Student services officer volunteer roles in Birmingham

External Trustee

Deadline: Mon 13 Apr 2026 23:59

Salary

Voluntary role

Interview

Tue 28 Apr 2026

External Trustee (Voluntary Role)

The Guild is looking for a professional to join our Trustee Board as an External Trustee. The Trustee Board is ultimately responsible for overseeing the affairs of the Guild. Our Trustees must ensure that the Guild is well run and delivers the objectives for which it has been set up.

It is an exciting time for the Guild as we progress with our 2022-2027 strategic plan and continue to deliver excellent services for our students. A strong and active Trustee Board is essential to support and guide the organisation’s work.

We would encourage candidates with current or previous experience in a membership organisation; however, this is not necessarily a requirement. We would be particularly interested to hear from individuals with a background in Student Unions or the Charity sector; previous experience as a Students’ Union Officer would be advantageous, but these are not essential.

The Guild welcomes applications from a wide range of backgrounds that are reflective of the full diversity of Birmingham’s community and the West Midlands, and in particular we welcome applications from people of colour as we seek to continually increase diversity within our governance structures.

The post of External Trustee is appointed for a period of three years, which can be extended for a second term up to a maximum of six years. This role is not remunerated; however reasonable expenses (travel/accommodation etc) will be reimbursed.

Please click here to access our website.

Closing date for applications: 11:59pm, Monday 13th April 2026

Interview date: Tuesday 28th April 2026

Interviews will take place at the Guild of Students, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TU.

We are currently looking to recruit an external trustee to join our Board of Trustees and also act as chair to the Finance and Audit Sub-Committee. We will also require the trustee to support our whistleblowing policy, acting as the nominated trustee contact for whistleblowing concerns.  You’ll champion openness and ensure the organisation has safe, fair, and effective processes for raising and handling concerns.

Your SU is overseen by our Board of Trustees, and our trading subsidiary (CUSU Services Ltd) is overseen by our Commercial Services Board . They are both made up of a collection of our elected Officers, students, university staff and external professionals that ensure the Charity and the Trading Subsidiary remain sustainable in terms of finance, legality and reputational status.

You will be expected to attend Board meetings 4 times per year – these will be a mix of in person and Teams meetings. You will also be expected to support at least one sub-committee of the Trustee Board (3-4 times per year) as well as complete training and induction. You will need some time to allow for prereading of reports and other documentation before meetings. 

Trustee meetings are typically held on a Friday afternoon 1pm-4pm. Most of the meetings are online, although you would be offered travel expenses for any face-to-face meetings (and hybrid meetings are usually offered if you do need to join remotely.) There is also a strategy day once a year as well as the occasional social activity!

For this trustee role, we are looking for an experienced professional ideally with third-sector governance experience. In addition to being a member of the Board of Trustees the trustee will be required to chair the Finance and Audit subcommittee and should possess a strong finance background with analytical skills and the ability to communicate complex financial information.

We are especially keen to encourage applications from people currently under-represented within the organisation, including but not limited to those from the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and those from a Global Majority background. We hope that by enhancing our diversity we can extend our organisational creativity and problem solving through the different perspectives and life experiences which diversity brings.

Please note that this is an unpaid voluntary role.

For further information there is a full recruitment pack and role profile available to download or visit our website for more information.

• As a trustee of Cuth’s JCR, you provide strategic oversight and guidance to ensure the charity continues to support student welfare, community, and opportunities effectively across Durham.
• Trustees play a key role in offering continuity and stability to a volunteer-led organisation, advising on financial, legal, and operational decisions as the student leadership changes each year.
• The role involves supporting JCR officers through expertise and oversight, helping shape how the charity operates while contributing to long-term development and governance.
• Trustees work closely with the board and subcommittees to scrutinise decisions, provide professional insight, and ensure the organisation meets its legal and financial responsibilities.

Wekume

We provide Ugandan students anonymous reproductive health services, entrepreneurship support, and exchange opportunities via mobile.

Programs Officer

Reports to: Programs Director 

Position Summary

Wekume is seeking a highly organized, analytical, and detail-oriented Program Officer to serve as the primary technical support to the Programs Director. While the Programs Director provides the strategic vision, leadership, and core ideas for the organization, the Program Officer is responsible for the technical formalization of these concepts.
The ideal candidate will excel at "putting ideas on paper"—transforming high-level strategies into structured program documents, logical frameworks, grant proposals, and analytical reports. You will be the bridge between visionary strategy and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

1. Program Design & Documentation (The "Technical Architect")

• Concept Formalization: Translate the Programs Director’s strategies and verbal ideas into formal project concept notes and full-scale program documents.
• Framework Development: Design Logical Frameworks (LogFrames), Theories of Change, and Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) for all upcoming initiatives.
• Proposal Writing: Assist in drafting and refining technical proposals for donors, ensuring all organizational "missing gaps" in documentation are filled professionally.
• Standardization: Create templates and standardized operating procedures (SOPs) for program implementation.

2. Analytical Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E)

• Indicator Design: Define Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that align with the Director’s goals to measure program success accurately.
• Data Analysis: Analyze field data and project outcomes to provide the Director with actionable insights and "the story behind the numbers."
• Technical Reporting: Produce sophisticated monthly, quarterly, and annual impact reports that meet international donor standards.

3. Operational Planning & Budgeting

• Operationalizing Strategy: Convert broad annual plans into detailed monthly/weekly execution plans for field teams.
• Technical Budgeting: Collaborate with the Director to align program activities with cost-effective budgets, ensuring financial projections match project logic.
• Compliance Oversight: Ensure all drafted programs adhere to local statutory requirements and specific donor compliance mandates.

4. Strategic Support & Coordination

• Briefing the Director: Regularly brief the Programs Director on project health, identifying potential bottlenecks before they occur.
• Team Technical Lead: Act as a resource for Project Officers and volunteers, providing them with the "paperwork" and structures they need to succeed in the field.
• Stakeholder Synthesis: Prepare presentation decks and briefing papers for the Director to use in high-level stakeholder and donor meetings.

Required Qualifications & Specialty Skills

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Development Studies, Statistics, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• Writing Excellence: Exceptional ability to write professional program documents, including the ability to visualize data and concepts.
• Analytical Rigor: Proficiency in M&E frameworks and the ability to conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Software Proficiency: Advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel (for budgeting/data), and project management tools (e.g., MS Project).
• Experience: At least 2–3 years of experience in a role that required significant "behind-the-scenes" program design or grant writing.

Core Competencies for this Specific Role

• Synthesizing Logic: The ability to listen to a vision and immediately see the steps required to make it a reality on paper.
• Attention to Detail: A "perfectionist" approach to documentation and reporting.
• Adaptability: Ability to report to a visionary leader and provide the technical "anchor" to ensure ideas are sustainable and measurable.

Minimum Hours per Week:

10+ hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

Our Volunteer Community Pet Speakers play a vital role in educating and inspiring communities by sharing important pet care messaging with diverse audiences, tailoring their approach to their own strengths and interests.

By supporting the Community Programmes team, you will help inform and educate pet owners in key areas through workshops, community events, and outreach activities.

What will I be doing:

• Shadowing staff to train in school workshop delivery and / or leading stands at community events, across our key areas of Peterborough & Fenland.
• Once trained, delivering pet welfare and dog safety sessions to primary age children in schools, youth clubs and to uniform groups.
• Running interactive event stands at various community events to share essential information on caring for dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small pets.

Important things to note:

To keep everyone safe and ensure the best support for pet owners, we ask our Community Pet Speakers to follow these guidelines:

• When in a school environment ensure you follow the schools and Woodgreen’s safeguarding policy. This includes making sure you are never alone with a student and a member of school staff is always present during sessions.
• If you’re performing a task for Woodgreen in the community alone, always have a designated point of contact, as outlined in our lone working policy. Your safety is our priority!
• Until your training record is fully signed off, we ask that you don’t give direct advice. Instead, you can help by guiding pet owners to the right support services or making a referral to an education or outreach Officer who can assist them. This ensures pet owners get the best possible help.
• An enhanced DBS check is required for this role.

A full induction will be provided for this role which will need to be completed prior to commencing volunteering.  If driving to schools/appointments you will be expected to comply with driving licence checks and the Charity’s Driver and Vehicle policy.

Will my expenses be paid?

If a volunteer had business insurance on their personal vehicle, we can cover fuel costs.

If this sounds like the role for you, please apply now.

Woodgreen is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk and protecting anyone that comes into contact with us from harm. We expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.