outcome of regional board meetings and support local initiatives.
• Actively promote and advertise the society in an ongoing programme to recruit new branch trustees and volunteers and welcome new members.
• In conjunction with your fellow trustees, ensure the proper management and control of all activities and decisions relating to any premises held or staff employed by the branch if applicable.

What we are looking for in a volunteer:

• We are particularly looking for someone who has knowledge and experience in finance, who may already understand charity finance.
• As a trustee, you would be able to dedicate the time to attend monthly committee meetings, which last approximately 3 hours.
• There will be additional volunteer duties between meetings, such as; providing financial reports at committee meetings, monitoring the budget that the trustees have set for the year, processing payments, querying invoices, VAT returns, and processing Gift Aid claims.

What we can offer you as a volunteer Branch Treasurer

• We will provide you with a comprehensive trustee training course which will provide you will everything you need to carry out the role.
• Ongoing support is also provided by local and national RSPCA staff and any additional training provided by the relevant branch.
• The platform to utilise your skills and experience to oversee the charity and make decisions that directly impact local animal welfare.
• The opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones, whilst making a real difference to the lives of animals.
• A way to expand your professional and personal network through working with like-minded people.

Practical considerations

• To become a Trustee, you will need to be aged 18 or over and a member of our branch for three months before you are eligible to be elected.
• Trustees are elected for a 12-month term each year.
• Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
• Trustees must sign a Trustee Declaration of Willingness to Act to clarify that they are not disqualified from being a trustee and read the Charity Commission’s guidance for individuals on who cannot be a trustee or senior manager of a charity.
• References will also be required.

How to find out more about being a Trustee

For more information on becoming a Charity Trustee and to ensure it is the right decision for you, we recommend reading the Charity Commission's guidance on the role of the trustee and the RSPCA website about Branch Trustees.

We have an online session about Becoming a Branch Trustee, which should hopefully give you more of an idea of what the RSPCA Branch Trustee role will involve.

How to Apply:

If you’ve got the drive and compassion to volunteer with the RSPCA and are passionate about improving animal welfare, we’d love to hear from you!

Please visit our website to learn more about what we do.

We hope you are interested in volunteering for the Oxfordfordshire Branch

Join us in making a real difference to the lives of animals in need.

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependent on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.

Are you passionate about Jesus and gospel outreach into London?

Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity to serve as a Trustee or as an Independent Sub-Committee Member?

Then London City Mission would like to hear from you!

London City Mission serves the church of London in sharing the love of God and the good news of Jesus Christ with the communities least likely to hear the Gospel.

One in three people don’t have a Christian friend to invite them to church, open a Bible with them, or tell them the good news of Jesus. We want to see that change. The poor areas of London are incredibly diverse, in fact London is the most ethnically diverse in the world, growing at over 100,000 people a year. The world has come to London – we long to see the Gospel taken to the world by working alongside churches to visit homes and go out into the streets of London with the good news of the Gospel.

Our monthly team gatherings are full of testimonies of how God is working amongst the communities least likely to hear the Gospel, and our deep conviction is that much more needs to be done – and can be done – at this urgent hour for London.

We are seeking to make up to five appointments; a mixture of Trustees (likely time commitment: 10-12 days a year) and Independent Sub-Committee Members (likely time commitment: 4 days a year). Individuals who bring expertise in one or more of the following areas:

Safeguarding – someone with safeguarding expertise who can provide strategic oversight, ensure robust policies and reporting procedures, and champion a culture of safety across the organisation.

HR - someone with HR expertise who can support organisational people practices, strengthen workforce policies, and provide strategic insight on recruitment, performance, and staff wellbeing.

Fundraising – someone with fundraising expertise who can guide income-generation strategy, strengthen donor relationships, and support LCM to diversify and grow its funding base.

Property – someone with professional property expertise who can advise on asset optimisation, and support strategic decisions regarding sales, leases, and maintenance.

Finance – most likely a qualified Accountant with strategic financial leadership skills and a passion to see resources deployed for Kingdom-purpose.

Through these roles the successful candidate will be able to make a difference in London for the salvation of souls and to the glory of God.

We appreciate the rich diversity of our Trustees, Sub-Committee Members and Staff and seek to create a culture where everyone develops and fulfils their potential. We recognise the immense value of different perspectives brought by those with varied backgrounds, characteristics and experiences. We particularly welcome applications from under-represented sections of the community (specifically in our context, individuals of Global Majority Heritage and those at an earlier stage of career).

In order to support greater diversity of experience and career stages, we encourage those earlier in their career to consider an Independent Sub-Committee Member role as a pathway to Trusteeship.

These posts are subject to an occupational requirement that the postholders are practising Christians under Part 1 of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.

The role of the Governing Body includes collective oversight of the College’s activities and setting and reviewing
our strategy and mission. The governor role is comparable with the non-executive directors of a public company
but instead of being accountable to shareholders, governors are accountable for public funds. As the College is an exempt charity, all governors are charity trustees.

Being a governor is a hugely rewarding leadership role. Governors can make a real difference and give something
back to the local community.

The College is currently looking for two new governors to join the Board. We are seeking experienced individuals, who
are looking for an opportunity to use and develop their professional skills in a board-level environment.
You don’t need to have prior board experience to apply.

The Board is currently looking for two new governors will have experience of one, or more, of the following areas: FE, education, apprenticeships. 

The Board also values the diversity of our students and staff, who come from a variety of ethnic, cultural and
religious backgrounds. The Board is determined to reflect this diversity amongst our Governing Body and
encourages people from a range of backgrounds and experiences to apply.

Please get in touch if you don’t feel you have the time to join the Board but would be interested in being co-opted to one of our committees. Co-option can provide an excellent introduction to voluntary governance roles. We are currently looking for co-opted members to join our Search and Governance Commitee, Resources Committee and Audit and Risk Committee.