Volunteer roles

Our shops help raise vital funds, and volunteering with us is a great way to make a difference, meet new people, and join a fantastic team. Volunteering in our shops offers a variety of exciting tasks. From sorting, steaming, and pricing donations to spotting hidden gems, you'll roll up your sleeves in the backroom and assist on the shop floor. Engaging with customers is key, whether you're serving with a smile, working the till or helping donors complete Gift Aid forms.

Creating a warm, friendly and inviting space is just as important. You'll help design eye-catching window displays, keep the space tidy, and use your creativity to ensure everything looks its best, encouraging customers to return.

No special skills are needed as we’ll show you what to do, and we provide all the training you’ll need. But if you have any experience or particular interest, tell us; it may be helpful. It’s really easy to get your volunteering started; simply click on ‘Apply Now’ and we’ll be in touch.

Our shops help raise vital funds, and volunteering with us is a great way to make a difference, meet new people, and join a fantastic team. Volunteering in our shops offers a variety of exciting tasks. From sorting, steaming, and pricing donations to spotting hidden gems, you'll roll up your sleeves in the backroom and assist on the shop floor. Engaging with customers is key, whether you're serving with a smile, working the till or helping donors complete Gift Aid forms.

Creating a warm, friendly and inviting space is just as important. You'll help design eye-catching window displays, keep the space tidy, and use your creativity to ensure everything looks its best, encouraging customers to return.

No special skills are needed as we’ll show you what to do, and we provide all the training you’ll need. But if you have any experience or particular interest, tell us; it may be helpful. It’s really easy to get your volunteering started; simply click on ‘Apply Now’ and we’ll be in touch.

Charity Champion (volunteer) 

As a Volunteer Charity Champion, you will have the opportunity to support the North West Ambulance Charity team achieve their mission in a variety of different ways to suit you. The NWAS charity are looking for motivated, enthusiastic and passionate volunteers wanting to work flexibly and help contribute to the growth of the charity. You will play a key part in a variety of tasks that may include supporting fundraising events, awareness days, collections and community engagement.

Why we want you

The North West Ambulance Charity provides support to the North West Ambulance Service above and beyond what NHS funding can provide. The NWAS Charity is solely reliant upon generous donations and fundraising from the public, businesses, grant funders, staff and volunteers to fund life-saving equipment and other projects to benefit the health, wellbeing and safety of patients, staff, and our communities.

We won’t ask you to do anything you’re uncomfortable with. You may only wish to be involved in volunteering at charity events for example, but you might not be comfortable with bucket collecting. As a Charity Champion you will have the opportunity to choose the area of support you prefer.

What you will be doing

• Supporting the Charity with its fundraising and engagement events for example at bucket collections, cheering on runners in challenge events or helping on a stall at a summer fair.
• Representing the Charity positively through giving talks, presentations or cheque presentations.
• Identifying locations to take collection tins and assist with the collection of full boxes.
• Raising the charities profile in your own community through delivering posters and flyers.
• Encouraging others to get involved-inspiring colleagues, friends and family to support the charity.

The skills you need

• Enthusiasm and understanding about what the North West Ambulance Charity does.
• A friendly, confident and personable manner.
• Good communication skills and a willingness to engage with the public.
• Reliability and punctuality.
• Happy to represent the North West Ambulance Charity.
• Access to a vehicle or public transport. 
• Able to work as part of a team or independently.

What's in it for you

• The chance to meet new people and be part of a supportive team.
• The opportunity to expand your own skills and knowledge of the charity sector.
• Agreed travel expenses.
• A branded t-shirt for use whilst representing the NWAS Charity.
• Appropriate induction and training for your role as Charity Champion.
• The opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of people we support in our work.

Community based

Minimum age 18

Disclaimer - All Charity Champions are expected to uphold the NWAS values and represent the charity in line with its policies and codes of conduct.

Are you passionate about community health and the vital link between food, nutrition and health inequalities? Edinburgh Community Food is seeking committed individuals to join our Board of Trustees and help drive lasting change.

As a trustee, you’ll support strategic direction, ensure good governance, and contribute to our mission of making nutrition accessible and reducing health inequalities.

Now is an exciting time to get involved. We’re one year into our five-year strategy, Equity in Nutrition, and preparing to celebrate our 30th anniversary in 2026. We have a very skilled and motivated Board, and an effective Leadership Team in place led by Brenda Black, CEO, who is driving change and transformation.

Edinburgh Community Food is a registered charity and Company Limited by Guarantee. Trustees (Directors) oversee financial and operational performance, support and challenge the Management Team, and help bring our vision to life.

As we grow our impact, we are seeking new trustees who bring expertise and passion to help us navigate the next stage of our journey.

We are particularly looking for individuals with experience in one or more of the following areas:

Financial Leadership
Strong financial acumen to guide strategic decisions, ensure robust governance, and help us plan for sustainable growth.

Procurement & Contracting
Knowledge of public and private sector contracting to support us in securing new partnerships and delivering value through ethical, efficient procurement.

Sustainable Practices
Insight into sustainable sourcing, production, and distribution, carbon literacy or climate change to help us champion practices that protect the planet while promoting healthier diets.

Who We’re Looking For
We’re looking for people who:

• Are effective communicators with strong interpersonal skills
• Can work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders
• Are willing to contribute time, expertise, and energy to board activities, sub-committees, and working groups

Edinburgh Community Food create accessible and inclusive communities, and this continues to our Director appointments. We invite anyone with lived experience in the areas of our work, people from marginalised and under-represented communities, or anyone who is passionate about food and health inequalities and making a difference in your community to get in touch.

The Commitment

We’re looking for people who will;

• Prepare for, attend, and actively participate in monthly online board meetings. A quarter of which are in-person.
• Contribute fully to one or more committees or sub-groups.
• Attend events run by Edinburgh Community Food e.g. our Annual General Meeting, Community Events, as well as supporting the broader activity of the organisation from time to time.
• Share their skills and experience for the benefit of the organisation either by delivering tasks, or knowledge sharing.

In return, we offer the chance to join an inclusive and collaborative board, with access to networking and training opportunities. You’ll play a key role in driving change—helping to make Healthier Food, Healthier Lives, and Healthier Futures the norm in Edinburgh and beyond.

After six transformative years, our Chair is stepping down. This is your chance to lead a charity that's reached 2.5 million LGBTQ+ young people – and heard them say "I'm still alive because of you."

Full description:

It Gets Better UK is at an exciting moment. Over the past six years, we've grown from a grassroots initiative into a charity reaching millions of LGBTQ+ young people across the UK. Through digital storytelling, educational resources, and community engagement, we're combating isolation and discrimination – ensuring every young person knows their power and worthiness as individuals.

Now we're looking for our next Chair of Trustees to lead us into our next chapter.

What makes this role special?

This isn't just governance for governance's sake. The impact is immediate and profound. Young people tell us our content helped them through their darkest moments – some say we're the reason they're still alive. You'll work with a passionate board and our CEO/Founder Dr Alex Rhys OBE, whose vision, resilience and commitment to the mission has been extraordinary. The team – both volunteer and paid – is genuinely special.

The opportunity:

You'll provide strategic leadership at a pivotal time, helping us build on our momentum while navigating the challenges every growing charity faces. We need someone who can balance big vision with practical governance, understand charity finance and risk, and chair meetings that drive real decisions while creating space for genuine discussion.

What we're looking for:

Essential:

• Demonstrable commitment to LGBTQ+ equality and youth rights
• Proven governance experience, ideally as a trustee or board member
• Strong understanding of charity governance and trustee responsibilities
• Excellent chairing skills with ability to facilitate constructive discussions
• Strategic thinking balanced with practical implementation
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Desirable:

• Experience in charity/voluntary sector, particularly youth or LGBTQ+ organisations
• Understanding of digital engagement and online community building
• Financial management and fundraising knowledge
• Networks within funding, policy, or LGBTQ+ advocacy circles
• Experience with organisational growth and transformation
• Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks

Why now matters:

LGBTQ+ young people face unprecedented challenges – rising hate crime, attacks on trans rights, mental health crises. Our work has never been more vital. The next Chair will help ensure we're here for every young person who needs us, with the governance, strategy, and sustainability to deliver real impact.

If you care about LGBTQ+ equality, have governance expertise to share, and want to make a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Time commitment: Approximately 6 hours per month | Term: 3 years (renewable) | Location: Remote (quarterly video meetings, occasional in-person) | Deadline: 10pm Sunday 1st February

About the job

As GoodWork enters an exciting stage of growth and increasing impact, we are delighted to invite applications to the voluntary position of Chair of Trustees. This is an opportunity to lead a committed and diverse Board in steering a fast-growing London-based youth employment and social mobility charity.

Key Info:

• Remuneration: voluntary, reasonable travel expenses can be reimbursed.
• Location: candidates must be based in the UK. While much of this role can be performed remotely, the Chair will be required to visit our London HQ regularly.
• Time commitment: approximately 10-20 hours per month, flexibly.
• Term: Three years from appointment, renewable with Board approval.
• Appointment is subject to Enhanced DBS Check. GoodWork operates in line with safe recruitment practices and adherence to our Safeguarding Policy is essential.

About the Role

Background

Our outgoing Chair, Dale Graham, has supported GoodWork since its inception as a Community Interest Company through to our transition to a registered charity in July 2025. Following a successful three-year tenure, Dale stepped back at the end of 2025 and Abu Sayed is serving as Interim Chair while the Board recruits externally for a new Chair of Trustees.

This recruitment process follows a period of sustained organisational growth, during which we have strengthened our Board with broader expertise, lived experience and sector insight. You can learn more about our current Board and staff team on our website.

Strategic leadership and governance

• Ensure GoodWork delivers effectively against its strategy, mission and charitable objectives. GoodWork’s existing Board and team are in the process of developing a new three year organisational strategy, which we expect to finalise in early 2026.
• Uphold robust governance proportionate to our scale, ensuring compliance with Charity Commission expectations and all legal and regulatory obligations.
• Lead Board stewardship of risk management, safeguarding, impact and evaluation, fundraising and financial oversight.

Board leadership and effectiveness

• Lead and inspire the Board, ensuring it functions as a high-performing, inclusive and collaborative team.
• Chair quarterly Board Meetings and the annual Away Day, ensuring clear agendas, effective decision-making and constructive challenge.
• Support the development of Trustees through periodic 1:1 check-ins (1-2 per year), enabling continuous improvement, accountability and a positive Board culture.
• Ensure Board succession planning, diversity and capability to meet the charity’s evolving needs.

Executive support and accountability

• Build a strong, supportive and constructive partnership with the CEO.
• Facilitate monthly 1:1 meetings with the CEO, providing guidance, challenge and mentorship.
• Ensure appropriate delegation to the staff leadership team while maintaining clarity of responsibilities between governance and operations.

External engagement and advocacy

• Act as a credible ambassador for GoodWork, representing the charity at external events.
• Support fundraising efforts through advocacy, relationship-building and strategic introductions. Role modelling and holding other Trustees to account for their role in supporting GoodWork's income generation activities.
• Champion GoodWork’s mission, ensuring our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is embedded in all aspects of governance and external engagement.

Future vision and impact

• Contribute to the shaping of long-term goals that align with our “north star”: ensuring all young people have the freedom to shape their lives.
• Support the Board and leadership team in evaluating opportunities for growth, transformation and innovation, with our organisational values and commitment to championing youth voice in mind.

What we're looking for:

GoodWork is a rapidly growing charity, requiring Trustees – and particularly the Chair – to balance strategic oversight with practical, hands-on support. We are seeking a Chair who demonstrates:

• Deep commitment to GoodWork’s mission, values and impact, with a strong understanding of the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Leadership experience, ideally with prior Board-level experience in the UK charity sector or a related mission-driven environment.
• Strategic thinking, with the ability to balance long-term vision with short-term priorities.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, bringing tact, empathy and the ability to offer constructive challenge.
• Sound judgement and analytical capability, including the ability to engage confidently with financial information, organisational risks, and plans for growth.
• Flexibility and a proactive, problem-solving mindset, comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Commitment to safeguarding and alignment with GoodWork’s broader policies and procedures.
• Enthusiasm for being an active ambassador, championing our work with employers, partners and supporters.

We work with a diverse group of young people from underserved communities. We particularly encourage applications from minoritised ethnic candidates and those who have lived experience relevant to our programme, particularly non-graduates and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

Application process:

• Apply via our application form by 12pm on Wednesday 28 January. You’ll need to submit your CV and answer the following questions in no more than 1,700 characters (about 250 words) each.
• Why are you a good candidate to be Chair of Trustees? Please tell us about your relevant personal and/or professional experience.
• Why do you want to support GoodWork’s mission?
• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an initial 45 minute online interview with two of our existing Trustees between 9 and 13 February 2026.
• Following this, candidates will be invited to a further 30 minute online conversation with two additional Trustees between 23 and 27 February 2026.
• At the final stage, candidates will be invited to visit GoodWork’s offices on Monday 16 March to meet the team and for a final interview with our Interim Chair, Abu Sayed, and CEO, Felicity Halstead.
• Following an extraordinary meeting of the Trustees, we expect to confirm an appointment by the end of the day on Friday 20 March. Appointment will be subject to reference checks and the satisfactory completion of an Enhanced DBS check.
• We expect the new Chair to be in post by the end of April 2026.

If you require adjustments to this process, please let us know by emailing us as soon as possible.

Department: Events / Income Generation
Location:  Middlesbrough Football Club
Time Requirement:5pm – 12.30am 
Date: Saturday 28th March 2026
DBS Check needed? No
Age Requirements: 18 years +

Role Summary: 

We’re looking for enthusiastic and friendly volunteers to join our event support team. As a volunteer, you’ll play a key part in creating an enjoyable and memorable experience for our guests. Tasks may include welcoming and directing attendees, assisting with registration and seating, supporting activity areas (such as the casino, photo booth, or auctions), and providing general help throughout the evening.

Key Responsibilities
 
 Welcome guests on arrival with a friendly and professional approach.
 Guide guests to seating, activity areas, restrooms, bars and exits as needed.
 Support themed event zones (e.g., casino tables, photo booth, raffle/auction areas)
 Provide general event information and answer basic guest queries.
 Monitor assigned areas to ensure safety, comfort and smooth guest flow.
 Communicate any issues or questions promptly to the event manager or supervisor.
 Help with the setup and reset of materials, signage, and activity stations where required.
 Encourage guest participation in fundraising, raffles or competitions.
 Maintain a professional, approachable, and positive attitude throughout the event.

 Personal qualities: 

Volunteers in this role should demonstrate:

• Compassion and empathy when interacting with guests and fellow volunteers.
• Tact and sensitivity when supporting guests who may need extra assistance or reassurance.
• Excellent communication skills, both in giving clear information and listening attentively.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, staying proactive when tasks arise.
• Good attention to detail, ensuring tasks are completed accurately and efficiently.
• Polite and approachable, helping guests feel welcome and valued.
• Professional attitude, maintaining high standards of presentation and behaviour throughout the event.

Training requirements:

As a Annual Ball Volunteer you will complete the following training:

• Teesside Hospice mandatory training
• Volunteer induction training
• Any other training identified as appropriate to the role

Support and supervision:

Your first line of support and for any enquiries will be Tilly Roberts to support you in your role. 

Communications:

Tilly Roberts (Events and Community Manager) will regularly provide you with any information updates, training opportunities and upcoming events appropriate to your role.

You will be provided with a Teesside Hospice volunteer badge 

Benefits:

• 20% discount off purchases made in our shops.
• Opportunities for training and personal development
• Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses
• Provided lunch if you volunteer for more than 5 hours per day
• Access to discounts with other retailers and companies
• 10% discount in the Northgate Tea Rooms.

If you're friendly, reliable, and eager to contribute to our cause, we'd love to have you join our team!

Teesside Hospice is committed to eliminating discrimination and values diversity in the workplace.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

At St John Ambulance, we are looking to develop our volunteering offer and become an even more integral part of our communities through delivering community first aid and education. 

We need people who have a passion for helping others, care about their communities and want to make a difference, supporting them to become safe and more resilient by sharing your first aid skills and At St John Ambulance, we are looking to develop our volunteering offer and become an even more integral part of our communities through delivering community first aid and education. We need people who have a passion for helping others, care about their communities and want to make a difference, supporting them to become safe and more resilient by sharing your first aid skills and knowledge. As a Community First Aider, you’ll deliver first aid to those in need through local events, as well as provide education to the public so that the ripple effect of First Aid grows. Through supporting the growth of community partnerships, you will bring people along to our cause, growing our membership and fundraising base and spreading the message that First Aid Saves Lives. Through volunteering as a Community First Aider, you’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. We will make sure you will have access to a proper induction to volunteering with SJA and the training you need for the role you take on. We will also provide you with a supportive environment while you are volunteering with us. Information about our volunteer roles are included in the role descriptions. What you can expect from SJA, and what we expect from those who volunteer with us, is included in the volunteer charter. We are recruiting Community First Aiders in our three Networks; Hull, East Riding and South Humber. To help prospective volunteers learn more, St John Ambulance will invite you to attend a Recruitment Event. A date & location in your area for this will be confirmed via email.

Closing date for these opportunities is: 
31/10/2025

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Location: West Midlands (Dudley, Sandwell and Worcestershire).

Stour Vale Academy Trust is looking for a Trustee to support the strategic development of its thirteen member schools and one day nursery.

Who we are

Since its founding in 2017, Stour Vale Academy Trust has held children and young people at the very heart of all that we do.

We are a multi-academy trust of thirteen member schools and one day nursery located in Dudley, Sandwell and Worcestershire.

Our multi-academy trust developed from collaboration between schools, the significant positive impact of which convinced three schools, two secondary and one primary, that together we would have much greater capacity to improve continuously. Over time, Stour Vale has steadily grown. We began as a cross-phase multi-academy trust and as we have grown, both secondary and primary schools have joined us. As a successful family of schools, delivering high-quality education for the communities we serve, Stour Vale values its diversity. Each school brings its own distinct character, community, history and identity. We celebrate the uniqueness of member schools, recognising that there is a great deal to learn from education in different contexts. This is also the reason why we remain outward-looking, committed to learning from research and excellent practice across the education system.

We intend to continue to grow because we believe that, over time, growth will increase the collective capacity of our family of schools to improve continuously and to provide excellent education and care.

About the role

Trustees at Stour Vale Academy Trust play a critical strategic role in ensuring the Trust delivers high-quality, inclusive education. Working collectively as a Board, Trustees are responsible for setting the Trust’s vision and long-term strategy, holding executive leaders to account for educational performance and operational effectiveness, and ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and in line with statutory requirements.

The role involves contributing to board discussions, serving on one or more committees, and engaging with key areas such as education standards, finance, risk, people, estates, safeguarding and organisational development. Trustees are expected to provide appropriate challenge and support, bringing external perspective, professional expertise and sound judgement to complex decisions.

Trustees act in the best interests of the Trust as a whole rather than any individual school, and are ambassadors for its values and ethos. While previous governance experience is welcome, it is not essential; Stour Vale values trustees who are committed, curious and willing to learn. This is a voluntary role, typically requiring attendance at board and committee meetings, along with preparation time, and offers a meaningful opportunity to influence educational outcomes and contribute to strong, effective governance.

Who we are looking for

Our Board comprises members from varied backgrounds, including education and the public sector, as well as our CEO, Rachel Salter. We are recruiting a new Trustee to the Board who will provide strategic support and help address some of our skill gaps.

We are looking for an individual who is prepared to give up their time to support and advocate, and to use their knowledge and skills to help the executive team and staff maintain Stour Vale’s values and sustain the organisation for future generations.

Most importantly, we want our new Trustee to believe in and align with Stour Vale’s values, and to understand that the role is strategic.

We are open to sector backgrounds, provided you can demonstrate a good understanding of strategic development. However, we are particularly interested to hear from those with skills and experience in:

· Legal

· Finance

· People management and HR

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 2nd February 2026

Support our mission to bring vital funding to adult carers in Solihull.
Your work helps keep services running and opens new opportunities for people who care for others.

As an Adult Carers Fundraiser Admin & Support Volunteer, you will play a key part in helping Carers Trust Solihull secure funding that enables us to continue and expand our vital services for adult carers across the borough.

Working alongside the manager, you will help identify and apply for funding opportunities, assist with administrative and community-based fundraising activities, and represent the charity in local events. Your support will directly contribute to improving the quality of life for carers by enabling new services, resources, and opportunities.

This role is ideal for someone with good communication and organisational skills who enjoys building connections and making a tangible difference in the community.

Key Roles and Responsibilities

• Research and help identify funding opportunities relevant to our work with carers.
• Support the manager with administrative tasks linked to grant applications and fundraising.
• Represent Carers Trust Solihull as a friendly and professional ambassador at fundraising events.
• Keep accurate records of fundraising activity, donations, and outcomes.
• Attend and help organise fundraising events that support our mission.
• Present pre-prepared presentations or films to funders and partners to raise awareness of our work.
• Assist or lead in writing small grant applications (and larger ones where confident).
• Collect and log donated items for our service (e.g., gift vouchers, tickets, Easter eggs, and Christmas selection boxes).
• Monitor when key funding streams renew or reopen, ensuring timely applications.
• Work collaboratively with the manager to assess the viability of opportunities within our available resources.
• Carry out any other agreed tasks related to fundraising and community engagement.

Preferred Skills and Qualities

• Good understanding of marketing and community engagement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Confident when approaching potential funders or representing the charity in public.
• Organised, reliable, and able to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Experience writing small, medium, or large funding applications (desirable).
• Willingness to travel across the borough to attend events (expenses reimbursed).
• Comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.
• Able to understand and work within resource and role boundaries.
• Passionate about achieving a high-quality service for adult carers in Solihull.

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 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, with some evening or weekend events required.
• An enhanced DBS check and references will be required before commencing the role.
• Travel expenses reimbursed in line with Carers Trust Solihull’s volunteer policy.

FOI Researcher (Voluntary)

Location: Remote

Commitment: Flexible, part-time volunteer role

Organisation: Youth Advantage UK

About the Role

Youth Advantage UK is seeking passionate and detail-oriented volunteers to join our team as Freedom of Information (FOI) Researchers. In this role, you will play a vital part in supporting our advocacy and research projects by drafting, submitting, and tracking FOI requests to public bodies across the UK. The data you help uncover will directly inform our campaigns, reports, and youth-focused initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft clear, accurate, and effective FOI requests tailored to specific project needs

• Submit FOI requests to relevant public authorities and track their progress

• Follow up on outstanding requests to ensure timely responses

• Review and interpret data received from FOI responses

• Collaborate with project leads to integrate findings into reports and campaigns

• Maintain accurate records of requests, correspondence, and outcomes

What We’re Looking For

• Familiarity with the UK Freedom of Information Act and FOI request procedures

• Strong written communication and research skills

• Ability to interpret and summarise data clearly

• Organised, proactive, and able to manage multiple requests simultaneously

• A commitment to transparency, accountability, and youth empowerment

• Previous experience with FOI requests (desirable but not essential)

What You’ll Gain

• Experience in legal research, public accountability, and data analysis

• Insight into public sector transparency and youth advocacy work

• Flexible volunteering that fits around your schedule

• A chance to make a tangible impact on youth-focused projects

About our charity

Everyone deserves to live their life to the full, with maximum choice and control.  Our purpose is to make that a reality for young people with vision impairment and complex needs.  They face a multitude of barriers because of the combined impact of a vision impairment with other disabilities and support needs.  We enable each person to find their unique pathway towards their very best life, using our specialist expertise and knowledge.

Our charity is now looking to recruit new trustees to help shape this vital work.

Plans to develop our board

We are specifically seeking one or more trustees with a good knowledge and experience of adult social care.  As well as the normal duties of a trustee, you would take a specific interest in our adult care service provision – St Davids House (residential care), Jigsaw (day service) and our Supported Living service.  You would scrutinise the quality and operation of our care services for adults and offer advice and challenge to our staff team as a member of our Adult Care Advisory Committee.  You will liaise closely with the Director of Care and Support.

You may have been a senior manager in an adult care service or have been a commissioning manager within the NHS for people with complex care needs.  You will have a passion for great person-centred care.  Experience of CQC would be an advantage.

The Board meets seven times a year and is also invited to all events and celebrations which is optional.  Trustees are warmly encouraged to attend meetings in person, but if required can attend some meetings online.  Expenses are paid for travel and overnight accommodation can be arranged for those not local to Devon.

Don’t have the time to become a full trustee?

Don’t have the time to become a full trustee?  We also have a role of Advisory Member on all our committees.  Advisors are appointed by the Board.  This role allows us to access knowledge and experience about running a charity, specialist SEND education and adult social care, but you do not have to take on the full role and responsibility of a trustee.  If you would be interested in finding out more about this role, please contact us.

Oxfordshire Mind is your local mental health charity, working across Oxfordshire and Berkshire West to make sure that everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect. We offer a broad range of services that help people stay well, manage difficult moments and build long-term resilience.

We are looking for a new Chair of the Trustee Board who will provide the leadership that can help guide us through both the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead of us. Our new Chair will provide leadership to the organisation and the Board by ensuring that everyone remains focused on the delivery of the organisation’s charitable purposes in order to provide greater public benefit and enable the charity to maximise its impact.

What are we looking for?

For our new Chair, we’re looking for someone who shares our values, believes in fairness and inclusion, and who cares deeply about our communities. You will bring steady leadership, warmth, curiosity, and a genuine desire to make a difference.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Be able to operate strategically and work effectively with the Board of Trustees and Chief Executive to shape and develop the organisation’s strategic vision.
• Possess the leadership skills required to guide both the Board of Trustees and the wider organisation.
• Have relevant experience and knowledge in key areas that relate to the Charity’s sphere of operation: mental health, the voluntary sector, the NHS, public sector commissioning and local government, and business development; and
• Have experience and knowledge of the geographical area within which the Charity operates (i.e Oxfordshire and Berkshire).
• Experience of being a Trustee (you do not need to have been a Chair before). 

What difference will you make?

You will help guide the charity as it navigates the future and delivers an impactful strategy, ensuring we are collectively the best we can be for our beneficiaries and ensuring we deliver impactful services and continue to challenge stigma around mental health.

Time Commitment

Depending upon the Chair’s personal leadership style, it is estimated that the overall time commitment is likely to average around 4 days per month.

While the focus of our search is on finding our new Chair, we are also looking for new Trustees for our Board. Our Trustees ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations. The expected time commitment for a Trustee is expected to average around one day
per month.

We are looking for a Treasurer with an accountancy background and Board level experience to join our Board to support our small but mighty charity to bring the joy of reading to primary school children across the country.

Location: Online
Salary: Voluntary with reasonable expenses reimbursed
Deadline for applications: 31st January 2026

About Us:

The Children’s Bookshow is a national charity that inspires children with a love of books and reading through an annual programme of inspiring theatre and digital performances and engaging creative workshops. We showcase some of the best authors and illustrators of children’s books from around the world, and celebrate children’s literature in translation. 

We are an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation that has been running successfully for 23 years. Each year, we deliver 15 events in venues ranging from iconic theatres such as The Old Vic in London to community spaces and smaller scale theatres such as the New Wolsey in Ipswich, plus a programme of 60 creative workshops in primary schools. We target areas of high socio-economic deprivation, support environmental sustainability through our programme, and partner with local authorities, libraries and education providers. Every child who attends our theatre performances receives a free copy of the author’s book to take home and keep. This is integral to our offer - putting excellent books directly into the hands of children.

“Having Frank Cottrell-Boyce in for a free workshop really did make such a difference to our school and to our children. Frank was able to inspire every single child to write, no matter their need or ability, and children who would normally be reluctant to share their ideas in front of the class were confident to do so. Every single one of them went home talking non-stop about the amazing author they had met - with many now inspired to become authors. I can't put into words how grateful we are or how much of an impact those couple of hours have had on both the children and staff.” 
Teacher, Winyates Primary, Peterborough 2024

The opportunities:

If you think you have the expertise and passion to support our work and help us to deliver the kind of impact and change experienced by Winyates Primary, then we would love to hear from you!

Thanks to successful fundraising The Children’s Bookshow is financially stable for the next two years. Iterative growth and continued financial sustainability are crucial for us to fulfill our aspirations for the future: 

• Give more primary school children the invaluable experience of a live author event at a local theatre
• Enable children to work creatively with a world class artist in their own classroom 
• Increase book ownership by putting a free book into the hands of every child who attends one of our performances

We are recruiting a Treasurer to join our Board of highly-skilled, committed and friendly Trustees to guide and support us in achieving these aims.

The Role:
Trustees share oversight of The Children’s Bookshow’s artistic programming, operations, fundraising and finances, to ensure good governance in compliance with our governing document and with UK charity and company law.

Time commitment: around 4-6 days per year.

Treasurer:
We are seeking a new Treasurer to ensure high standards of financial governance and decision-making, and to act as a key sounding board for the Co-Directors in the financial planning, management and reporting of our charity. This will include overseeing our annual budget and cashflow and quarterly management accounts, and advising on how best to invest our reserve fund. 

We are looking for a qualified accountant with Board level experience with a UK charity and an interest in our work.

A background in children’s literature, publishing or theatre would be an advantage, but not essential.

The Children’s Bookshow is committed to creating a collaborative Board of Trustees that is inclusive and representative of our society. We actively encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and from all sections of society to apply. 

Meetings:
There are typically four Board meetings a year lasting around an hour. Three of these meetings take place online and we endeavour to meet in person once a year in central London for a meeting followed by lunch. We welcome Trustees to attend our theatre performances and online events wherever possible to directly experience our work. 

We also have a Finance and Operations Committee that occasionally meets online and reports to the Board, which Trustees are invited to opt into to share their expertise in specific areas such as Finance, Fundraising and Development. 

How to apply

Please email your CV and a covering letter (each a maximum of 2 sides of A4) detailing your relevant expertise and experience for the role of Treasurer, and why you would like to be part of The Children’s Bookshow. We look forward to hearing from you.