Business Development Volunteer Roles

The Quality of Life Foundation is looking for a new Trustee with financial expertise to join our existing board.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced professional to join the board of a growing and impactful organisation that is bridging the gap between health and wellbeing and the built environment.

The Quality of Life Foundation

The Quality of Life Foundation was established in 2019 by Prof. Sadie Morgan OBE. Its vision is for a housing system that improves people’s quality of life in their homes and neighbourhoods over the long term.

Our activities include research, thought leadership, training and strategy development, based on the organisation's Quality of Life Framework. Working with organisations in the public, private and third sectors, we are instigating practical projects to support more long-term thinking in industry and government. We are a small but influential organisation and have ambitious plans for growth over the coming years.

We were formally registered as a charity in 2022 and operate a wholly-owned commercial trading subsidiary.

The Role

The role of the Trustees is to set the organisation’s strategic direction, monitor the delivery of its objectives, and uphold its values and governance. The board will also guide, advise and support the Chair, who leads the delivery team towards achieving the Foundation’s vision and purpose.

For this role, we are specifically looking for someone with a finance background and existing or previous experience in charity finance and governance to work with existing trustees to oversee the financial matters of the charity in line with good practice and the legal obligations of the Charities Act.

The appointed trustee will sit on the Finance, Governance and Risk sub-committee and work with the Foundation’s Director and other trustees to update the board at regular intervals about the financial position of the Quality of Life Foundation and its trading subsidiary, QOLF Trading Ltd. NB all trustees are jointly and severally responsible for the administration of the charity.

Key responsibilities of the trustee include:

General

• Overseeing the creation and implementation of the Quality of Life Foundation’s strategy and business plan.

• Ensuring that the Foundation complies with all legal, regulatory and charitable requirements.

• Ensuring that the Foundation’s governance and performance is of the highest possible standard.

• Representing the Foundation at external events and sharing its aims and achievements with a wide variety of stakeholders to further establish its profile.

• Working in partnership with other Trustees and the Chair.

Financial

• Supporting the Director and board to oversee the financial matters of the charity, and to ensure appropriate presentation of budgets, accounts, management accounts and financial statements.

• Ensuring that financial resources are spent in accordance with the Charity’s objectives, good governance, legal and regulatory requirements.

Main duties:

In addition to the general duties of a trustee, your time will be spent:

• Liaising with the Director and/or Business Manager and supporting on financial matters.

• Supporting the board to monitor the financial viability of the Quality of Life Foundation and its trading subsidiary, QOLF Trading Ltd.

• Creating, in conjunction with relevant senior staff, a set of sound financial processes and procedures for the control of the charity’s assets.

• Advising on the financial implications of the Quality of Life Foundation’s Strategic Plan.

• Reviewing the annual accounts and, where applicable, liaising with the Foundation’s external accountants to ensure the accounts are compliant with the current Charities’ statement of recommended practice (SORP).

• Ensuring that sound financial management is maintained and ensuring expenditure is in line with the Foundation’s charitable objectives.

You

You are a leading professional in your industry with the time and commitment to help accelerate our growth and impact. You will be able to demonstrate:

General:

• A commitment to the Quality of Life Foundation’s mission and vision.

• Knowledge and understanding of current financial practice relevant to charities and relevant duties under the Charities Act.

• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties and responsibilities of trusteeship.

Strategic Leadership:

• An ability to quickly understand, explore and resolve strategic issues, and to set and prioritise objectives.

• An ability to make your views known and make decisions in a group environment and in line with strategic objectives.

• Integrity and good independent judgement.

• Agility and the ability to think creatively.

Communication:

• Confidence in persuading and in communicating clearly and sensitively.

• Ability to listen intently, carefully and objectively.

• Ability to convey ideas, information and opinions clearly and concisely including a preparedness to make unpopular recommendations to the Board.

Teamwork:

• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to make decisions for the good of the Foundation.

• Support of the Chair, fellow board members and the Director.

• An ability to challenge the views of others appropriately.

Trustees should also have a good network and be able to combine various specialisms, with an understanding or appreciation of issues around design quality or health and wellbeing.

We are committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive board, containing a broad range of skills, experience and backgrounds.

Commitment

The board meets formally four to six times per year. In addition, you will be expected to join the Finance, Governance and Risk sub-committee of the board and to represent the Foundation at external events.

Board meetings are held online and once a year at a location in central London. They are generally held midweek during the working day.

Trustees report to the Chair of the board. The position is unpaid, but reasonable expenses will be covered.

How to Apply

Please send a CV and covering letter outlining your experience, why you would be suited for the role and why you want to join the Quality of Life Foundation board.

If you require further information, or would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact us via our contact form on our website. 

Applications will be considered by the Chair and Trustees of the Quality of Life Foundation.

Suitable candidates will be invited to interview.

We're starting a circular fashion revolution. Loom connects you with designers to upcycle your clothes. Using AI and machine learning, we're making upcycling easy, fun and accessible. In the UK it’s estimated we only wear 1/4 of our wardrobes. That’s 1.6 billion unworn items of clothing in the UK alone, mainly due to bad design, bad fit and poor quality. This is leading to a global crisis. By 2050, 150 million tonnes of clothes will be in landfill. In fact, the problem is so huge you can already see a textile landfill in Chile from space.

There’s no need for those clothes to be thrown away. There are tens of thousands of designers and seamstresses in the UK who can help repair, alter or redesign your clothes - saving them from landfill and giving them a whole new lease of life. But currently ordering custom made or upcycling your clothes is expensive and inaccessible. Would you even know where to start? Imagine if you could create your own tailor made wardrobe at the touch of a button. Introducing Loom. Loom connects you with designers to create bespoke or upcycled clothing. Tell us about an item you no longer wear, and we’ll give you ideas on how we could transform it. Or already have a vision of what you want to create? Tell us & our designers will bring your vision to life. Our technology uses AI and machine learning to match-make your projects with the right designers based on style, location and design. And our technology not only supports you but also our incredible community of designers. Loom is an all-in-one software solution to not only help our designers find more work, but also manage orders, payments & customer service, to help grow their businesses sustainably.

INFLUENCER PARTNERSHIP MANAGER

• Reach out and foster relationships with micro-influencers, partner with influencers on collaborations and campaigns monitor end-to-end progress of campaigns and support with influencer strategy and ideation of collaborations.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week remotely for 3-5 months.

We're starting a circular fashion revolution. Loom connects you with designers to upcycle your clothes. Using AI and machine learning, we're making upcycling easy, fun and accessible. In the UK it’s estimated we only wear 1/4 of our wardrobes. That’s 1.6 billion unworn items of clothing in the UK alone, mainly due to bad design, bad fit and poor quality. This is leading to a global crisis. By 2050, 150 million tonnes of clothes will be in landfill. In fact, the problem is so huge you can already see a textile landfill in Chile from space.

There’s no need for those clothes to be thrown away. There are tens of thousands of designers and seamstresses in the UK who can help repair, alter or redesign your clothes - saving them from landfill and giving them a whole new lease of life. But currently ordering custom made or upcycling your clothes is expensive and inaccessible. Would you even know where to start? Imagine if you could create your own tailor made wardrobe at the touch of a button. Introducing Loom. Loom connects you with designers to create bespoke or upcycled clothing. Tell us about an item you no longer wear, and we’ll give you ideas on how we could transform it. Or already have a vision of what you want to create? Tell us & our designers will bring your vision to life. Our technology uses AI and machine learning to match-make your projects with the right designers based on style, location and design. And our technology not only supports you but also our incredible community of designers. Loom is an all-in-one software solution to not only help our designers find more work, but also manage orders, payments & customer service, to help grow their businesses sustainably.

WEB DEVELOPER

• We are looking for a Web Developer who is proficient in using Bubble.io to update design of the website, fix bugs and improve UX.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week for 3-5 months.

Agriculture is the primary source of income and food security for over 80% of the population in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Unfortunately, farmers in this region face numerous challenges that significantly hinder their productivity and overall well-being. These challenges include limited access to important information, inadequate storage infrastructure, transportation limitations, insufficient financial assistance, reliance on rainfall, and a lack of opportunities for training and skill development. As a result, over 7.7 million people in the DR Congo are currently struggling with severe food insecurity.

Our organization is fully committed to supporting farmers by providing them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources to enhance their productivity and meet the highest standards of quality.One of the primary focuses of our program is to offer farmers comprehensive training on the most effective agricultural practices. This encompasses guidance on soil management, efficient water utilization, integrated pest and disease control, and responsible use of chemicals. Moreover, we provide training on sustainable production techniques, such as organic farming and permaculture, to minimize environmental impact and safeguard natural resources.

GRANT WRITER

• Create grant proposals in response to open calls and develop templates for future opportunities.
• Volunteer 2-3 hours per week for 3-5 months.

We are looking for talented, articulate people to join us as grants fundraising volunteers. 

As our work develops, we increasingly need to ask funders to support our work – and we could do with some help with creating our smaller grant applications. 

We are looking to grow our activities for children aged five and upwards, new sessions for adults in the community and our youth support coaching programme. We also need funds to help our residents with food and hygiene items – including ‘welcome packs’ for everyone who comes to live with us.

Joining us as a grants fundraising volunteer will involve you in having a small group of trusts and grant-makers to apply to, using our established budgets and cases for support, and – where your applications are successful – providing written and visual evidence to report back on how we’ve spent the money. We want you to feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in being at the heart of making things happen for young people, and there will be occasional opportunities to attend cheque presentations and other events if you would like to. 

This is a role that can be carried out remotely and at times that suit you, although we’d hope to see you spending some time at the YMCA to get to know the work that you will be supporting. 

Your Role

• To get to know our work and the specific projects and items that YMCA Doncaster needs to raise grant funding for. 
• To develop a clear understanding of the ‘Cases for Support’ that you will be using in writing your applications.
• To take on a small group of trusts and grant-makers, submit applications to them and answer basic queries during the application process. 
• To make sure that those who fund our work are thanked, acknowledged appropriately and updated on the difference that their support makes. 
• To carry out grantmaker searches as needed. 
• To attend – if you would like to – cheque presentations and other events on behalf of YMCA Doncaster. 
• To carry out other grants-related tasks as needed.

The digital network includes +550 members across +25 countries in Asia. It is an active and inspirational network of the region’s most promising leaders from diverse cultures, countries, and work environments, including government, civil society, academia, and social enterprises representatives.

The world is fragmented and we need to work in a collaborative way to tackle global issues such as climate change, peace & reconciliation but also the rise of Artificial intelligence. We host in-person and virtual events such as high level online conference, private roundtable discussion with experts, change makers and leaders across topics centered around building tech for a better world while supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals such as climate action, gender equality, and youth empowerment.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

• We are looking for a volunteer to create digital marketing content brief videos and other digital support, along with creating visually appealing infographics
• Volunteer 2-3 hours per week for 3-5 months

We are working to make the UK version of Project Gutenberg so that education can be more affordable/ accessible. We are also working to offer online courses (in partnership with UK universities and even lessons for teachers, leading to the creation of better job opportunities. We are also doing some work in the environmental sector - with every book brought, £1 will be put to good use and for good deeds.

VISUAL CONTENT CREATION VOLUNTEER

• We are seeking creative individuals to join our team as Volunteer Visual Content Creators. As a Visual Content Creator, you will have the opportunity to produce captivating images and graphics for marketing, social media, and webpage design purposes, helping to enhance the visual appeal of the Eyeniversum platform and attract users.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week for 6 months

We are working to make the UK version of Project Gutenberg so that education can be more affordable/ accessible. We are also working to offer online courses (in partnership with UK universities and even lessons for teachers, leading to the creation of better job opportunities. We are also doing some work in the environmental sector - with every book brought, £1 will be put to good use and for good deeds.

ONLINE COURSE TEACHING VOLUNTEER

• We are seeking passionate educators to join our team as Volunteer Online Course Instructors. As an Online Course Instructor, you will have the opportunity to create and teach online courses on topics of your expertise, offering valuable educational content to our users while contributing to the growth of the Eyeniversum platform.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week for 6 months

We are working to make the UK version of Project Gutenberg so that education can be more affordable/ accessible. We are also working to offer online courses (in partnership with UK universities and even lessons for teachers, leading to the creation of better job opportunities. We are also doing some work in the environmental sector - with every book brought, £1 will be put to good use and for good deeds.

WRITING VOLUNTEER

• We are seeking passionate volunteers to join our team as Ebook Authors. As an Ebook Author, you will have the opportunity to write and publish ebooks on topics of your expertise (or Novels), offering valuable educational content to our users while earning revenue through ebook sales on the Eyeniversum platform.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week for 6 months

We are working to make the UK version of Project Gutenberg so that education can be more affordable/ accessible. We are also working to offer online courses (in partnership with UK universities and even lessons for teachers, leading to the creation of better job opportunities. We are also doing some work in the environmental sector - with every book brought, £1 will be put to good use and for good deeds.

VIDEO CREATOR AND EDITOR

•  As a Video Creator, you will play a crucial role in crafting engaging marketing (especially Instagram and Youtube viral videos possibly) and informative videos for marketing and educational purposes, helping to promote Eyeniversum's mission and attract users to our platform.
• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week for 6 months.

Are you familiar with the hospitality landscape in South-East London? Do you have experience of running or working in a start-up?

Plateful Café are seeking a dedicated entrepreneur to sit on their advisory  board of Trustees at this exciting time to help steer the charity development towards the next stage of establishing a sustainable café. Plateful Café opened to the public in September 2023 offering breakfast,lunch and hot drinks on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday(9-3) as well as catering for events, pop ups and selling artisan products and artwork by local refugees.We are based at Parkside Community Centre in SE10 8FY and we  have tendered for the venue for the next 4 years.

 By joining the charity at this exciting stage you will have the opportunity to work with a diverse team building on securing the charity long-term future.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Lead on a new operations subcommittee to build a sustainable café diversifying our income Action planning, piloting and market research
• Customer development,research and  building rapport
• Developing networks in the hospitality sector to provide opportunities for  Café clients to seek experience and positions after the training programme
• Plan opportunities to diversify and capacity build Plateful Café’s income strategy by identifying new venues for pop-ups,promoting catering and identify new stockists to sell our products
• Overseeing activity on the online shop and selling points e.g. markets, local shops, events
• Overseeing the new supper club

Essential Skills

• Experience of management role in hospitality industry
• Strong track record of relationships building and networking with businesses
• Experience working to KPI’s
• Successful leadership and operations in a professional capacity
• Shared commitment for creating empowering, proactive solutions to local challenges
• People centred approach with strong communication and team working skills

Desirable Skills

• Lived experience of being a refugee
• Project coordination experience
• Network building in South-East London
  

Member of Connexional Solidarity Circles (Carers, Rural, Disability, LGBT+, Racial Justice, and Women)

Closing date: 9am on 7 May 2024

Proposed tart date: 1 Sep 2024

Solidarity Circles for Disability, LGBT+, Racial Justice, and Women were launched in September 2023 as part of the Strategy for Justice, Dignity and Solidarity. We hope to start 2 new Solidarity Circles – one for Carers and one for Rural Communities in September 2024.

Solidarity Circles are online meetings for the Methodist Church to support people in different diversities of the Church’s life to meet regularly, to support one another and to raise with relevant Church leaders the concerns that need to be addressed. These circles act as consultative groups for the work of the Methodist Church and are supported and led by a volunteer coordinator.

Each Solidarity Circle is formed of up to 15 members who are appointed for one, two or three years with up to five new members recruited each year to ensure a diversity of views and experience are heard.

If you are passionate about working with others towards a fully inclusive church and meet the criteria then please consider applying to join one or more of the Solidarity Circles.

• Solidarity Circle for Disability
• Solidarity Circle for LGBT+
• Solidarity Circle for Racial Justice
• Solidarity Circle for Women
• Solidarity Circle for Carers
• Solidarity Circle for Rural Communities

For the role description and Solidarity Circle Terms of Reference, please review the Solidarity Circle Information pack. The pack also details the additional information regarding preferences and availability, which will need to be noted on your application.

The closing date for applications is 7 May 2024 by 9am.

A drop-in session has been arranged to support the recruitment for new Solidarity Circle members. The session will take place on 24 April from 7-8pm

Please view job on the Methodist Church jobs page to register your interest to attend drop-in

Vice Chair

We have an exciting opportunity for a Vice Chair who is passionate about young people and who is willing to give their time and experience to support this organisation in enabling young people to reach their potential.

Position: Vice Chair

Location: Nottingham

Hours: Board meetings, circa 2 hours each month

Salary: Unremunerated although travel and expenditure can be reimbursed.

About the Role

The organisation is recruiting a Vice Chair who can support our transformation journey, we have an ambitious and exciting growth plan, which will provide us with long-term sustainability. During the next three years, it is essential that we build on the existing skills of our Board of Trustees, expanding these to ensure we have sound governance and oversight of new opportunities, which will include a significant partnership and facility development project. We are interested in recruiting trustees who are passionate about young people and who are willing to give their time, and experience to support the organisation in enabling young people to reach their potential and with time to oversee the organisation, develop strategy, and ensure sound governance. We aim to attract trustees from different ethnicities, genders, and experiences to reflect the communities we work with.

As Vice Chair, you will grasp the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead with vision and energy, applying your expertise to make a visible and lasting difference to the organisation. This will mean overseeing the organisation, and strategic developments and ensuring sound governance.

You will need to commit to attendance at Board meetings, currently every three months and an additional sub-group meeting, such as finance or marketing each quarter. There may be other demands on your time, especially during this coming year as we transition into a new facility, but these should not exceed on average 2 hours each month. Experience in the sector is not essential as training will be provided and you will be supported with a thorough induction to the responsibilities of a trustee and the organisation.

Specific duties for all charity trustees which are laid down by Charity Law are:

a. A duty of care, to ensure that the charity works in pursuance only of its objects and that it delivers on these.

b. A duty of compliance with all relevant legislation and regulation; and

c. A duty of prudence in respect of the charity’s assets.

ii. The organisation’s Articles of Association set out the composition of the Board of Trustees, how the Trustees are appointed and their powers.

Purpose

1.1. The Board of Trustees is ultimately responsible for the overall conduct of the organisation and all its projects and will conduct its business to ensure that the organisation is:

· financially viable;

· properly governed; and

· properly managed.

1.2. The Board of Trustees will monitor the performance of all its functions and will decide the level of resources to meet its financial and other obligations.

How to apply

If you are interested in joining the Board of Trustees, please apply in writing stating your interest, skills and experience and any particular areas you are interested in.

About the Organisation

The organisation was established in 1993 as a charity supporting young people living in the city and county of Nottingham. The overarching aim of the organisation is to provide support to young people taking a holistic approach to their health and well-being; this is provided through easy access to health, counselling, housing, and learning opportunities while providing a safe place to meet, take part in activities and use practical services such affordable meals, laundry, and showers.

Currently, the primary work of the organisation is delivered through the NGY MyPlace centre in Nottingham, bringing together a multi-disciplinary team enabling the needs of young people to be met in one place. Until 2012, the organisation operated from Glasshouse Street and in 2008 became part of the successful Nottingham bid for Myplace funding under the Government’s commitment to provide youth centres for young people. This bid brought 4.9 million into Nottingham, purchased a building and funded the refurbishment, transforming a grade2 listed Georgian townhouse into a multi-purpose centre, named NGY, run by the organisation and bringing together partners in the centre.

You may have experience in areas such as CFO, NED, Non-Exec Director, Non-Executive Director Fundraiser, Trustee, Fundraising Trustee, Fundraising Manager, Community Engagement Trustee, Community Engagement etc.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Role title: Chair of the Board of Trustees
Location: Flexible (travel to London will be required at least once a quarter)
Salary: N/A (Volunteer role)
Time commitment: 2-3 days per month
Contract: The Chair is appointed for an initial 3-year term with the option of renewal for up to 3 terms. The maximum term for all trustees (including the Chair) is 9 years.

Purpose of the role: 
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced leader to join a growing, impact-focused and ambitious charity supporting refugees to access meaningful employment and build a new life. 

The Chair leads the board, ensuring that it governs Breaking Barriers effectively, in service of our vision and mission. The Chair leads in an inclusive way, supporting the board to work together well, and providing support and challenge to the Chief Executive. The Chair is also an ambassador for the charity. 

The Chair of Breaking Barriers provides visionary leadership and strategic direction, ensuring that the organisation effectively achieves its mission while adhering to its core values. This pivotal role involves governance oversight, board leadership, executive support, and serving as an ambassador for the organisation.

Key responsibilities:

• Strategic leadership and vision: Guide the organisation with a strategic vision, aligning the board and staff's efforts with the mission. Lead the development and review of long-term strategies to ensure responsiveness to community needs and adaptability to the changing environment.
• Governance and oversight: Ensure effective governance, oversee board operations, and ensure compliance with legal, ethical, and functional responsibilities. Monitor financial performance and adherence to non-profit management best practices.
• Resource mobilisation: Support and participate in fundraising strategies, leveraging networks, and engaging with donors and stakeholders to secure necessary resources for the organisation's work.
• Building and leading the board: Ensure the board comprises members with diverse skills and perspectives. Lead recruitment, orientation, and training of board members and facilitate effective meetings and discussions, ensuring productive governance to advance the purpose and values of the organization.
• CEO support and evaluation: Support and maintain a constructive relationship with the CEO, creating a positive and strong working relationship to jointly set and achieve appropriate targets, staying in regular contact and acting as a sounding board to discuss strategic or staffing issues - coaching, supporting and challenging as necessary. Ensuring accountability for organisational performance.
• Ambassadorship: Act as the primary ambassador, representing and promoting the organisation's mission, values, and interests to external stakeholders, enhancing its reputation, and fostering collaboration, fundraising and promotional opportunities.

To view the full job description and person specification, as well as details on our accessible recruitment process, please view the attached recruitment pack.

Other considerations

• As part of our safeguarding commitment to our clients, we carry out pre-employment checks to ensure that successful applicants are suitable to work with adults at risk. These include basic DBS checks, obtaining references and verifying a candidate’s identity and right to work in the UK.
• Breaking Barriers is committed to protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect and for their views, wishes and beliefs to be fully considered when deciding action.
• We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity status, race, religion or belief.

How to apply

If you are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, we want to hear from you. Please apply via Charity Jobs by submitting a cover letter (up to approximately 2 A4 pages), referencing how you believe you best meet the person specification. You are also welcome to include any reasonable adjustments you require for the interview process. Please view the attached recruitment pack for further essential information for candidates.

Closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Thursday 2nd May. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We belong to the Experts by Experience Employment Initiative, which advocates and supports organisations to employ more people from a refugee background. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applicants with experience of seeking asylum and/or a refugee background. If you are an expert by experience (a refugee or a migrant with direct, first-hand experience of issues and challenges of the UK asylum or immigration system), you can ask for an independent and confidential support for your job application from the Experts by Experience Employment Network. Please reach out to HR Manager Dani Meier for further details (we are unable to include email addresses in this advert, but you can find contact details on the final page of the attached recruitment pack).