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Newton Abbot, Devon (Hybrid)
Unpaid role, expenses paid
Voluntary

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Job description

Trustees have responsibility for overseeing the direction and performance of The Mare and Foal Sanctuary. Our trustees are guardians of the charity’s assets and are responsible for their use and security. Trustees are also responsible for the standard of governance and ensuring the charity meets all legal and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

  1. To advise the trustees, who hold the charity ‘in trust’ for current and future beneficiaries, in particular:
  2. To ensure that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these.
  3. To be responsible for the performance of the charity and for its corporate behaviour.
  4. To ensure that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.
  5. To act as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application.
  6. To ensure that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard.

Duties and Tasks:

To work in partnership with other trustees and the Chief Executive.

1) To ensure that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these:

  • To ensure that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic plan that have been agreed by the Board and that  there is a common understanding of these by trustees and staff.
  • To ensure that the business, operational and other plans support the vision, mission and strategic priorities.
  • To ensure that the Chief Executive’s annual and longer term objectives and targets support the achievement of the  vision, mission and strategic priorities.
  • To ensure that Board and operational policies support the vision, mission and strategic priorities.
  • To ensure that there are effective mechanisms:

            - to listen to the views of current and future beneficiaries;

            - to review the external environment for changes that might affect the charity;

            - to review regularly its strategic plans and priorities.

2) To be responsible, with the other trustees, for the performance of the charity and for its corporate behaviour: 

  • To agree with the Chief Executive the method for measuring objectively the progress of the charity in relation to its vision, mission, strategic objectives/priorities, business plans and annual targets, and to receive regular reports on the performance of the charity.
  • To ensure that the fundamental values and guiding principles of the charity are articulated and reflected throughout the charity.
  • To appoint the Chief Executive, to set his/her terms and conditions and to ensure that the charity invest in the Chief Executive’s continued professional development.
  • To receive regular reports from the Chief Executive on progress towards agreed strategic priorities.
  • To hold the Chief Executive to account for the management and administration of the charity.
  • To ensure that the Chief Executive receives regular, constructive feedback on his/her performance in managing the charity and in meeting his/her annual and longer term targets and objectives.
  • To ensure that the Chief Executive develops a learning organisation and that all staff, both paid and unpaid, review their own performance and regularly receive feedback.
  • To articulate the values of the charity.
  • To agree Board policies.
  • To ensure that there are mechanisms for beneficiaries, employees, volunteers, other individuals, groups or organisations to bring to the attention of the trustees any activity that threatens the probity of the charity.

3) To ensure that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements:

  • To be aware of, and to ensure the charity complies with, all legal, regulatory and statutory requirements.
  • To maintain familiarity with the rules and constitution that govern the charity, to ensure that the charity complies with its governing instruments and to review the constitution regularly.
  • If the charity has powers to delegate, to agree the levels of delegated authority, to ensure that these are recorded in writing by means of minutes, terms of reference for Board committees and sub-committees, job descriptions for honorary officers, trustees and key staff, etc, to ensure that there are clear reporting procedures which are also recorded in writing and complied with.
  • To ensure that the responsibilities delegated to the Chief Executive are clearly expressed and understood, and directions given to her/him come from the Board as a whole.

4) To act as guardians of all the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application.

  • To ensure that the charity has satisfactory control systems and procedures for holding in trust for the beneficiaries all monies, properties and other assets and to ensure that monies are invested to the maximum benefit of the charity, within the constraints of the law and ethical and other policies laid down by the Board.
  • To ensure that the major risks to which the charity is exposed are reviewed annually and that systems have been established to mitigate or minimise these risks.
  • To ensure that the income and property of the charity is applied for the purposes set out in the governing document and for no other purpose, and with complete fairness between persons who are properly qualified to benefit.
  • To act reasonably, prudently and collectively in all matters relating to the charity, and to always act in the best interests of the charity.
  • To be accountable for the solvency and continuing effectiveness of the charity and the preservation of its endowments.
  • To exercise effective overall control of the charity’s financial affairs and to ensure that the way in which the charity is administered is not open to abuse by unscrupulous associates, employees or volunteers; and that the systems of control are rigorous and constantly maintained through regular evaluation and improvement in the light of experience.
  • To ensure that intangible assets such as organisational knowledge and expertise, intellectual property, the charity’s good name and reputation etc are properly valued, utilised and safeguarded.
  • To know on a continuing basis the condition of the land owned by the charity, if its boundaries are being encroached upon, what can be done with it and how it is or should be used.
  • To ensure that all income due to the charity is received and that all tax benefits are obtained and all rating relief due is claimed.

5) To ensure that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard:

  • To ensure that the charity has a governance structure that is appropriate to a charity of its size/complexity, stage of development, and its charitable objects, and that enables the trustees to fulfil their responsibilities.
  • To reflect annually on the Board’s performance and your own performance as a trustee.
  • To ensure that the trustee Board has the skills required to govern the charity well and that it has access to relevant external professional advice and expertise.
  • To ensure that there is a systematic, open and fair procedure for the recruitment or co-option of trustees.
  • To ensure that there are succession plans for the Chair and Chief Executive.
  • To participate in individual and collective development and training of trustees.
  • To abide by the code of conduct for trustees.
  • To ensure that major decisions and Board policies are made by the trustees acting collectively.

Time Commitment and Terms of Appointment:

Attendance at Board meetings once every three months in person usually at the sanctuary’s offices at Honeysuckle Farm, Newton Abbot, Devon. You must attend at least 3 in person visits each year. Trustees are expected to strive to attend all Board meetings.

Attendance for Board meetings includes a trustees’ dinner and overnight accommodation the evening before to enable team building and in-person dialogue. On the day of the Board meeting there is a development session in the morning, followed by the formal Board meeting in the afternoon.

Trustees are also invited to attend events at the sanctuary’s other locations within Devon throughout the year.

Approximately 1 hour a week reading preparation and for decisions outside of trustee meetings is required. Where possible, trustees joining a Committee of the Board is of benefit to the charity and can give you a closer perspective on management aspects of the charity. Committees of the Board meet online at most quarterly, usually less frequently.

Trustees are appointed by the Board of Trustees. The Board will elect trustees for co-opted membership and thereafter confirm full membership at the next Annual General Meeting (AGM) subject to satisfactory performance.

A third of the membership is expected to retire at each AGM with the longstanding members retiring and being re-elected. A trustee can only stand for a maximum of three three-year terms (9 years) before having to retire for a minimum of one year.

The Mare and Foal Sanctuary is committed to supporting its trustees and provides a thorough induction to the organisation and role. You will be expected to attend regular training events relevant to the role, as necessary.

Whilst the role is unpaid, reasonable expenses are payable in line with The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s standard expenses policy.

Our Commitment to You:

  • An induction programme once you have accepted the role
  • Any additional training you need for the role of trustee
  • A report on the outcome of the work of the charity
  • Reasonable expenses reimbursed for travel and accommodation booked to enable attendance at trustee meetings

Application Process:

You will meet with some of our existing trustees, our Chair and our Chief Executive through your application process. If your application is successful, you will be offered a full induction programme which includes a personal tour of our sanctuaries in Devon. All candidates must be over 18 and will be subject to DBS and reference checks before being appointed.

To apply, please provide:

  • a full CV including your employment history, details of any voluntary/unpaid experience, membership of professional bodies and relevant qualifications;
  • a supporting statement (2 pages maximum) giving your reasons for applying for this role and what you hope to bring to the charity in fulfilling it and to what extent you have the skills and experience for the post. Your experience need not have been gained in paid employment and may include special interests relevant to the post. It is important that you provide evidence of your achievements by giving examples to support your application.

If you would like an informal chat before submitting an application, please contact Nicola Pavey (contact details are in the application pack attached)

Application resources
Application Instructions

Please follow the application instructions within the Recruitment Pack

Organisation
The Mare and Foal Sanctuary View profile Organisation type Registered Charity Company size 101 - 500
Posted on: 18 June 2026
Closing date: 22 July 2026 at 09:57
Job ref: Finance Trustee
Tags: Finance

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