Starting point volunteer roles

You will welcome clients and visitors, and support the smooth running of our local office at our drop in sessions on Mondays or Thursdays (or both)

Commitment: 6 hours/week (flexible)

Receptionists are the first point of contact for clients, welcoming visitors. You’ll record client details on our computer system, explain waiting times, and help ensure the service runs smoothly. The role builds communication, IT, and teamwork skills while making a real difference in the community. Full training and expense reimbursement are provided.

What you gain: Communication skills, admin experience, confidence using IT, and full training.

You'll gain valuable transferable skills in communication, problem solving, teamwork.

Whether you are starting out, changing career, retired, or returning to work, volunteering strengthens your CV and provides practical experience.

Do you want to co-ordinate vegan volunteering?

As an Organiser, you would be the caretaker of your local area. This is the more time-intensive role but so rewarding! Tasks would be emailed to you directly every month by our Volunteering Coordinator, who would be your main point of contact here at The Vegan Society. It would then be your job to send out the task to Advocates in your local area and get feedback from them. You'll also be able to ask your Advocates for help with any stalls and lobbying. Every Organiser receives an outreach pack, including a table runner, leaflets and banners. We make sure you are fully supported with an Organisers' WhatsApp group for socialising and ideas. We also have a monthly gathering on video.

What does the Organiser role involve? 

Every month, you will be sent a collection of tasks to choose from. We create these from our programme of campaigns. You would be the point of contact for Advocates in your area, sharing these tasks and coordinating activities, such as stalls and lobbying councillors. We will provide you with a campaign toolkit and be in regular contact with you to ensure you have everything you need. You will also be invited to our private Facebook group and WhatsApp chat.

We would expect you to provide any updates from your group and give feedback on each task. It's vital that we measure the impact that we are having, in terms of positive conversations and leaflets handed out. You can also give us ideas you have for future outreach tasks or campaigning. Many Organisers find a huge sense of satisfaction, improvement in self-esteem and enjoy the social side of volunteering in this role.

You will also be responsible for welcoming new Advocates in your area. We will let you know when somebody new applies, and you will help them to get involved with any activities. As the main contact for Advocates, this role does require some awareness of safeguarding and data protection procedures and policy. There will be full training on your role in this, as well as a handbook and ongoing guidance and support. 

What training and support is available? 

There will be a full induction to the role, with a gradual introduction of new tasks and responsibilities. To start with, we will provide an initial training session to cover the basics of community organising, communication skills and event planning. This will be done remotely from wherever you are. Along with this, we will provide a full pack of resources that covers a range of work that we do. 

From there, there will be regular conversations and reviews, where we can discuss other training requirements. Staff are always available to Organisers for any questions, via phone or email. 

What skills would be useful in doing this role? 

• Great organisational skills
• Experience of coordinating people
• Experience of working to specific dates and deadlines
• Good time keeping
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to motivate people around the topic of veganism
• Ability to stick to branding
• Ability to read emails in a timely manner and translate tasks into actions quickly
• Ability to report back on activities
• Excellent knowledge of vegan issues

How much time do I need to invest?

You should be able to commit around two days a month to carry out actions, and this is usually spread out across the month. We also expect timely responses to emails. When a new Advocate applies to work with you, we would like them to be contacted within seven days via email.

Want to learn more about what councils are doing to combat the climate and ecological crises? Want to help communities to get their council to take Climate Action seriously? Interested in gaining experience of local policy, initiatives and best practice?

Climate Emergency UK’s free, online, 4-week Local Climate Training Programme is the place to start!

Councils have the power and influence over around 30% of emissions in their local area. Therefore, they are uniquely placed to make a real impact on emissions within their area. Following the success of the second Council Climate Action Scorecards last year, Climate Emergency UK is looking to create the third edition of the Action Scorecards. We know that councils are listening to the Scorecards results and taking more effective action. The average score in the 2025 Action Scorecards increased by 7 percent points. Now, we’re looking for volunteers to help us create the 2027 Action Scorecards, tracking the progress that has been made, and scoring all UK councils on their climate action.

Our workshops, alongside the practical experience of assessing local climate action, are designed to help you develop your knowledge, skills and experience around local climate policy and action.

Your assessments will help create the 2027 Council Climate Action Scorecards - helping your community and other people around the UK understand how well councils are tackling the climate crisis, the progress that has been made, who’s doing well and what is possible. During the programme you will be part of a cohort of people (maximum 50) who share your passion for environmental justice and local action.

The Training Programme will help you understand:

• The powers local authorities have to tackle the climate crisis.
• The actions local authorities are taking to tackle the climate crisis.
• What good council climate action looks like.

We will also have workshops from educational, policy and campaigning experts to give you a strong foundation in local climate action. Last year this included speakers from the Climate Change Committee, Lancaster City Council and Friends of the Earth. Those on the training programme will be able to manage their time but must be able to make the mandatory dates, listed below. Both cohorts will be 4 weeks and have the exact same programme of events. While these will be part of the training it will be up to you to make the session, although some of these sessions will be recorded. A full schedule will be sent out 1 week before the training starts.

The Programme Dates:

We are running two cohorts of the training programme:

The First Cohort will run from: 7th April until 12th May 2026.

You will need to be free for the following mandatory dates:

• Scorecards Volunteer Inductions:
  You will need to attend one induction session on either Tuesday 7th April 2026 or Thursday 9th April 2026 from 5:30 to 6:30pm.
• Scorecards Scoring Training:
  You will only need to attend only one of the training sessions but please keep both of the evenings free until you are allocated a Scorecards section, which will determine which session you need to attend: either Tuesday 14th April 2026 or Thursday 16th April 2026 from 5:30 to 7pm.
• Policy Programme Course sessions will run on:
  Tuesday 28th April from 4.30-6pm - Introduction to councils
  Thursday 30th April from 4.30-6pm - Guest Speaker
  Tuesday 5th May from 4.30-6pm - Climate Powers and Policies part 1
  Thursday 7th May from 4.30-6pm - Climate Powers and Policies part 2
• Final Policy Programme Session & Certificate Ceremony
  12th May 2026 from 4.30-6pm - Securing change at the local level

Who is this Programme for?

In order to apply you must be:

• Aged over 18
• Able to commit to approx. 15-20 hours a week for four weeks
• Based anywhere in the UK
• Have reliable internet access and access to a computer
• You do not need to have previous environmental related experience or a relevant degree.

Note: We will not accept current Councillors or Officers. Parish/Town councillors or staff are welcome to apply.

Other than that, anyone can apply to be on this programme. We are particularly looking for people who:

• Are passionate about tackling climate change and sustainability
• Have an interest in supporting climate action in their local communities
• Are interested in a career in environmental policy or advocacy (or just enjoy this as a hobby!)
• Able to use Google Docs and SLACK, although you will receive training in both.

Each cohort will be limited to 50 places and we expect to fill the programme. Your acceptance onto the programme will be confirmed once you have attended the Induction

If you are not able to commit to the training programme but would still like to be involved in scoring local authority climate action then please visit our page on becoming a Volunteer Assessor.

How to apply

We are running two volunteer cohorts. The Local Climate Policy Programme is available to both cohorts. If you are a new volunteer we recommend joining Cohort 1.

RSPCA Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon & District Branch

We are looking for an enthusiastic and passionate individual who can devote their time to volunteering with us as a Volunteer Coordinator, helping specifically to recruit, train and retain volunteers across the branch.

This role focuses on building and strengthening the branch’s volunteer base, enabling us to deliver vital local animal welfare services while ensuring our charity shops operate efficiently and effectively.

Current Volunteer Roles

• Cat Fosterer
• Charity Shop Assistant

Roles We Are Looking to Develop

• Trap, Neuter & Return (TNR) Volunteer
• Volunteer Driver
• Social Media Volunteer
• Online Sales (eBay/Vinted) Volunteer
• Fundraising & Events Volunteer

Key Responsibilities

• Writing and reviewing clear volunteer role descriptions in collaboration with managers and coordinators
• Advertising and publishing volunteer opportunities across appropriate platforms
• Processing and responding to incoming volunteer applications
• Matching volunteers to roles that suit their interests, availability and strengths
• Ensuring role-specific training is completed
• Supporting managers and coordinators with the induction of new volunteers
• Creating and maintaining a positive, inclusive and supportive environment for all volunteers
• Monitoring volunteer engagement and identifying ways to improve retention
• Acting as a key point of contact for volunteer-related queries & assist with management of the volunteer inbox

Skills & Experience Needed

• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Confident communication skills (written and verbal)
• Ability to work collaboratively with managers, coordinators and volunteers
• Good administrative skills and attention to detail
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle personal information appropriately
• Comfortable using email, basic IT systems and social media platforms
• Friendly, approachable and supportive manner
• Able to motivate and engage people from diverse backgrounds
• A passion for animal welfare and commitment to the values of the organisation

Personal Qualities

• Enthusiastic and proactive
• Reliable and self-motivated
• Empathetic and patient
• Solution-focused with a positive attitude

Commitment

Flexible, approximately 4 hours per week. Some occasional evening or weekend involvement may be required to support recruitment events or volunteer inductions.

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 Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon 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 depending on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.

Volunteer Placement Counsellor 

Location: Remote - online & telephone

Hours: 3 x clients per week - Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays

Supervision provided:3.30pm Tuesdays, fortnightly

Wimbledon Guild are recruiting up to three Volunteer Placement Counsellors to help deliver our online and telephone counselling service.  

We offer up to 16 sessions of individual online or telephone counselling to people who might find it hard to leave their homes, or their carers.

You will be on or have completed a Level 4 or above counselling course and have completed 50 hours of clinical experience or the equivalent.

You will be available to attend online supervision at 3.30pm Tuesday afternoons.  You will see a caseload of up to 3 clients online or over the telephone on either Mondays, Tuesdays or Thursdays. As this position is for online / telephone counselling, you will need access to a private and confidential working space, Wi-Fi, a private laptop and telephone. 

Wimbledon Guild Talking Therapies is accredited with BACP.

In return for your volunteering, you will receive free, online supervision, a full induction, and experience in a well-established counselling department in a London-based charity.

If you are interested, please read the Job Description/Person Specification attached.

To Apply:  Please complete the Application Form, addressing the specific criteria in the Person Specification in your Supporting Statement and return the form to us.

Closing Date:  There is currently no closing date, although we reserve the right to close applications when placements are full. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and applicants notified if they are invited to interview.

As the Thackray Museum of Medicine looks to build on a period of bold strategic growth since our 2021 redevelopment, we are seeking an experienced, ambitious and community-minded Chair to lead our Board of Trustees. The Thackray is the UK’s largest independent medical museum: a dynamic, civic museum in East Leeds with a nationally significant collection of over 50,000 objects and a clear mission to inspire people with the passion and purpose of medicine and healthcare - past, present and future. Since reopening we have grown audiences, deepened community partnerships and developed an ambitious plan to be the UK’s leading medical museum by 2030.

Role: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Term: Minimum three years from 12th May 2026, renewable (maximum six years)
Commitment: Approx. 1–1.5 days per month (voluntary; reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed)
Your location: Ideally Leeds (nationwide considered); Board meetings four times a year (three may be hybrid; in-person presence preferred).

The Role:
The Chair will lead and steward an engaged, forward-thinking Board to support the CEO and senior team as the Museum consolidates recent gains and secures long-term resilience. You will ensure excellent governance, provide constructive challenge and support to the CEO, strengthen relationships with funders and partners, champion the Museum’s commitment to equity and community co-curation, and be an ambassador for the organisation locally and nationally.

Key responsibilities:

· Set strategic direction: Lead the Board in shaping, approving and monitoring delivery of the CEO’s strategy to meet the Museum’s mission and 2030 ambitions.

· Own governance & risk: Ensure high standards of governance, legal and regulatory compliance, and effective oversight of the risk register.

· Build board capability: Drive trustee recruitment, induction, appraisal and succession planning to secure the skills, diversity and lived experience needed.

· Partner with the CEO: Line-manage and support the CEO - offering constructive challenge, guidance on operations and people matters, and ensuring strong executive accountability.

· Champion income & profile: Use networks to open doors to major funders, partners and donors, and actively raise the Museum’s profile.

· Ensure financial stewardship: Oversee budgets, reserves and trading activity with the Treasurer and Finance Committee, and scrutinise financial reporting.

· Lead effective meetings: Chair Board meetings, encourage robust discussion, ensure timely decisions and follow-through on agreed actions.

· Represent and advocate: Act as an ambassador to civic partners, funders, media and diverse local communities.

· Steward the estate: Support oversight of capital, maintenance and estate priorities for the Museum’s Victorian building.

Who you are:

· Seasoned governance leader: Experienced chair or senior trustee with sound knowledge of trustee duties, charity & company law and governance best practice.

· Strategic thinker: Track record of leading strategy in museums, heritage, culture, health or education - or in complex, stakeholder-facing organisations.

· Fundraising connector: Proven at building relationships with major funders, trusts, corporates or donors and supporting successful income-raising and profile activity.

· Financially literate: Comfortable with budget scrutiny, risk oversight and the commercial realities of earned income models or trading subsidiaries.

· Capital & estate experience: Practical experience of overseeing capital projects, estate stewardship or major building maintenance.

· ED&I and community champion: Committed to equity, inclusion and co-creation, with evidence of widening participation and diversifying leadership.

· Confident ambassador: Excellent interpersonal and public-facing skills; able to represent the Museum credibly to varied audiences.

· Supportive leader: Able to challenge and develop senior executives while fostering a collegiate, high-performing board culture.

· Local affinity desirable: A strong connection to Leeds or experience working in diverse urban communities is an advantage.

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief . To apply, please send an up-to-date CV, a Supporting Statement (no more than two A4 pages) outlining your interest and relevant experience, in confidence to Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via the apply button.

For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence. There is also the opportunity for suitable interested candidates to speak to The Thackray’s CEO in advance of submitting an application.

Closing date for applications: 11.59pm, Tuesday 31 March 2026.

First stage interviews: w/c 13 April 2026 (tbc).

Second stage interviews: w/c 20 April 2026 (tbc).

The Thackray is actively committed to promoting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. We are a Disability Confident employer (registration number DCS036392) and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

The role of a Treasurer is an unpaid, voting role sitting on the UK Board of Trustees and reporting to the Chair of Trustees. In line with our policy, all trustees initially start in a non-voting advisor role to ensure that both they and the board are happy to formalise the trusteeship before transitioning to a full voting trustee position.

The Treasurer will work with the UK Operations Manager and the UK board of trustees to share the responsibility for overseeing the financial health and sustainability of Sreepur Village and will liaise with the Overseas Director based in Sreepur Village.

Treasurer Role

· Oversee the financial affairs and ensure they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice 

· Review the appointment of new auditors and work to ensure financial reports are clear and timely 

· Hold monthly budget review meetings with the UK Operations Manager to oversee accounting and financial controls

· Ensure appropriate risk management is in place and is reviewed by the board on a regular basis

· Introduce new financial forecasting and reporting systems and ensure protocols and processes are appropriate

· Be main point of contact with the investment fund managers and oversee investment policy

Governance Role

• Contribute to the strategic planning process
• Be an ambassador for Sreepur Village representing the organisation and linking it to its stakeholders.
• Attend at least three meetings a year (virtual or in person) or as advised by the Chair of Trustees if the number of meetings changes.
• Attend or host fundraising events, where possible.
• Respond to emails and other correspondence within five working days or an agreed time frame

About Roots Academy

At Roots Academy, we’ve built a learning experience that’s changing the lives of the ummah’s future leaders, change-makers and visionaries. 

Our vision is enabling university students to live God-centred lives, so we teach structured, engaging and transformative face-to-face foundational Islamic education to over 2000 students across the UK, Canada, USA and Ireland. 

We are currently recruiting 4 site managers across the UK - to cover London, England, Wales and Scotland. 

Role Summary 

Site managers are responsible for establishing partnerships with University Muslim Student Associations (MSAs) and Islamic Societies (ISocs),  and maintaining positive relationships with these sites. 

Key tasks 

• Actively establish and maintain positive relationships with the MSA/ISoc committees and Student Ambassadors to ensure an exceptional onsite experience for students and promote retention of sites 

• Be responsible for overseeing all onsite logistics through liaison with the Student Ambassador to ensure that onsite logistics including advertising of the class and other required tasks are taken care of by the MSA/ISoc 

• Be the point of contact for ISocs: answer questions from the MSA/ ISoc committees and Student Ambassadors to the best of your ability and engage them on a 1-1 basis, listen to their needs and concerns and addressing these accordingly 

• Collect ideas and best-practices from how different MSAs/ISocs are delivering their class 

• Participate in onboarding current and new sites prior to the start of the academic year 

• Be the point of contact internally for any queries or updates related to assigned MSAs/ISocs 

What we’re looking for 

• An understanding of the Muslim university scene and how university MSAs/ISocs operate. 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Ability and keenness to make and maintain genuine connections with people. 

• Ability to travel regionally for face-to-face meetings with MSA/ISoc committees, at least once per semester.

What we have to offer 

• Be part of a team of 40+ dedicated volunteers from across the country. 

• Receive continuous rewards for students that gain knowledge and closeness to Allah and their faith as a result of attending the Onsites Essentials program.

• Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective. 

• Receive in-house tarbiyah sessions.

Please note this is an unpaid volunteer position.

Volunteers are entitled to claim expenses incurred for food, travel and equipment, in line with our Expenses policy.

Do you enjoy driving?  

Would you like to make a difference to people we support in your community?  

We are looking for friendly drivers to join us!  

You will meet some amazing people, whilst making a positive impact to their lives by driving to places they enjoy and appointments that are important.   

Activities will include:  

• Driving the people we support between their homes and services in a safe manner, in accordance with UK law.  

• Driving your own car or house vehicles

• Driving around the Worcester area, which will be the start and end point of the majority of journeys  

• Assisting people we support in and out of vehicles and locations – with assistance from trained Dimensions staff.  

• Driving in a manner that is sensitive of physical and emotional requirements of the people we support.  

  
We are looking for drivers who:  

• Are aged 21 or over, with at least 2 years driving experience  

• Hold a full, clean and current UK Driving License (or equivalent)  

• Have the ability to understand verbal and written instructions in relation to journeys  

• Are friendly with the people we support and our support staff  

• Are willing to commit to volunteer regularly (every other weekend, times to be agreed)  

A DBS check and two character references will be required for this role.   

What you’ll gain from being a Dimensions volunteer:  

Dimensions provide support for autistic people and people with learning disabilities across the UK.     

Our volunteers play a vital role in our work and in return, we support them with:     

• Access to free online training (with access to 800 plus courses)  

• Free membership to an online shopping discount scheme  

• Comprehensive support from professional, friendly and trained Dimensions staff  

• Travel expenses may be reimbursed as agreed

• An opportunity to gain real experience in the social care sector  

Do you want to take part in vegan volunteering around your local area?

You can do that – right here at The Vegan Society. 

We have an ever-growing Community Network of vegans just like you, who have a passion to volunteer and promote veganism where they live. 

Every month, our Network choose from a range of outreach tasks. These could include town centre stalls, writing to a councillor or MP, sharing our campaigns on social media or contacting local businesses. You're in control of how much or how little you do. 

As an Advocate, you will have a network of other Advocates and an Organiser in your area. Your Organiser will be your main point of contact. They will send you tasks every month and ask you to feed back on what you've completed and any positive outcomes. 

Why do we need you to volunteer?

As the vegan community grows, veganism itself becomes better understood. We're finding that more people are looking to The Vegan Society to find out what being vegan is all about.

Local communities are starting to see the vegan movement as something real and something that’s happening in their area. More people are embracing a vegan lifestyle, which we welcome. From new businesses, to families, to councillors, many people need support. This could be with a range of topics: going vegan, finding correct information around a vegan diet, providing vegan options in their business, MPs listening to vegan constituents, and learning about our work.

Local issues are often unique and more varied than national issues. Our volunteers from local areas are vital! They enable us to share our messages and campaigns in an effective way. Research tells us that people are far more likely to trust information from a peer rather than an outside expert, so community volunteering vastly increases the impact of our campaigns.

Our network of committed local vegans across the country is growing! The Vegan Society organises various outreach activities to influence change in every level of society. There are a range of activities going on all the time, from general educational stalls at events to meeting with local policy influencers.

Advocates are a crucial voice in their own community. They ensure that our campaign messages are spread far and wide. They provide a strong vegan presence in local communities.

What does the Advocate role involve?

Being an Advocate for veganism with The Vegan Society will mean communicating with people in your local community. You'll share the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. You will form part of a local group, headed up by a local Organiser. The Organiser will feed back your collective efforts to staff. You will also be invited to our private Facebook group, for vegan socialising and ideas sharing.

You’ll stay in touch with the Organiser and bring your passion to tasks. Activities can range from staffing a stall to giving a talk at an employee event. It could also mean writing to a local newspaper or lobbying an MP.

Messaging can differ every month. Part of our mission statement is to ensure people can remain vegan, so you might focus on getting more vegan options available in local businesses. Or within our Live Vegan for Less campaign, you may share cheap vegan recipes to help people with the cost of living.

When acting as an Advocate, you will use The Vegan Society’s branding and messaging guidelines. Your local Organiser will guide you in doing this, as they hold physical resources and handbooks. You can report any issues and feedback you have to your Organiser. You can also contact staff if your Organiser isn't available or you have any problems.

What training and support is available?

You will be provided with a big welcome and full induction from your local Organiser. They will introduce you to the group and any actions that are ongoing. Any training and development will be provided via your Organiser, and you can also ask for specific training on any areas that you need some development in.

What skills would be useful in doing this role?

• The ability to stay motivated in order to achieve the best possible outcomes
• Good email etiquette, responding in a timely manner
• Committed to veganism and the mission of The Vegan Society
• Ability to stay calm if confronted with differing opinions or challenges
• A good communicator, with the ability to be persuasive
• Confident in communicating with people from a range of backgrounds
• Experience of campaigning
• Any experience in talking with members of the public through customer/public service would be helpful
• Awareness of current affairs, especially those that relate to veganism
• Regular availability and a willingness to stay committed to actions
• Good team player

How much time do I need to invest? 

For Advocates, we ask for people to engage in a minimum of four to six actions per year. An example of an action could be writing to an MP or holding a stall. But the more you can do, the better! On occasion, there may also be online meetings to plan for actions or provide training.

Roots Academy’s Vision.

A generation of young Muslims who embody and promote a God-centred way of life.

At Roots Academy, we’ve built a learning experience that’s changing the lives of the ummah’s future leaders, change-makers and visionaries. Our Mission is to deliver a
structured and transformative education in the Essentials of Islam in a way that lowers barriers to access, develops a deep certainty, and inspires action.

Why Does Roots Academy Exist?

Crisis of Faith: 1 in 4 young Muslims are leaving the religion due to various factors, primarily the pervasive anti-religious content and temptations they encounter online and offline.

Roots Academy exists to bridge this gap by providing a structured and transformative Islamic education that speaks directly to the needs and challenges of young Muslims today, delivered in an engaging and accessible form that removes barriers to access and provokes thought and action.

Role Summary

Site managers are responsible for establishing partnerships with University Muslim Student Associations (MSAs) and maintaining positive relationships with these sites.

Key tasks

• Actively establish and maintain positive relationships with the MSA committees and Student Ambassadors to ensure an exceptional onsite experience for students and promote retention of sites 
• Be responsible for overseeing all onsite logistics through liaison with the Student Ambassador to ensure that onsite logistics including advertising of the class and other required tasks are taken care of by the MSA.
• Be the point of contact for MSAs: answer questions from the MSA committees and Student Ambassadors to the best of your ability and engage them on a 1-1 basis, listen to their needs and concerns and addressing these accordingly 
• Collect ideas and best-practices from how different MSAs are delivering their class 
• Participate in onboarding current and new sites prior to the start of the academic year 
• Be the point of contact internally for any queries or updates related to assigned MSAs
• Regularly brainstorm with MSA committees to identify ways Roots can better serve their specific needs, support their goals, and strengthen collaboration.

What we’re looking for

• An understanding of the Muslim university scene and how university MSAs operate. 
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability and keenness to make and maintain genuine connections with people.
• Meetings / regular contact with MSA committees, at least once per month.
• Willingness to conduct a weekly virtual touch base with the Student Ambassador to ensure MSA/ISoc sites are running smoothly and to offer support as needed.

What we have to offer

• Be part of a team of 100+ dedicated volunteers across the UK, Ireland, Australia, US, UAE, Australia, Turkey and Canada.
• Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform.
• Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.
• Receive in-house tarbiyah sessions to develop your deen.

* Please note this is an unpaid volunteer position. Volunteers are entitled to claim expenses incurred for food, travel and equipment, in line with our Expenses policy.

The Sutton Trust is at a pivotal moment in its development. For nearly three decades, we have been the UK’s leading voice on social mobility, working tirelessly to break the link between socio-economic background and life chances. Today, that mission is as urgent as it has ever been. Despite pockets of progress, social mobility in the UK remains low by international standards, with deep inequalities in education, access to professions, and regional opportunity continuing to limit life chances and economic potential.

We are seeking a Trustee with policy expertise who shares our commitment to fairness, evidence, and long-term change. We value diversity of thought and experience, and we are keen to hear from those who can help us navigate an evolving political landscape and leverage our research to challenge systemic barriers, ensuring our voice remains the most influential in the national drive to transform social mobility.

Duties and Responsibilities of a Trustee

Policy Responsibilities

• Providing oversight for the charity’s research and advocacy, ensuring the Trust’s work is mission-aligned, evidence-based, and intellectually rigorous
• Supporting the Board in discharging their collective duties around planning, risk and compliance, particularly in areas such as horizon scanning for upcoming legislative changes, political shifts and shifts in social trends affecting the Trust as well as specific regulations around political neutrality
• Leveraging their professional networks and expertise, enhancing the charity’s credibility and influence, ensuring our research translates into meaningful systemic change

General Responsibilities

• Inputting into and agreeing the Trust’s vision, mission and values and providing advice on the Trust’s wider purpose, goals and activities
• Inputting into and agreeing the Trust’s aims and long-term strategy in furtherance of its charitable purpose
• Ensuring key risks are identified, monitored and controlled effectively as well as keeping abreast of changes in the Trust’s operating environment
• Monitoring the Trust’s performance against its strategic aims, operational plans and budgets
• Safeguarding and promoting the Trust’s reputation, and acting in the best interest of the Trust at all times
• Ensuring the financial stability and sustainability of the Trust
• Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place
• Ensuring proper arrangements are in place for the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and renumeration of the CEO and they are held to account
• Contributing to regular reviews of the Trust’s own governance
• Ensuring the Trust complies with its governing documents, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations

In addition to the above statutory duties, each Trustee should use their specific skills, knowledge and experience to contribute to the Board’s decision-making, and dedicate sufficient time to carry out their responsibilities effectively. This may involve sitting on Board Committees, 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.

Trustees aim to support a specific member of the SLT based on their skills and experience or may participate in appropriate subgroups, e.g., Alumni Leadership Board, Education Advisory Group, (Development) Board meetings, etc.

Person Specification

Mission and Values

• Sympathetic to the aims of the Trust and its mission to address educational disadvantage
• High level of personal and professional ethics, integrity, and accountability
• Willingness to safeguard and promote the Trust’s reputation within the wider sector

Strategy and Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to think strategically in order to provide appropriate oversight and scrutiny for the Trust’s overall activity and direction
• Ability to confidently and fairly make evidence-based decisions and constructively challenge the decisions of others if required
• Ability to collaborate and work as part of a team to provide advice, make decisions, and/or solve problems
• A commitment to personal development and a willingness to participate in regular reviews of the Board’s own performance and governance

Governance, Risk and Finance

• Understanding of the legal duties of a Trustee (or willingness to learn), including compliance with Charity Commission and Companies House regulations and commitment to the roles and responsibilities of a Trustee
• Awareness of (or willingness to learn about) financial health indicators and organisational risk management

Specialist Expertise and Experience

• A background in public affairs, civil service, think tanks, education sector organisations or senior policy or research roles in (education) charities
• Strong understanding of how UK government (at local, regional or national level) and/ or the UK education sector works
• Strong influencing and communications skills with the ability to lead discussions, provide expert advice, and influence stakeholders in a professional manner
• Good understanding of how to translate policy jargon into clear, strategic advice for the wider Trustee Board

Interviews

Applications should reach us by 10am, Monday 30th March. First round interviews will take place on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th April, and second round interviews will take place w/c 27th April or w/c 4th May. All interviews will be held at our London offices in Millbank Tower.

Cheer Squad Volunteer - London Marathon Sunday 26th April & London Landmarks Half Marathon Sunday 12th April. 

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

 As a charity, we are only able to help thousands of cats and kittens each year thanks to the donations we receive from generous members of the public. Fundraising events are a great source of income for the charity. As a Cheer Squad Volunteer, you will support Cats Protection’s event participants make it through their challenge by cheering them on at selected cheering points along event routes. You will also be instrumental in raising awareness and representing the charity.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Cheer on our event participants who are taking part to raise funds for Cats Protection.
• Waving hand flags
• Using inflatable ‘bangers’ to make noise
• Shake maraca’s
• High ‘paw’ participants
• Represent Cats Protection by wearing one of our branded high-vis vests (supplied).
• Set up cheer spots including attaching banners, putting together sail flags and blowing up balloons.
• Provide a smile, enthusiasm and motivation

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

• The opportunity to develop new and existing skills, particularly in the field of fundraising
• To gain experience working as an important member of the team in the UK’s leading feline welfare charity
• The satisfaction of knowing that you are helping our event participants cross the finish line!
• We’ll provide all the information you need, including logistics and timings for the day; briefings on the day where applicable; contact details of key employees; and refreshments and breaks on the day

We’re looking for someone with

• Enthusiastic and positive attitude
• Reliable and adaptable
• Punctual and dependable
• Outgoing and friendly
• Happy to make some noise!
• Willing to support others
• Ability to stand for a long period of time

Locations

This role is based at various mass participation events across the UK where we set up Cats Protection cheer points.

Exact locations will be given after you have signed up however below are our current cheer points: 

1. London Marathon
2. London Landmarks Half Marathon

Support, guidance and keeping you safe

At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.

The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we come into contact with as part of our activities.

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.

You may be just the volunteer we’ve been looking for!

This friendship group was started to provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to make friends, go on monthly trips and overall have a lot of fun. You can help us make that happen!

An opportunity is available to volunteer at a friendship group for adults with learning disabilities No prior experience is required. Enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and a supportive attitude are what matter most.

Projects You May Support

Volunteers can choose to help with one or both projects:

1. Friendship Group

• When: Every Tuesday during term time, 1:30pm–4:30pm
• Where: Canning Town Library

Key Responsibilities:

• Supporting participants during various activities (e.g., reading tasks).
• Encouraging communication and helping build friendships.
• Boosting confidence through positive interaction.
• Assisting with setting up and packing away activities.
• Helping individuals get refreshments.
• Building trust through calm, kind engagement.
• Reporting any concerns, incidents, or disclosures to staff.

2. Joy Hub

• When: Usually the last Tuesday of each month during term time (timings may vary; activities announced up to 4 months in advance).
• Purpose: Monthly free outings planned by the Friendship Group—examples include bowling, cinema, theatre, and museum visits.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensuring everyone feels included.
• Encouraging individuals to participate and build confidence.
• Helping with practical tasks such as navigating meeting points, refreshments, and transitions between activities.
• Building rapport through supportive, calm interactions.
• Reporting any concerns or incidents to staff.

Skills You’ll Develop

• Communication: Adapting language, using non-verbal cues, and practising active listening.
• Empathy & Patience: Understanding diverse needs and responding calmly.
• Teamwork: Working collaboratively with staff and volunteers.
• Leadership: Taking initiative while supporting individuals with varying needs.
• Problem-Solving: Managing challenges in a person-centred environment.
• Composure: Staying calm in potentially challenging situations.

Useful Experience (Not Essential)

• Disability awareness
• Knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality, and disclosure
• Experience supporting vulnerable individuals
• Understanding of neurodiversity and person-centred approaches

Enthusiastic learners are encouraged to apply even without direct experience!

DBS will be provided!