Strategy volunteer roles

The Bat Conservation Trust (BCT) is proud to be the leading UK charity devoted solely to the conservation of bats and their habitats. BCT’s vision is a world rich in wildlife where bats and people thrive together. Our mission is to work collaboratively and with a diversity of people to protect bats and their habitats in an ever-changing world. 

BCT is committed to championing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) throughout all our work. You can read more about our EDI Statement of Values here. We recognise that there is much work to be done to improve representation of society within our organisation and in the wider sector, particularly in the area of ethnic and racial diversity. 

We are now looking to appoint a Treasurer to our Board of Trustees. Trustees do not need to work in the area of bat conservation and we are actively seeking to include more diverse perspectives and experience. We especially encourage applications from People of Colour, as these groups of people are currently underrepresented on our board. 

The Treasurer leads oversight of the financial management of BCT and supports the Board to understand the organisation’s financial position, resilience and future outlook. The role includes reporting to the Board on financial health and risk, in line with best practice and legal requirements. The Treasurer helps ensure the Board is well equipped to make informed financial decisions. They chair the Finance & Audit Committee and report back to the Board.

Join Wild Magic! Help secure grants and funds to ensure our conservation work continues and develops. Collaborate with us to make an impact on our local community.

As a Grants and Funding Volunteer, you will play a vital role in supporting our work. You will:

• Identify and apply for funding opportunities through compelling proposals
• Craft engaging campaigns to attract donors and increase awareness
• Develop clear and impactful communication strategies to share our mission and successes with stakeholders, partners, and the public

You'll collaborate closely with the admin team, a small group of volunteers who work behind the scenes to enable our success with our project goals. You'll also liaise with our Project Director to align your work with the trust's aims and objectives.

This role is adaptable to your skills and interests. Whether your expertise lies in campaign writing, digital communications, or event-based fundraising, we’ll work with you to tailor the responsibilities and focus areas to make the most of your time and talents.

To thrive in this volunteer role, we’re looking for someone who has a mix of the following skills, experiences, and qualities. While we don’t expect you to have all of these, the more you can bring, the bigger your impact will be:

Skills and Experience (any of these):

• Grant Writing: Proven ability to identify funding opportunities and write compelling grant applications that secure essential resources.
• Fundraising Expertise: Experience in planning, managing, or supporting successful fundraising campaigns. This could include individual giving, events, or digital campaigns.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills to create impactful messaging across multiple platforms, such as social media, press releases, or donor communications.
• Digital Marketing and Social Media: Familiarity with digital marketing strategies, including using social media for engagement and online fundraising.
• Relationship Building: Experience in building and maintaining relationships with donors, corporate sponsors, or community groups.
• Project Management: The ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality results.

Qualities:

• Self-Motivated: Proactive and able to work independently while staying aligned with organisational goals.
• Creative Thinker: A flair for developing innovative ideas for campaigns, proposals, and storytelling.
• Collaborative Team Player: Willing to work closely with others, share ideas, and contribute to a supportive team environment.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous and thorough, ensuring that all communications and grant applications are polished and professional.

This role is open to individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Whether you’re a seasoned fundraiser, a skilled communicator, or someone with a passion for helping others and a willingness to learn, we’d love to hear from you.

Who we are

Trans+ Learning Lab is a UK CIC delivering life‑changing education and training to gender‑diverse folks in challenging contexts.

The Trans+ Learning Lab CIC is made up of myself (the founder) Helmut (they/them, he/him) and the Uganda Lead, Mama Mityana (she/her). The Uganda Lead receives a part-time wage to deliver stakeholder advocacy and training services in her country; I do not pay myself, and I finance everything from project delivery to procurement from my own savings. 

We are seeking volunteer fundraisers to help us promote, update, and widely share our active and future GoFundMe campaigns and to help us form a funding pipeline in a more raitonal, proactive manner.

In our current project and campaign, we are trying to raise essential funds toward our Uganda training and upskilling incubator project in partnership with Tranz Network Uganda. This particular GoFundme campaign supports the delivery and sustainability of our entrepreneurship incubator.

With future fundraising and comms, you will be involved in shaping our strategy to generate income to implement our other educational mission: to deliver low- or no-cost coding bootcamps to vulnerable LGBTQ+ communities in Africa and South Asia, and to deliver refugee-specific empowerment programmes.

You will be actively helping vulnerable people access safer, more sustainable livelihoods through upskilling in Uganda, Kenya, Pakistan and beyond. 

What you’ll be doing

• Promoting the GoFundMe campaign across your personal and professional networks in the first instance
• Help us design the strategy for, and support, future crowdfunding campaigns and comms
• Sharing campaign updates and calls to action on social media, newsletter and relevant community spaces
• Helping amplify key messages, milestones and calls to action
• Suggesting creative outreach ideas to increase reach and engagement
• Acting as a friendly ambassador for Trans+ Learning Lab’s mission

Who we’re looking for

• Someone confident sharing and generating impactful, engaging fundraising content and asking people to donate
• Someone active on social media and well connected to communities, networks and organisations
• Someone with direct experience of corporate responsibility schemes and engagement (desirable)
• A versatile, excellent written communicator
• A person who is reliable, values‑driven, and above all, respectful and supportive of trans‑led work

Ideally you will have accrued 2-3 years' professional fundraising and campaigning experience in the non-profit sector, but if you have an equivalent voluntary and pro bono expertise in minority causes advocacy and supporter-network building your application is warmly welcomed too. 

LGBTQ+ persons are especially encouraged to apply, though allies are warmly welcome.

Are you a safeguarding professional looking to make a tangible difference in the lives of young Londoners? By joining our board, you will help shape safeguarding strategy, strengthen our organisational culture and ensure that CYP continues to provide a safe, nurturing, and empowering environment for all its members.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Safeguarding Oversight: Provide strategic oversight of safeguarding and child protection across the organisation and report to the Board.
• Policy & Compliance: Ensure safeguarding and child protection policies are up to date, effectively implemented, and meet all legal and regulatory requirements.
• Advice & Support: Act as a point of guidance for the Board and staff on safeguarding matters, including responding appropriately to concerns.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR 

We need someone who is organised, communicative, and shares our values.

• Safeguarding Experience: Background in safeguarding, child protection, education, youth work, social care, or a related field.
• Local: Someone who understands the unique challenges and opportunities facing young people in London today.
• Good Judgement: Ability to handle sensitive issues with discretion and confidence.
• Commitment: A strong commitment to keeping young people safe and helping a small, high-impact organisation grow responsibly.

WHY JOIN US?

• Make an Impact: Directly influence the success of a project that changes lives in your community.
• Governance Experience: Build your CV with high-level Board experience.
• Networking: Connect with a diverse group of passionate professionals and community leaders.

The Opportunity Brighton Swimming Centre (BSC) is a cornerstone of the Brighton community, operating for over 15 years with 2,000+ weekly visitors and an annual turnover of £820k. We are currently a Company Limited by Guarantee and are embarking on a critical strategic phase: transitioning to registered charity status to secure our future and expand our impact.

We are seeking a volunteer Non-Executive Director to join our new Board. This is not a ceremonial role. You will be a charity trustee with legal duties, tasked with providing strategic oversight, financial scrutiny, and robust governance during a period of significant change.

Who We Are Since 1987, BSC has evolved from a small swimming school to a national centre of excellence, pioneering the "Pool to Pier" sea swimming course and delivering 1:1 and group lessons from 7am to 10pm daily. We partner with the NHS, local schools, and the City Council, serving as a vital community hub.

The Challenge Under the leadership of Managing Director Michael Kruger (appointed Sept 2025), we are moving from a founder-led structure to a formal Board-led governance model.

• Financial Stewardship: We recently reported a £9k deficit and hold £113k in reserves. We need a board that can rigorously challenge financial planning and ensure long-term sustainability.
• Charity Conversion: You will help navigate the legal and operational complexities of converting to charity status.
• Strategic Growth: Our 2026–2030 strategy aims to establish BSC as a national leader in aquatic education and teacher training. We need fresh eyes to help shape this vision.

What We Need From You We are looking for individuals who are willing to speak their minds, challenge constructively, and uphold the highest standards of governance. Specifically, we are seeking skills in:

• Finance: Ability to interpret accounts and manage budget risks.
• Law/Governance: Understanding of charity law and company duties.
• Fundraising: Experience in securing grants or developing income streams.
• Strategy: A track record of strategic planning in sports, education, or community sectors.

Commitment

• Role: Volunteer Non-Executive Director (Trustee).
• Term: 3 years (max 3 terms).
• Meetings: 4 Board meetings per year (2-4 hours each) + sub-committee work.
• Location: Meetings held in person at Eastern Road, Brighton.
• Requirements: Must be eligible for an Enhanced DBS check and not disqualified from directorship.

Why Join? This is a chance to shape the future of a beloved local institution. You will work alongside a dedicated team to ensure BSC remains a beacon of aquatic excellence and community support for the next generation.

Brighton Swimming Centre is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

When you join us as a volunteer, you’ll be part of a community of passionate people coming together to support the MS Society’s vision of a world free from MS.

As one of our wonderful volunteers, you can get involved in:

• providing support and services to the MS community
• increasing awareness of, and delivering resources to, people affected by MS
• raising vital funds to help stop MS
• boosting our community voice by advocating for MS research and policy

Role details:

Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) are at the heart of our work. We work with people with lived experience of MS, volunteers, and professionals to guide and direct our approach to EEDI.

The EEDI Reference Group is a group of people affected by MS who helped develop our previous EEDI strategy and now support the EEDI work in our more recent organisational strategy. They bring lived experience of marginalisation for example people from minoritised ethnic groups, the LGBTQ+ community, carers and disabled people.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EEDI) work. By attending monthly meetings you’ll use your lived and/or professional experience to provide advice, feedback, guidance and personal opinion on our EEDI work.

This is a home-based role, which will require attending online meetings of up to an hour, with up to 30 minutes of pre-reading and follow-up work before each one. 

What you’ll be doing:

· Attending online meetings

· Reading documents and preparing feedback

· Using your lived and/or professional experience to provide constructive and honest feedback on our ways of working, processes and future initiatives

· Representing the MS community and people from marginalised group(s) with lived experience

· Having confidence to speak and input into meetings

· Feeling passion for the MS Society and for EEDI in our work

· Showing awareness of EEDI in a broader context, to provide challenge outside of your lived experience

What you’ll get in return:

· You’ll be part of our amazing volunteer network

· You’ll meet and work with people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences of MS

· You’ll develop skills, which can improve your CV and employability

· You'll be making a real difference to the MS community

· You’ll get a say in influencing our work

· You’ll receive a Volunteer Welcome Pack

· You’ll have an induction to your role

· You’ll get support from your Volunteer Manager

· You’ll gain access to Learning and Development opportunities

· You’ll be reimbursed for any related expenses while carrying out your role

About QuilomboUK QuilomboUK is an organisation that works for fairness and social justice. We believe in a "People First" way of working. Our goal is to make sure every person is heard and respected in the workplace. Join our remote team to help people find jobs and feel like they belong.

Role Overview As the Manager: Placements, you will lead the entire Placements Department. Your job is to make sure your team finds paid jobs for our participants at other companies. You will manage the Team Leaders and ensure the department hits its high performance targets. The ideal candidate has strong leadership skills and deep experience in the recruitment industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Department Leadership: Take full responsibility for the Placements Team and ensure all staff follow mandatory protocols.
   

• Strategy: Mana

• Performance Targets: Ensure the department reaches the 95% weekly completion target and follows the "ABC" method.
   

• External Relations: Build high-level partnerships with external companies to create more job opportunities for our participants.
   

• Commission Management: Oversee and approve the commission payments for each successful placement made by your team.

• Problem Solving: Identify gaps in the recruitment process and use AI or new strategies to fix them.
   

• Quality Control: Ensure every participant is correctly matched and that their First Day Training (FDT) is confirmed by the employer.
   

Key Skills & Qualifications

• Experience: 3+ years of experience in recruitment or placement services, with a history of managing teams.
   

• Education: A degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field is preferred.
   

• Leadership: Strong ability to lead and motivate a large remote team.
   

• Communication: Excellent skills in professional UK English to influence senior stakeholders.
   

• Decision Making: Ability to make quick decisions to move candidates forward within 48 hours.
   

• Technology: Highly skilled in using MS Office and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS).
   

The Professional Development Programme with Quilombo UK is a 16-week unpaid Professional Development Programme. It requires a commitment of at least 12 hours per week, typically across two 6-hour workdays (Monday to Friday).

QUILOMBO UK wants an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated fairly. We follow the Equality Act 2010 and do not tolerate discrimination of any kind.

Why Join QuilomboUK?

• Impact: Lead the team that directly helps people move into paid employment.
   

• Growth: Develop your senior leadership skills in a values-driven environment.
   

• Culture: Join a collaborative team where authenticity and courage are celebrated.
   

Flexibility: Work from home with autonomy to lead your department.

Chance to Shine is looking for volunteers to support our Strategy, Impact, and Evaluation department. We are looking for volunteers who can come to our Holborn office and dedicate approximately 2-3 days per month to supporting our data digitisation. You do not need to commit to full days; hours can be arranged to fit your availability but we ask that each session would be a minimum three-hour block between 9am and 5pm (e.g., one full day and three-four half-days across a month)

As a charity, we collect feedback from children via paper surveys to understand the impact of our programmes. We need dedicated volunteers to help us accurately transfer this data into our Excel systems so we can effectively report on our work and improve young people's wellbeing.

The key responsibilities are:

• Data Entry: Manually entering data from paper survey forms into Microsoft Excel spreadsheets with accuracy.
• Data Cleaning: Reviewing entries for errors or missing information.
• Deciphering: Interpreting difficult-to-read handwriting and making logical judgment calls (or flagging issues) where data is unclear.
• File Management: Organising and filing the physical paper surveys securely after entry. If you are comfortable using Excel, have good concentration, strong attention to detail with a high level of accuracy and good communication skills, we would love to hear from you.

Plateful Café works to relieve poverty and isolation amongst refugees, asylum seekers and ethnic minorities in Lewisham. Our commitment is to reach the most vulnerable people in our community and open a pathway to employment for people who have asylum here. Refugees will benefit from workshops, training skills and knowledge relevant for the catering industry. Plateful Cafe are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all volunteers and team members. We are an equal opportunities provider and actively encourage applications from people with a refugee background.

What will the role involve?

• Looking for partnership opportunities with the private sector.
• Assisting with the development and ongoing work of Businesses Fundraising Action Group.
• Assisting in planning fundraising strategies with local businesses.
• Reporting on businesses partnerships and recent developments at Plateful Café.
• Working in partnership with the Plateful Café fundraising team.

Essential:

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to inspire a group of volunteers to support a cause 
• Strong relationship-building skills

Desirable:

• Previous experience in fundraising and/or marketing
• Experience of working with corporates
• Expertise in new project creation and developing business links

What difference will you make?

• Helping to support a refugee-run cafe
• Connecting local refugees with their passion for cooking
• Helping local refugees find employment and enter the workforce much sooner than they otherwise might

not only pink and blue

We challenge gender stereotypes from birth by helping organisations and families create equitable, gender-neutral cultures.​

Social media creator

We are now looking for someone to create and post our social media who wants to work with us on our ambition to remove stereotypes that impact us from an early age.

The position is for someone who is social media literate, who loves to create content, and is excited by creating content that is engaging and conveys our message.

You will help create the social media strategy, plan, create, and post content to our social channels - which are mainly Instagram, Blue Sky, Linked In and ultimately increase our follower numbers.

Our aim is to educate and help people understand the impact of stereotypes in a simple, friendly, and human way.

You'll be working directly with our CEO and will be a key part of our business out reach.

The role is remote and is initially for 5/6 months but could well be extended.

Applications will be reviewed and those selected will be invited to first round interviews via Teams.

Minimum Hours per Week:

2-3 hours per week

Duration:

3-5 months

Apply to join the DISC founding pilot program - Your safeguarding team needs better intelligence

We support safeguarding teams to identify emerging online harms, social media threats and exploitation risks through digital threat intelligence.

DISC is looking for safeguarding professionals who already understand the challenges they face and want real analytical support to help protect children and young people. Through practical intelligence, early warning insight and a direct voice in shaping a new national digital threat intelligence professional network, founding members will help strengthen how safeguarding teams respond to fast moving online risks.

• < Direct Access > to practical tools designed by PhD Crime Science researchers for safeguarding professionals, including platform risk tracking, trend monitoring, URL checks, username analysis and safeguarding intelligence resources.

We are now inviting a small group of founding members to join the DISC pilot project. This is a voluntary, free pilot opportunity designed for designated Safeguarding Leads, Deputy DSLs, safeguarding governors, other professionals working directly in child protection or safeguarding.

We are particularly keen to hear from safeguarding professionals who are dealing with the realities of online risk in schools, youth settings, charities, academies, trusts or community organisations. You do not need to be a technical or digital expert. What matters is your safeguarding experience, your understanding of children and young people, and your willingness to help build something useful, ethical and thats genuinely crime prevention focused.

As a founding member, you will receive access to DISC pilot services and help shape what the service becomes. Your experience, feedback and professional judgement will directly influence the tools, briefings and intelligence support we develop for safeguarding teams across the UK.

Digital Intelligence & Safeguarding Centre started as a UCL, University of London based social venture supporting schools, charities and youth organisations with digital safeguarding intelligence. We help safeguarding teams make sense of online harms, social media risks, harmful trends, platform threats, online offenders and emerging digital behaviours that may affect children and young people.

This pilot is about partnership and community. DISC resources are designed to support, not replace, existing safeguarding policies, DSL decision, making or statutory responsibilities. Final safeguarding decisions remain with your organisation. Our role is to strengthen your awareness, improve your access to digital threat intelligence and help you respond earlier to emerging online risks.

This is a founding member opportunity! Participation is voluntary, free of charge and there is no obligation to continue after the pilot. Founding members will be recognised as early adopters and expert contributors to the DISC intelligence network and will have a direct say in how the service develops. If you are a safeguarding professional who wants better intelligence on online harms, stronger support for digital safeguarding decisions and the chance to help shape a new crime prevention focused service, we would be very pleased to hear from you.

During the pilot, founding members will receive:

• Weekly Threat Briefing on online risks, social media harms, and digital safeguarding trends
• Access to our crime analyst’s intelligence reports, platform alerts and threat assessments
• The opportunity to submit digital safeguarding tasking requests to the DISC Threat Desk
• Beta access to the DISC members dashboard and digital intelligence toolkit
• Successful applicants must attend the initial onboarding training session

                                                               Ready for real threat intelligence?

Trustee Recruitment – Join Our Board and Help Shape Our Future

We are seeking new Trustees to join our Board and bring fresh expertise, insight, and strategic leadership as we continue to grow our impact. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute your professional skills to a mission‑driven organisation that makes a real difference in our community.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences, and we are particularly keen to strengthen our Board with expertise in the following areas:

Legal

Experience in charity, commercial, employment, safeguarding, or property law.

HR

Experience in HR leadership, people management, organisational development, employee relations, or workforce strategy

Marketing & Communications

Skills in digital comms, PR, brand development, or audience engagement.

Fundraising / Philanthropy

Knowledge of income generation, donor stewardship, corporate partnerships, or grant‑making.

Commercial Tourism

Experience in visitor attractions, hospitality, destination marketing, or customer experience.

Adult Social Care

Understanding of care provision, safeguarding, regulation, or community support services.

Property / Surveying

Expertise in estates, facilities, compliance, capital planning, or asset management.

You do not need previous trustee experience - we value your professional insight, strategic thinking, and commitment to our mission.

About the charity: 

COT has been at the forefront of learning disability support for over 40 years. Our innovative approach blends high-quality care, supported living, and life skills development with a thriving 100-acre farm that doubles as a popular family visitor attraction. This rare combination enables people with learning disabilities and autism to develop skills in areas such as animal care, horticulture, customer service, and the culinary arts, while fostering a strong sense of community and inclusion.

With a mission to empower individuality and achieve happiness, we support over 96 people in community settings, offering residential and supported living services, as well as an additional 70 external students in life skills. We are known for our holistic, person-centred approach and commitment to environmental stewardship and ethical farming. Our close-knit team of dedicated staff and volunteers is guided by values of courage, opportunity-seeking, collaboration, and doing the right thing.

About the Role

As a Trustee, you will play a key role in shaping our strategy, ensuring strong governance, and supporting the organisation's long‑term sustainability. You will work collaboratively with fellow Board members and the senior team to guide our direction and champion our values.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic oversight and constructive challenge
• Bringing your professional expertise to Board discussions
• Ensuring good governance, financial sustainability, and risk management
• Acting as an ambassador for the organisation
• Supporting the senior team with insight, advice, and networks

 Time Commitment

• 4–6 Board meetings per year (in person)
• 4-6 Committee meetings (online)
• Occasional support between meetings, depending on your expertise
• A typical commitment is around 10–15 hours per month, flexible around your availability

What You’ll Gain

• A meaningful leadership role in a purpose‑driven organisation
• The opportunity to use your skills for social good
• Experience in governance and strategic decision‑making
• A supportive, collaborative Board environment
• The satisfaction of helping shape our long‑term impact

 We Welcome Diverse Perspectives

We are committed to building a Board that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We particularly encourage applications from people who bring lived experience, come from underrepresented backgrounds, or have non‑traditional career paths.

Our workplace is built on acceptance, respect and inclusion where everyone feels they belong and can make meaningful contributions. We encourage applicants regardless of religion, ethnicity, nationality, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status. If you need any assistance during the recruitment process, please let us know.

STAMMA is the leading charity for people who stammer in the UK.  We’re a small, award-winning organisation with big ambitions and a brilliant community, keen to create space and respect for people who stammer.

Stammering has historically been the target for humour and used to suggest inadequacy, leaving many who stammer facing daily ignorance, discrimination and disrespect.  This can affect job prospects and mental health, and cause depression and social isolation. It can make booking a GP appointment a nightmare, and prevent people from accessing a service altogether, leaving them feeling humiliated, degraded or disbelieved.  We’re here to change that.

We’ve a clear strategy for the next five years to achieve real and practical change for people who stammer by highlighting the inadvertent barriers they face within the workplace and as service users. We want to reach more people who stammer and grow our supporter base, but to do that we need to expand our training and advocacy services, whilst underpinning our helpline and family support.

We want to appoint a new Trustee with significant skills and experience within the charity sector to the Board. You’ll need to share our excitement and ambition for change. It isn’t essential that you stammer. This is an unpaid position, but travel expenses can be covered.  Trustee terms are for four years, and you will be expected to attend all Board meetings, up to five times a year, usually on a Saturday, either in-person at different locations across England, or online. There are also sub-committees and informal planning and preparatory discussions, usually held online.

We are looking for someone with experience of one or more of the following:

• Experience of working at a senior level in the voluntary sector, across more than one organisation, with a good understanding of how charities operate and are governed.
• Insight and leadership of people and culture (HR) function and/or service delivery and operations, and a passion for building inclusive, effective organisations
• Previous experience as a trustee or board member. Ideally having chaired a sub committee, board or similar.
• The ability to offer occasional support to the staff team during the working day (roughly two hour per month), providing guidance, insight or a sounding board when helpful
• Lived experience of stammering — whether personally or through close connection — so that the voices of people who stammer are at the heart of our work

Person Specification

• Values-led, with demonstrable passion and commitment to STAMMA and its strategic objectives.
• Proven track record as a senior leader with strategic experience within the charitable sector.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship with an ability to balance the boundaries between different leadership roles.
• Strong interpersonal skills (listening, tact and diplomacy) and relationship-building abilities.
• Ability to challenge constructively and ask questions appropriately.
• Team player, who respects and values the views of others and is able to speak their mind with tact and diplomacy.
• A commitment to EDI values and principles, including an understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Ability to commit the necessary time to the role.

As a Trustee at STAMMA you would be expected to: 

• Develop and agree our long-term strategy.
• Ensure compliance with governing documents and regulations.
• Ensure that resources are spent in accordance with our Articles.
• Work with the Board to set goals and assess performance.
• Ensure that the organisation is run efficiently and financially stable.
• Protect the charity’s assets and ensure surplus funds are properly invested.
• Manage the appointment, supervision, support, appraisal and remuneration of the CEO.
• Uphold STAMMA's values.

Vision Action is a unique organisation that works in low- and middle-income countries, supporting national governments to deliver and strengthen their eye health strategies. We work in partnership with local governments, civil society organisations, international and national NGOs, and the private sector. Our ambition is to increase equitable access to eye care services and glasses and accelerate achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5.

The role of the board is to oversee the overall direction and activities of the charity, including its policies and procedures, to ensure that they are consistently in accordance with the charitable purposes defined in the objects clause in its constitution. The board sets and monitors the strategic direction of the charity, although the implementation of strategy is achieved through the executive team. The board must always act in the best interests of Vision Action, taking decisions as a group and not as individuals.

Terms of service

For Vision Action the trustees are members who have been elected to serve on the board. Vision Action’s constitution allows for up to 12 trustees, who can serve a maximum of three consecutive terms of three years.  Vision Action is a company limited by guarantee and the trustees are its legal directors. The trustee role is voluntary, although relevant expenses incurred in the course of fulfilling trustee responsibilities are reimbursable in line with organisational policy.

Trustees are appointed by the Vision Action board of trustees annually at the board meeting following the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The time commitment involved in being a trustee includes attendance at four board meetings per year, one of which is an all-day strategy session. Board meetings are typically held for half a day on a weekday afternoon, with at least half the meetings taking place online.  Board papers are circulated in advance for review and preparation.

In addition, trustees are expected to attend the AGM, which is usually held on a weekend, as well as occasional members’ forums or other Vision Action events, which are often arranged alongside board meetings in the evening. Trustees may also be asked to participate in ad hoc meetings or online discussions relating to specific topics. Sub-committee meetings are also held in advance of board meetings, and trustees are also expected to participate in one or more of these groups depending on their expertise and responsibilities. Trustees will also be expected to commit time to undertake a full induction process.

Main tasks

Charity trustees have ultimate responsibility for directing the affairs of the charity and ensuring it is solvent, well-run and delivering the charitable outcomes for the benefit of the public for which it has been set up. Each trustee will be expected to join one of the two sub-committees (Programmes and Research; Fundraising and Finance).  The committees meet (in person or remotely) at least four times per year, usually timed with or in advance of the board meetings. 

General responsibilities

• Ensure th[JT1] at Vision Action complies with its governing document (i.e. its constitution[JT2]  and byelaws), charity law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.
• Ensure that Vision Action pursues its objects as defined in its governing document.
• Ensure Vision Action applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects, i.e. it must not spend money on activities which are not included in the objects, however worthwhile they may be.
• Contribute actively to the board’s role in the formulation and review of strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• Safeguard the good name and values of Vision Action and maintain good relations with its members.
• Ensure that all policies are implemented, monitored and reports are acted upon, (including the policies on harassment and misconduct, safeguarding, recruitment of ex-offenders, and anti- bribery).
• Strive for Vision Action to reflect the full diversity of society in all its activities.
• Ensure the financial stability of Vision Action.
• Protect and manage the property of Vision Action and ensure the proper investment of its funds.
• Appoint and support key leadership and monitor their performance.

In addition to the above statutory responsibilities, each trustee should attend board meetings and use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board reach sound decisions.  This may involve leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, evaluation or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise; and then always upholding the decisions taken by Board. Trustees are also expected to support Vision Action’s fundraising initiatives.

Treasurer specific responsibilities

Hold specific responsibilities relevant to the role:

• Chair the fundraising and finance sub-committee, overseeing and advising on the financial risks, challenges, health and resilience of the charity, reporting back to the full board.
• Monitor and advise on the financial viability of the charity, including the financial risks. This should include regular monitoring of cost recovery.
• Advise the board on the financial implications of its plans and policies.
• Monitor the preparation of budgets, accounts and financial statements and their presentation to the board.

Ensure policies and practices are in keeping with aims:

• Oversee the development and implementation of financial reserves, cost‐recovery and investment policies.
• Annually review the financial control framework to identify any changes, gaps and potential areas of exposure.
• Oversee the development and review of other policies and procedures as delegated to the fundraising and finance sub-committee by the board.

Ensure best practice:

• Support the Co-CEO (finance & operations) in preparing and presenting the budgets, management accounts and annual financial statements to the board, ensuring it receives a fully informed picture of the charity’s financial performance, position and effectiveness.
• Liaise with the Co-Chief Executive Officers and, as appropriate, with the investment advisors and auditors on matters relating to the organisation’s financial activities.
• Provide board‐level liaison with the external auditors on specific issues such as the auditors’ management letter, auditor remuneration and related board representations.
• Lead on recommending the appointment of new auditors to members of the organisation.
• Work with the Finance and Operations Manager to ensure that proper accounts and records are maintained, and that financial resources are spent and invested in line with good governance and legal and regulatory requirements.
• With the Finance & Operations Manager and the Joint Chief Executive Officers, closely monitor the reserves and investment plan, providing assurance to the board on the organisation’s future financial stability.
• Review all management accounts before they are placed before the board.

Personal specification

All our trustees are expected to have:

• A commitment to Vision Action’s vision and mission.
• A commitment to our values: being evidence-based, being inclusive, having integrity, sustainable programmes and being collaborative.
• Willingness to devote the time and effort needed to fulfil the role.
• Integrity.
• Strategic vision.
• Good, independent judgement.
• An ability to think creatively.
• A willingness to speak their mind.
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the good of Vision Action.

The treasurer will have:

• Experience as a director of finance (or equivalent) and/or in a treasurer role, with extensive experience of overseeing financial and management accounting, financial reporting, monitoring and controls, and external audit.
• An understanding of charity accounting and reporting standards (Charities SORP 2026), or a willingness to develop this through personal learning and development.
• A recognised accountancy qualification (CAAB) and
• Experience in international development would be an advantage.

The position is supported by the CEO who is an accountant and a part time bookkeeper.

The Next Step

We welcome questions and a discussion on our current financial circumstances with our treasurer and chair. Our treasurer retires in 2026, and we would like to involve any new appointment in our committees and board meeting in the last part of this year.