Volunteer roles in Northwood

Volunteer your time at Hestia to make our gardens a beautiful place for our service users to enjoy all year through! Are you green fingered and have a passion for gardens and outdoor spaces?

At Hestia we have gardens and outdoor spaces which require your support to bring these back to life by keeping them maintained. We are recruiting for volunteers to motivate and inspire staff and people living in our services to get involved in gardening.

We work with people who need support with their mental health across London and the South East. Our support ranges from registered accommodation services for people with severe mental health conditions to drop-in community and crisis services.

In the last year, 9,499 adults accessed Hestia’s mental health support.

We help people to feel safe, develop hope for a better future, and achieve their personal goals. These goals may include rebuilding relationships with family members and friends or connecting more with their local community.

What you will be doing

• Inspire and motivate staff and people in the services to get involved in maintaining and growing the garden
• To provide tips on how to maintain and grow the garden - sowing seeds, planting bulbs, taking cuttings
• Provide basic maintenance such as cutting the grass, emptying bins, managing weed control and leaf raking
• Lead in planting and nurturing new trees, flowers, and various plants
• Provide best practice on how to use the correct gardening tools
• Inspire people in our services and staff to maintain a clean garden
• Advise staff on the costs of plants and garden necessities

The skills you need

• A basic knowledge/ experience of plant care and use of gardening tools7
• Calm and patient approach
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

Could you be a star baker, master chef or perhaps you simply enjoy baking or cooking! We are recruiting for a volunteer to join our team supporting individuals to learn new recipes together as a group.

Baking and cooking helps to relax, get creative and indulge in our senses. Often, it can spark nostalgia and helps us to recreate positive experiences or memories. Inspire and motivate people in our services to do something that brings joy, an opportunity to learn new skills whilst connecting with others over sharing baked goods and delicious meals.

What you will be doing

• Research and plan new recipes for cooking/baking sessions in collaboration with the group each week
• Encourage individuals to participate in the sessions and delegate cooking tasks
• Support individuals to shop for ingredients needed for the session
• Support individuals each week in setting up for the sessions and tidying away afterwards
• Encourage individuals to participate in all aspects of the planning and attendance
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team

The skills you need

• Food Safety Certificate/knowledge or willingness to complete relevant training
• Passion and knowledge of healthy eating and cooking
• Ability to engage, encourage and motivate individuals to participate in sessions
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

We are recruiting for volunteers to visit pharmacies to ascertain whether they have a consultation room to deliver the Safe Spaces Scheme.

Hestia and UK SAYS NO MORE operate over 4,500 Safe Spaces in pharmacies and banks across the UK, for anyone experiencing domestic abuse. Anyone can be affected by domestic abuse, regardless of gender, age, race or identity. Domestic abuse is not always physical violence, and it can take many forms including emotional, sexual abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour. One in three women and one in seven men are affected by domestic abuse.

What you will be doing

• To visit Pharmacies and Banks/Building societies to check whether they have a consultation room to deliver the Safe Spaces Scheme
• Asking questions following a script

The skills you need

• Good communication skills, verbal and written
• Calm, friendly and patient manner

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications.
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Join our team of befrienders!

You will support us to reach some of the most isolated adults in your community, including individuals with complex needs, to reduce feelings of loneliness, build meaningful friendships, and improvement well-being. You will support people to recite a passion for a hobby or an interest, or encourage them to explore and participate in new social activities.

Through regular companionship and encouragement, you will help individuals rebuild their lives beyond crisis, increase their confidence, and strengthen their connection with their local community.

This is a complex needs service, and we are looking for volunteers who are confident, non-judgemental, and are able to support individuals facing a range of challenges.

What you will be doing

• Agree a mutual time and frequency to meet in the local community
• To develop and promote a positive relationship with your befriendee
• To encourage your befriendee to engage in social activities and support them in doing so whilst building their confidence
• To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
• Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals

The skills you need

• Good listening and communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere which motivates and inspires others
• Willingness to engage in activities in the community
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow professional boundaries

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Accounting for International Development is seeking an experienced charity finance professional to support a UK-registered charity working internationally to strengthen responsible, low-impact small-scale fisheries.

The organisation works with coastal communities, fishery stakeholders and market actors to improve fisheries practices, support responsible sourcing, strengthen policy engagement and contribute to better livelihoods and food security.

They are now looking for a remote volunteer to review and strengthen their finance systems, reporting routines and use of Xero. Some finance processes, reporting and budget monitoring are currently managed outside the system, and they would value an experienced finance professional who can help them improve consistency, accuracy and the usefulness of financial information provided to senior management and Trustees.

This is not a day-to-day finance role. The assignment is intended as an independent review and strengthening exercise, working with the Managing Director, Finance Manager and selected Trustees to identify practical improvements and develop a realistic action plan.

Key areas of support may include:

• Reviewing current finance processes, month-end routines and reporting timelines.
• Reviewing how Xero is currently being used, including any processes or reporting managed outside the system.
• Supporting improvements to monthly management accounts and Board reporting.
• Reviewing internal controls, financial procedures and consistency of finance processes.
• Identifying key financial risks, control gaps or areas where processes could be strengthened.
• Advising on forecasting, budget monitoring and how project managers provide information to the finance team.
• Supporting the Finance Manager to strengthen monthly reporting and budget versus actual monitoring.
• Providing practical suggestions, templates or examples where helpful.
• Helping develop a clear, proportionate action plan with priorities and timelines.

We are looking for someone with:

• Senior charity finance experience.
• Strong financial management, management accounts and Board reporting experience.
• Experience reviewing or improving finance systems, processes, controls and reporting routines.
• Good working knowledge of Xero.
• Understanding of UK charity finance, trustee reporting and governance expectations.
• Experience with international charities or organisations operating across multiple countries would be helpful.
• A practical, diplomatic and collaborative approach.

The assignment is expected to involve up to 75 hours of remote support over around 3 to 4 months. The organisation expects a minimum commitment of around 4 hours per week, with the exact schedule and workplan to be agreed between the volunteer and the organisation.

This would be a good opportunity for a senior charity finance professional who enjoys helping organisations strengthen their systems, reporting and governance in a practical and supportive way.

Do you love little ones and understand the importance of supporting new Mums through this significant life change? Are you looking for a new opportunity to contribute your time in a supportive and friendly organisation?

We are looking for kind, empathetic and committed women to join a team of volunteers at our Friday mum’s programme. Each Friday between 20 and 30 mums’ gather to share experiences, dance with their babies and drink great coffee. Due to the nature of the project, we can only accept applications from women and each successful applicant will need to complete an enhanced DBS check.

Time Commitment:

At least twice a month on a Friday.

There are two time slots available per Friday session.

• 9.15am - 2.15pm

• 12.30pm – 4.30pm

We are looking to build a team of warm, reliable and compassionate volunteers to support our Friday Mums project, which provides a welcoming space for mothers and babies during the first year of motherhood at The Bridge. At each Friday session, we are looking to have two volunteers to give their time alongside a session lead from our staff team.

 Due to the nature of the project, we are only accepting volunteer applications from women. All volunteers will need two references and we complete a Enhanced DBS check.

About Friday Mums at The Bridge 

Friday Mums is a free weekly group for new mums (and pregnant women) to connect, feel supported and spend time with others who understand this stage of life. Unlike many baby groups, Friday Mums is designed to support mums as people, not just parents. 

The Bridge is a women’s health and wellbeing charity based in Southwark working to create inclusive and welcoming spaces for women of all identities to connect and thrive for over 90 years. We believe in a fairer society where women’s voices are heard and their health and wellbeing are valued and respected. Through our women-only gym, community café, wellbeing programmes and support groups, we help women care for themselves, support one another and challenge injustices together. 

Desired volunteer skills 

• Warm, friendly and approachable manner that helps build trust and rapport with new mothers.

• Excellent listening and communication skills, with the ability to engage sensitively and respectfully with mums from diverse backgrounds.

• Genuine empathy, kindness and emotional intelligence when supporting mothers experiencing the challenges of early motherhood.

• Patient, caring and attentive approach when interacting with both mothers and babies. Ability to foster positive relationships and contribute to a supportive, non-judgemental community environment.

• Reliable and dependable, with a strong sense of responsibility and commitment.

• Positive attitude, enthusiasm, and willingness to contribute as part of a small, collaborative team.

Interests and values 

• A genuine interest in maternal, infant and family wellbeing.

• Passion for supporting women's health, reducing inequalities and improving outcomes for families.

• Interest in perinatal health, child development or community-based health and wellbeing services.

• Commitment to creating inclusive, welcoming spaces that promote physical, emotional and social wellbeing.

• Desire to make a meaningful difference through community engagement and compassionate support.

• Barista experience or training is welcomed but not required. 

Typical responsibilities 

• Help set up and manage a safe, welcoming, baby-friendly environment for weekly Friday Mums sessions.

• Provide informal support and conversation to mothers, listening and encouraging participation in wellbeing activities.

• Engage positively and appropriately with babies to enable mothers to take part in discussions and activities.

• Support the delivery of group sessions through practical assistance and general organisation.

• Help café team with making coffees and teas for the mums when they arrive to the café space.

• Work collaboratively with staff and other volunteers to ensure the smooth running of the Friday Mums project.

We are looking for enthusiastic Badminton Session Volunteers to help lead and support our weekly badminton sessions!

We are looking for enthusiastic Badminton Session Volunteers to help lead and support our weekly badminton sessions, encouraging residents to improve their physical and mental wellbeing through sport.

Location:

Wycombe Badminton Centre

Crest Road

High Wycombe

Buckinghamshire

Session Times:

• Monday: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
• Wednesday: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Project Resilience provides easily accessible opportunities for our hostel residents to take part in a variety of social and sporting activities, helping to improve their overall health, wellbeing and confidence.

We are looking for volunteers who are passionate about badminton and enjoy encouraging others to participate in a fun, supportive and inclusive environment.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Planning, preparing and delivering engaging weekly badminton sessions.
• Helping with the set-up and tidying away of equipment.
• Encouraging residents to participate and supporting them to develop their confidence, fitness and badminton skills.
• Working closely with the Project Resilience Coordinator, maintaining open communication and providing feedback.
• Assisting with any related events or friendly tournaments where appropriate.

This role offers a rewarding opportunity to motivate and support vulnerable residents while helping them improve their physical health, mental wellbeing and social connections. You'll gain valuable coaching and leadership experience while making a positive impact within the community.

You will need:

• Previous experience of playing, coaching or leading badminton sessions.
• The ability to work as part of a team as well as on your own initiative.
• An empathetic and understanding approach to working with vulnerable residents who may have varying levels of fitness and sporting ability.
• A recognised sports coaching or fitness qualification is desirable (this does not need to be badminton-specific), or relevant experience leading sports sessions.

What we will provide:

• A full induction to the role and site.
• Mandatory e-learning and access to a range of optional training opportunities.
• Ongoing supervision and support from your line manager.
• Access to organisational events and celebrations throughout the year.

Please note: You will be required to undergo a DBS check, and we will require two references before you begin volunteering.

About Roots Academy. 

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.

Creators with Purpose is Roots Academy's community of Muslim student content creators - a hand-picked group of relatable, authentic voices using their platforms to reach and uplift Muslim students across the country.

To grow and sustain it, we're looking for a Community Manager to be the heartbeat of this community. You'll onboard new creators, run our content calendar and review process, and keep a thriving group of creators supported, inspired and consistently producing content that reaches the exact audience we exist to serve. This is a relationship-first role for someone who loves bringing people together around a shared mission.

Key tasks

• Community management - Own and energise our creator community keeping it warm, active and supportive; welcome new creators, spark introductions, and encourage creators to learn from and uplift one another.

• Onboarding - Identify and reach out to potential creators, run friendly 1-2-1 welcome calls, share the vision and welcome pack, and bring new creators into the fold with as low a barrier to entry as possible.

• Content coordination - Run the content calendar end-to-end: agree each creator's posting frequency and dates, keep the Notion tracker current.

• Creative support - Keep creators inspired with prompts, content ideas and themed series (e.g. Freshers, exam season), and offer tailored concepts to those who want them while protecting each creator's own style and voice.

• Mentorship & belonging - Coordinate regular calls with the team, and help every creator feel like a genuine part of Team Roots.

• Tracking & reporting - Track creator output and reach, monitor how creators are driving students toward Roots workshops, and report progress and feedback.

What we’re looking for

• Passion for Islamic education and the development of young Muslims. 

• A people person who builds genuine, warm relationships and makes others feel welcome.

• Organised and reliable - comfortable keeping plates spinning and keeping people on track.

• A feel for social media content and an instinct for what resonates with Muslim students.

• Passion for Islamic education and the development of young Muslims.

• Self-starting and proactive - happy to take initiative rather than wait to be asked.

• No formal experience or qualifications required - just the right heart, attitude and willingness to learn.

What we have to offer

• Be part of a team of 100+ dedicated volunteers across the UK, Ireland, Canada, US, UAE and Australia.

• 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.

Will you share your counselling or psychotherapy skills as a counsellor or therapist to join an online counselling service for patients and families affected by a chronic pain condition (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome)?

We're looking for 3 qualified counsellors, psychotherapists or psychologists volunteers ideally with some experience of working with chronic pain patients or lived experience of chronic illness, who may want to volunteer their skills supporting our adult service users (aged 18 & over) and help us to continue developing a mental health support service. 

As a Volunteer Counsellor/Therapist you’ll be providing remote counselling/therapy support services to adults aged 18 and over many of whom are isolated and in need of mental health services. You’ll be providing one-to-one counselling/therapy sessions online via Zoom or by phone. With your recognised counselling qualifications and experience you will be an asset to our small charity and to our services users.  

Depending on your qualifications, skills and experience, our volunteer counsellors / therapists provide person centred counselling (general talking counselling) or integrative counselling, or specialist services such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), ACT, CFT and EMDR for CRPS patients, or their families & close relatives.

People will be referred both by health or legal professionals as well as having patients and carers themselves referring into to the service.

In this role you’ll be able to develop your counselling and therapy skills, organisation, communication and team working skills.

Most importantly you’ll be providing essential services that help make sure no one has to face CRPS alone. Be the hope for CRPS.

What the role involves

This role may vary depending on needs, but is likely to include:

• Undertake client assessments following triage by Clinical Lead, followed by counselling / therapy (via Zoom or phone) to our clients, offering up to 20 sessions for each client plus a check in and 4 psychometric assessments

• Providing one-to-one counselling sessions to clients aged 18 & over

• Update our database with the client’s information, sessional notes and session attendance

• Maintain succinct, relevant session notes and store these confidentially and securely in acccordahce with GDPR

• Attending and participating in monthly group supervision support of 1.5 hours a month

• Attend CPD training to ensure your knowledge stays current

• Participating in volunteer meetings
• Maintaining client confidentiality, upholding data protection and equal opportunities principles

We can support you to develop the skills you need for this role, including a full induction. You will have a chance to discuss your role and any additional needs with us. We can offer you a supervisor as well as expenses for annual insurance and an external supervisor if required.

What you need for this role

Essential

• Be a member (including student membership) of one of the recognised membership organisations (see below)
• Level 4 Diploma level qualifications as a minimum (unfortunately no students at this time), Degree or Masters in Counselling, Counselling/Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, Art Therapy, EMDR 
• Minimum of 100 hours supervised
• Proof of professional indemnity insurance annually - we may consider paying this as an expense but commitment to the charity is required
• A valid DBS certificate (enhanced version), which is less than three years old and renewed every three years (the charity can provide where necessary)
• Able to keep people’s personal data safe

• Willing and able to provide counselling via Zoom from a private location with a stable WiFi connection

• Able to support a minimum of 3 clients a week, being three hours of your time for therapy sessions plus time for administration and attending group supervision for 1.5 hours a month. We ideally hope you to offer the charity a minimum commitment of six months.

Desirable

• Knowledge of chronic pain or Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• Previous experience as a chronic pain or CRPS counsellor or psychologist 
• Committed to our values
• Willing to develop skills and experience
• Enjoy working as part of a team
• Effective administration skills, planning and organisation skills
• Approachable, presentable, enthusiastic

Once we’ve assessed your application, you may be invited for interview. If you are successful, we will arrange for you to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service DBS or Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check.

Recognised Organisations You Must Be A Member of:

• British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP)
• British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists (BABCP)
• EMDR Association UK
• Complimentary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)
• British Psychological Society
• General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR)
• British Society for Clinical Hypnotherapists (BSCH)
• National Council for Hypnotherapists (NCH)
• United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)
• The National Hypnotherapy Society (HS)
• National Counselling Society (NCS)
• Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• The Association for Professional Hypnosis and Psychotherapy (APHP)
• National Register of Hypnotherapists & Psychotherapists (NRHP)

Making a difference

What impact will the opportunity have?

You will join the charity during a critical and challenging period where referrals are on the rise and your expert knowledge and experience will be invaluable to our success. You will have a key role in not only developing a counselling service for our clients but also ensure we provide counselling services and mental health support to our CRPS patients & their families who are in need of our support and inclusion on a regular basis. With your help we will expand our support and mental health services to ensure our service users receive mental health support that they may not have been offered.

What's in it for you as the volunteer? 

You would be a part of our small, friendly, forward-thinking charity team, focused on reaching people affected by this rare, painful and debilitating chronic pain condition and to provide them with psychological support whether they are patients, their partner, relatives, friends or carers. As this service is rapidly expanding, you would have a key role in developing our counselling and psychotherapy programme and to complement our support services that we offer. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a real difference in our clients' life which is already isolated and painful, who may not have received any psychological support.

Are you interested in communication? Have you got experience of using Mailchimp? Help us engage our charity's audience by creating compelling email and newsletter content so that we can support more people affected by a complex, debilitating chronic condition as well as raise awareness of this rare disease. This is a great opportunity to assist a small but mighty charity.

Description

Our small charity delivers awareness campaigns and a range of support services to patients, relatives, partners and carers who have been affected by a debilitating chronic condition; Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). We are urgently looking for 2 experienced email marketing volunteers to join our communications team.

You will be a big link to our charity's clients who are vulnerable and isolated, to them learning more about events, our latest articles, fundraising events as well as ensuring they are aware of the services that we offer that be of help to them. You will also be helping us to raise awareness of this devastating chronic condition.

Even though we are a small organisation we have big ideas and having regular contact through emails and newsletters will show consistency and know they can rely on us to be there for them.

We would like the volunteer to help with:

• Email content: Develop our communication & marketing content calendar, write compelling regular email content, including calls for donations & support, that is relevant and has clear a call-to-action and high click through rates;
• Email content (membership): Create a regular email newsletter for our membership scheme
• Create a number of automated email series - for donors, members, fundraisers and more
• Newsletter strategy: Help us plan and articulate how we can use emails and newsletters to strengthen our organisation, motivate our supporters and communicate with our sponsors;
• Design and implement campaigns and promotional activity

What are you looking for in a volunteer?

We are looking for 2 volunteers who have:

• Strong writing and editing skills
• Good communicator
• Good computer skills and a willingness to be contacted via email and/or video chat
• Experience using email marketing software - specifically Mailchimp
• Marketing skills
• Experience of working on marketing strategies
• Ability to quickly understand the needs of our team, organisation and our services users (we are not expecting you to know about the condition we support)
• Can ask key questions to enable us to clarify requirements
• Understands the resource constraints of a small charity and is able to work with these
• Open to feedback
• A passion for marketing and email marketing
• Ability to work flexibly on your own or as part of a team with enthusiasm and commitment
• Ability to create email campaigns with little supervision (after initial support)

Skills

• Digital: Email Marketing
• Marketing and communications: Copywriting/Journalism

Making a difference

What impact will the opportunity have?

You will be joining a small charity during a challenging period and your expert knowledge and experience will be invaluable to our success. You will have a key role in ensuring we reach the patients, relatives, partners and carers who are in need of our support and inclusion on a regular basis. With your help we will expand our readership to ensure more people are aware of this condition, which will help those affected by it when they see a health professional.

What's in it for the volunteer?

You would be a part of our small, friendly, forward-thinking charity team, focused on reaching more people affected by this rare condition who may not know that we exist to support them. You would have a key role in developing a strategy to complement our awareness campaigns. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to make a real difference in someone’s life which is already isolated and painful, but who may not know there is support out there and to then realise they’re not alone.

About the location

Where will the volunteer be working?

The volunteer will be working remotely, online and entirely from your own home.

Travel Limit

This role will be completely remote.

When will the volunteer be working?

Volunteer availability

• Either in or office hours - however we are flexible

Estimate the time commitment

• 3-6 hours / week - but this is flexible however ideally it would be 4 hours or over to ensure email campaigns are going out at the right time

To apply for the email marketing volunteer please send by email your CV together with a covering letter saying why you think you would be a good candidate for this position, via the Charity Job 'Apply Online' 

Who are Governors for Schools?

Governors for Schools operates across England and Wales to improve educational standards and ensure all children and young people have the chance to realise their full potential.

We believe the key to improving school performance is effective governance. By finding, nurturing and supporting a committed network of governors, we drive positive systematic change that benefits each and every student, regardless of their background.

Governors for Schools recruits and matches volunteers with school governing boards and provides ongoing support.

What’s involved?

There are governor vacancies across England and Wales. Some schools are also looking for remote governors who don't need to live near the school they support.

Governors volunteer at board level to set the strategic vision for their school. This involves constructively challenging current processes, using your unique skills to support senior leaders, and overseeing school finances. You’ll be involved in areas such as monitoring, budget management, and data analysis. As well as putting your expertise to good use, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your professional skills. Ultimately, you’ll work towards facilitating the delivery of a broad and exciting curriculum and oversee wellbeing and inclusion initiatives. Governance represents a fantastic opportunity to develop yourself while making a real impact on the education of children and young people.

Governors work collaboratively with the headteacher and other members of the board, including parents and school staff. In most schools, full board meetings are held termly, as are committee meetings. Many governors will sit on a committee linked to their expertise or interests, such as teaching and learning or finance and resources. In addition to attending meetings, governors will need to read the papers in advance, complete training courses, and occasionally visit their school.

Governors usually support schools for a period of four years and with an estimated time commitment of 7 hours per month. During these hours, you will attend meetings, read papers, attend training sessions, and make occasional visits to school.

Who can be a governor?

The most important part of being a governor is the ability to ask questions, provide support and have the best interests of the school at heart. You don't have to be a parent or have experience in education to become a governor. Schools seek a  wide range of skills to support the board, including finance, HR, and data analysis.

Boards also need governors with a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences to ensure a range of perspectives are considered during board meetings.

Schools welcome professional experience, as well as community insight and experience of working collaboratively.

You need to be aged 18 or above and there are certain criminal convictions that would exclude you from the role. A Disclosure and Barring Service check will be carried out by the school.

What’s the process?

You can find out more about the school governor role by attending one of our recruitment webinars.

You can complete your online profile on the website, including your motivation to take on the role, your skills and your school preferences. Your regional Partnership Manager will then look at vacancies that match your requirements. Once a school is identified, you will have the opportunity to discuss the role with them in more detail, visit the school, and observe a meeting. If appointed, a DBS check will take place and, in some cases, the school will seek references.

Ongoing support

Governors for Schools isn’t just a matching service. We want to help you thrive in your role through bespoke and ongoing support. We provide eLearning and monthly webinars covering a variety of topics to increase your knowledge of the education sector and governance. You’ll also have access to The Key for School Governors, an information hub designed to show new governors the ropes and offer a useful point of reference for existing governors.

Voluntary HR Consultant (Volunteer Role)

Location: Hybrid – near West London area
Commitment: Flexible (approx 5–10 hours per month)
Duration: Ongoing
Reporting to:  Report to the Senior Management Team and Trustee Board.

About Us

Ealing Swimming Club (ESC) is one of the largest and most dynamic swimming clubs in the UK, with over 1,300 members training in seven pools across West London. We offer high-quality coaching and technique instruction for all ages and abilities, from beginners to international competitors. Our club is built on a strong sense of community, inspiring individuals to develop their skills, build confidence, and achieve their full potential. As a registered charity, we are committed to delivering inclusive watersports programs, including competitive swimming, masters, para-swimming, and water polo. Our passionate team ensures that every member has access to expert coaching and a supportive environment, fostering success in and out of the water.

Role Overview

We are seeking a skilled and motivated HR professional to join us as a Volunteer HR Consultant. This role will support the development and implementation of effective people practices, ensuring our charity operates in line with UK employment law and HR best practice.

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute your expertise to a meaningful cause while gaining experience in the charity sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on HR policies, procedures, and best practices.  
• Help develop policies on issues such as performance management, equal opportunities, disciplinary procedures and absence management.
• Review and update HR policies to ensure compliance with UK employment legislation
• Support recruitment and onboarding processes, including drafting job descriptions/adverts
• Advise on employee relations matters (e.g. performance, absence, disciplinary issues)
• Assist with drafting HR correspondence if and when required.
• Attend HR meetings if and when required. 
• Advise line managers in how to implement policies and procedures
• Assist with the development of staff handbooks and organisational policies
• Support trustees and leadership with HR strategy and workforce planning

Person Specification

Essential:

• Proven experience in HR (e.g. HR Advisor, HR Manager, HR Consultant)
• Knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and provide pragmatic advice
• Discretion and ability to handle confidential information

Desirable:

• CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above) or equivalent experience
• Experience working with charities or not-for-profit organisations
• Experience supporting small organisations or start-ups

What You’ll Gain

• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community
• Experience working with a charity and its leadership team
• Flexibility to fit around your schedule
• Professional development and networking opportunities
• Reference upon successful completion of the role

Additional Information

This is a voluntary, unpaid role. Reasonable expenses may be reimbursed in line with our expenses policy.

Please note:

Pre-employment checks: Two satisfactory references and existing right to work in the UK

Due to the high volume of applications, if you have not heard back within 2 weeks, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

Across the UK, our 65 local branches work with disabled people to help them live the lives they choose. Our network of skilled volunteers respond to thousands of requests each year to design and make customised equipment free of charge.

Our volunteer Fundraisers use their organisational and people skills, as well as creativity and a sense of fun, to raise vital funds for their local branch.

What the role involves

This is a varied role that each branch can do a little differently, but it may include the following responsibilities, with potential for additional fundraising opportunities:

· Organising fundraising events big and small

· Identifying and helping to apply for local grants

What you’ll need for this role

· An interest in fundraising – prior experience isn’t a must

· Able to work independently from home

· Willing to attend meetings of your local branch

· A commitment to our aims and values

You’ll also need to complete the induction checklist and a reference check.

If it works better for you, there’s a possibility this role could be done remotely.

Why volunteer

When you volunteer with us, you join a community of committed people with a passion for helping to improve the lives of others. We’re a volunteer led organisation, and we couldn’t do what we do without your hard work, skills and commitment.

N.B. We’ll reimburse any out-of-pocket expenses during your time with us.

Main purpose of role:

To take on the responsibilities of our direct social media output.

To support our communications and marketing work.

To help with creating content for our newsletters, social media, print media and other promotional material over time.

Main duties will include:

1. Create content to be attractive, informative and inclusive.

2. Post across Instagram, Blue Sky, Facebook, TikTok and LinkedIn to promote the organisation

3. Support designated team members to utilise social media to thank and engage our supporters, doners and funders.

4. Form key relationships with organisations and brands.

5. Create new ideas to make the best use of our social media to improve our engagement with the unpaid carers we support, and existing and potential volunteers.

6. Collaborating with other team members to contribute to and adhere to the wider communications strategy.

7. Maintain strict GDPR and confidentiality practices at all times.

8. Monitor and report on engagement rates of each post/platform to inform our messaging.

9. To carry out the above tasks in accordance with the policies and procedures of Carers Trust Hillingdon & Ealing. 

Person Specification

• A good understanding of the best practice for maximum social media engagement (i.e: best time of day to post, how to write comments and captions that will gain engagement) and a willingness to learn more about this.

• Strong communication skills

• Awareness of latest social media trends and etiquettes

• Enthusiastic, proactive and excited to take on their own project

• Creativity and Canva skills

• Good team player

• A keen interest in social media

• An interest in our work with unpaid carers

• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

What You Will Gain

• Purpose and fulfilment: Contribute directly to sustaining and growing services that support unpaid carers.

• Professional experience: Gain valuable insight into charity fundraising, marketing, and community partnerships.

• Skill development: Strengthen your communication, writing, and organisational 

skills.

• Confidence building: Engage with funders, local businesses, and the public in meaningful ways.

• Training and support: Receive full induction and ongoing training and guidance from experienced staff.

• Recognition: Be part of a supportive team, attend volunteer celebrations, and receive references or certificates for your contribution.

Additional Notes / Special Requirements

• Flexible working hours and days.