Volunteer roles

Location: Much Hadham, Hertfordshire
Commitment: Approx. 8 - 10 meetings per year preparation
Type: Voluntary position (reasonable travel expenses reimbursed)
 
Make a lasting difference as a Trustee at St Elizabeth’s
Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact? Do you have strong financial expertise and a desire to use your skills to support a charity with a 120-year legacy of transforming lives?
 
St Elizabeth’s is looking for a committed and values-driven Trustee (Finance) to join our Board and play a vital role in shaping our future. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the strategic leadership of a specialist organisation supporting children, young people and adults with epilepsy and a wide range of complex needs.
 
Set within 60 acres of beautiful Hertfordshire countryside, St Elizabeth’s includes a non-maintained Special Education School, seven registered Children’s Homes, a Sixth Form, a specialist Further Education College, Supported Living services, adult learning and Day Opportunities, and 24-hour health provision delivered by expert nurses and therapists.
 
As we continue to grow and evolve, your insight and expertise will help us ensure our services remain safe, sustainable, and outstanding.
 
What will you be doing?
As a Trustee, you will:

• Provide strategic oversight and help drive our long-term vision.
• Use your financial skills to support our Finance, Audit & Risk Committee, and Investment Committee
• Offer constructive challenge and strong governance.
• Help monitor performance, risk, investment decisions, and financial sustainability.
• Champion our values of Joyful, Aspirational, Compassionate and Collaborative
• Act as an ambassador for our mission and Catholic ethos.

 
This is a rewarding role where you will work alongside talented Trustees and leaders who are deeply committed to improving outcomes for the people we support.
 
What we’re looking for
We welcome applications from individuals who can bring:

• Senior-level experience in finance, accounting, audit, banking, or investment
• Strong strategic thinking, independence of mind and sound judgement
• A commitment to good governance and ethical leadership
• The ability to collaborate, support, question, and influence at Board level.
• A willingness to embrace and support our Catholic ethos.
• Time and dedication to prepare for and attend meetings.

 
Professional finance qualifications (e.g., accountant or auditor) are highly desirable, particularly for the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee.
 
Your commitment

• Around 5 Board meetings per year (4 half-day, 1 full day)
• Membership of at least one Board committee (4–6 meetings annually)
• Occasional monitoring visits to site
• Preparation time for reading papers and training.
• Meetings are normally held in Much Hadham, with remote attendance available where necessary.

 
This is a voluntary role, and we reimburse reasonable travel expenses.
 
Why join us?
By becoming a Trustee at St Elizabeth’s, you’ll be part of an organisation with deep roots, strong values, and an unwavering commitment to enabling people with complex needs to thrive. Your contribution will directly support the sustainability, quality, and impact of our services — and help shape the next chapter of a remarkable charity.
 
Interested in joining us?
We would love to hear from you. Apply now!
 
#INDVOL
 
REF-228 849

Voluntary Action Camden (VAC) is seeking a dedicated Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees. This is a pivotal role, ensuring our charity remains financially secure while continuing to move in the right strategic direction. VAC is the Local Infrastructure Organisation for Camden, representing over 1,200 charities, community groups, social enterprises and faith-based entities.

As Treasurer, you will work closely with staff and fellow Trustees to oversee VAC’s financial health, support robust governance, and help shape the future of our support for the Camden community. 

VAC strengthens and connects Camden’s voluntary and community organisations. Supporting over 345 member groups, we represent a diverse range of communities and interests. Our mission is to empower Camden’s residents, helping them become resilient and influential in the decisions that affect their lives. 

Our vision is a borough where people feel a strong sense of belonging, where communities collaborate, shape services, and take action to meet local needs. 

VAC is committed to justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all backgrounds to ensure our Board reflects the vibrant community of Camden. We look forward to hearing from you.  

As Volunteer Company Secretary, you will be the "conscience of the charity," ensuring that our Trustee and Executive Team operates within its legal and regulatory framework to ensure our beneficiaries receive the highest standard of care and support. 

This is a vital role at the heart of the charity’s operations and offers the opportunity to help shape the governance of a high-impact charity. 

You will provide the bridge between the Board and the executive team, contributing directly to the Trust’s mission by underpinning strong governance and accountability at Board level. By ensuring compliance, transparency, and well-run meetings, you will support the Trustee and executive team to make informed strategic decisions that enhance opportunities, independence, and wellbeing for adults with neuro-disabilities. 

You will:  

• Manage our core administration, ensuring governance and compliance documents, records and processes are kept up to date; including managing filings with Companies House and the Charity Commission, and managing the conflicts of interest register.
• Support the Board and CEO with meeting management; helping to prepare agendas, minutes, board packs and maintain a robust rolling action log.
• Ensure good governance, keeping us aligned with legal and regulatory requirements; always advising best practice and updating the board on the Charity Governance Code.
• Support the Trustee onboarding process, helping us to stay structured and efficient. 
• Be the organisational backbone, helping Minstead Trust to stay steady, safe and well run.

What are we looking for?  

• Commitment to our Mission: an understanding of, or interest in, the challenges faced by those living with neuro-disabilities and a willingness to lead according to our values.  
• Detail-Oriented: a "right first time" approach to legal documentation.  
• Discretion: the ability to handle sensitive clinical or financial information with absolute confidentiality.  
• Ability to think creatively and strategically and exercise good, independent judgement. 

About you: 

• You’re someone who loves order, clarity and good organisation. 
• You’re reliable, detail focused and calm under pressure. 
• You have prior experience as a Company Secretary, Governance Officer, or Senior Administrator, ideally within the UK charity or public sector. (Essential) 
• You have a high level of digital literacy (e.g., Board portals, MS Teams/Zoom, SharePoint).  
• You have exceptional minute-taking skills and the ability to synthesize complex discussions into concise, professional records.  
• You care deeply about people and want to use your skills to make a real difference. 
• You’re an effective team player. 
• You’re simply brilliant at keeping things running smoothly!

This role is voluntary, but you will be supported by a professional team across Finance, People & Culture and Administration to ensure you are able to operate effectively.  Reasonable out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed. 

About us: 

Our Vision at Minstead Trust is to live in a society where people with neuro-disabilities enjoy fulfilling lives of their own choosing.

Our Mission is to support them to fully develop their individual potential by providing opportunities, enhancing life skills, ensuring informed choice, and influencing society 

We encourage all our volunteers to uphold our values and to embrace who we are:  

We appreciate each person. Everyone is different – we respect and celebrate this.

We’re always learning. We all have something to offer and more to learn.

We’re always improving. Striving to give our best and to have more impact.

We push for change. We will challenge society to be fully inclusive.

We find the joy in everyday life. We have the freedom to be ourselves and enjoy what we do. 

Join our Client Services Governance Committee as a co-opted member

At Crisis we are privileged to support people out of homelessness and campaign for the changes needed to solve it altogether, whether through direct services or our leading-edge research and influencing work in England, Scotland, and Wales.

As we embark on the delivery of our new 10-year strategy, we are looking for a new co-opted member that can and add to the skills of a high-performing sub-committee of our Board of Trustees.

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute your expertise; by providing strategic insight and guidance on the safe, inclusive, equitable and impactful services we provide our members to help them out of homelessness.

We are looking for people that:

· Care deeply about improving systems and services and ending homelessness

· Have skills and experience in service delivery and/or service design

· Communicate clearly and can work well with others — including trustees, staff and members

If this sounds like you, we look forward to hearing from you.  You do not need previous board experience. We will support you to develop the skills and confidence needed for the role.

What matters most is your commitment, your perspective, and your willingness to help us make good decisions.

To apply, please submit any of the following:

· A short expression of interest (max. 500 words) explaining why you want to join and what skills you bring (with or without current CV)

Or

· Audio/video format application (max. 3-4 minutes)

To understand more about the role, please get in touch if you would like an informal conversation beforehand.

Applications should be submited via email by Thursday 25 June 2026.

Shortlisted candidate will be invited to an informal group discussion/scenario situation with Chair of the Committee, Executive Director of Client Services, and an Expert by Experience, which will take place on Thursday 2 July, online.

Formal appointment will then be made by the Crisis Board in July with the first Committee meeting in August 2026.

About Us

Crisis is here to end homelessness for good. Over the next ten years, our aim is to:

1. We’ll campaign across England, Scotland, and Wales to push for the policies needed to end homelessness. We’ll also challenge unfair treatment and harmful stereotypes about people who are homeless.

2. We’ll open a network of Crisis Centres across the UK. Each Centre will offer high‑quality support to people who need it and create a plan to end homelessness in the local area. We’ll also provide more than 1,000 homes for our members by launching a new housing company that shows how giving people a stable home first can end homelessness.

3. We’ll bring people from all over Britain together to help—landlords, employers, teachers, healthcare workers, and anyone else who wants to make a difference. Everyone has a role to play in ending homelessness

About the Client Services Governance Committee:

· The committee is made up of 3x Trustees and an Expert by Experience who has previous lived experience of homelessness; there is currently no member involvement on the committee

· Makes sure Crisis’ services are delivered safely, professionally, and to a high standard, and giving the Board confidence that this is happening.

· Oversees safeguarding across all Client Services, and helping to build a culture where safety, awareness, and the wellbeing of everyone who comes into contact with Crisis, are top priorities.

· Provides a space to review and challenge how Client Services are governed — including how incidents and complaints are handled.

About the Role of co-opted member:

• Reporting to: Chair of Committee 
• Term: 3 years, with potential for re-appointment for a second term
• Commitment: Attending and actively taking part in the Client Services Governance Committee meetings — usually five times a year and typically held online.
• Remuneration: Reimbursement of travel, childcare and other agreed costs (although co-optee roles are voluntary and generally unpaid)

Purpose of the role:

· To work collaboratively with trustees, senior leadership and Experts by Experience to strengthen the impact of Crisis services

· To help guide the big decisions about member services and ensuring members have safe, positive experiences — keeping Crisis focused on its mission to end homelessness.

· To support the committee in understanding how well Crisis’ services are working and helping to make sure standards and legal requirements are consistently met.

· To review reports about risks, complaints, incidents, and safeguarding issues that affect members.

· To oversee the delivery of impactful and effective tenancy support for Crisis’ new work in housing supply and the development of Crisis Centres.

· To offer insight into what good member support looks like, sharing perspectives on member experiences, and highlighting best practice to inform decisions.

Person Specification:

· Experience in design and best practice in delivery of services to disadvantaged groups

· Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with trustees, staff, and external stakeholders

· Someone who can take part in respectful discussions, ask thoughtful questions and help us make balanced decisions as part of a team

· A commitment to get to know Crisis, including our mission, values and aims, prepare for and attend meetings, engage and contribute

· Awareness of charity governance or a willingness to learn more

The personal styles and behaviours that work best for Crisis:

· Our Board and committees are friendly and supportive, and we are looking for people who listen actively and respect different opinions

· We need people who can ask tough questions, solve problems and make decisions based on evidence

· You should believe that homelessness can be ended and be ready to challenge the idea that it’s something we just have to accept

· You’ll be committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and help make sure these values are embedded in our culture and in everything Crisis does

· You’ll set a positive example through your behaviour, your values, and the way you work with others

The English class is a part of the Creative Arts and Skills Programme (CASP) and runs on Mondays, 12-2pm, during term time. It is a safe space for clients to improve their English at their own pace, making friends and immersing themselves in learning to forget some of their daily challenges, whilst being continuously supported by our team of dedicated staff and volunteers throughout their journey.

This weekly English class is a relaxed and friendly space for clients of all language and literacy abilities to practice their English together and develop the confidence to later enrol in a formal college ESOL course. While this class is mostly for beginners, it is also attended by clients who are less comfortable in busy environments and would prefer to learn or improve their English in a smaller group. Some clients are already in college and use this space for extra practice.

We are looking for a volunteer to assist the main teacher in the class, predominantly as a friendly and supportive presence and to provide extra support and encouragement for clients who may need it.

Main tasks and activities

• Supporting the set up and smooth running of the class;
• Assisting clients one on one who might need a little bit of extra support;
• Provide a friendly and supportive presence;
• Other assitance as required by the main teacher.

Skills and experience needed

• Understanding of, and commitment to, the objectives of the Helen Bamber Foundation;
• A demonstrable empathy for our vulnerable clients, including asylum seekers, refugees and survivors of torture and trafficking;
• An understanding of the challenges facing our client group;
• Punctual, reliable and self-motivated with a positive, ’can-do’ attitude;
• Experience of working or volunteering in a supporting role and/or with vulnerable people;
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage own time and workload, and to prioritise a range of competing demands;

What you will get out of the role:

• A strong understanding of how HBF’s integration programmes contribute to the well-being of our clients;
• An appreciation of the processes and systems that asylum seekers and refugees navigate within the UK;
• Access to training opportunities within HBF
• Increased experience and confidence in teaching English as a second language;
• Increased teamwork skills;
• An ability to multi-task between competing priorities.

Please provide a Cover Letter along with your CV to be considered for this role.

We have an exciting opportunity to welcome two Volunteer Counsellors to join our Family Services Team.

We are looking for individuals with experience in bereavement, life-limiting illness, healthcare, or ideally a background in palliative care. The role involves supporting clients aged 16 and over, individuals and (where appropriately qualified) couples. Counsellors will manage a caseload of 4–6 clients, offering weekly sessions over one day per week.

You will be responsible for managing your own caseload, typically providing up to 12 weekly sessions per client, with the option to extend short-term support where needed. All sessions will take place at the hospice.

Applicants should hold a minimum Level 4 counselling qualification (Level 5 preferred) and be registered with the BACP or a similar professional and ethical body.

In return, we offer a supportive and welcoming environment, with access to regular internal group supervision sessions, held fortnightly or monthly depending on preference.

Do you want to help disabled and neurodivergent children and their families who may be struggling to live their lives to their full potential?

You can help us by providing family support in your local community 

What will you be doing?

• Gathering information about family needs in person at local family hubs
• Supporting families in accessing useful information and connecting them with services.
• Researching and maintaining a directory of local community support services and groups.
• Identifying and attending community outreach/family engagement events to raise awareness of services in the local area.
• Providing emotional support to families

What skills would be useful?

• Good interpersonal skills
• A good level of written and verbal communication
• A good level of computer literacy
• A good eye for detail
• Experience supporting disabled or neurodivergent children
• Experience supporting families in health and social care sector

What’s in it for you?

• Relevant training, mentoring and support will be provided
• Gain experience to add on to your CV
• Utilise your skills and learn new ones
• Social opportunities
• Access to wellbeing support
• Out of pocket travel expenses can be reimbursed
• We strive to make reasonable adjustments and improve accessibility

Location:

Stafford Family Hub Faraday Road, Stafford, ST16 3NQ

Age limit:

18

Schedule / How much time are you expected to give and when?:

For the role to be mutually beneficial, we hope for volunteers to volunteer for 6 months.

The 2nd and 4th Monday of the month 1pm-3pm (possibility of weekly sessions tbc)

Do you want to help disabled and neurodivergent children and their families who may be struggling to live their lives to their full potential? You can help us by providing support in your local community.

What will you be doing?

• Gathering information about family needs in person at local family hubs
• Supporting families in accessing useful information and connecting them with services.
• Researching and maintaining a directory of local community support services and groups.
• Identifying and attending community outreach/family engagement events to raise awareness of services in the local area.
• Providing emotional support to families

What skills would be useful?

• Good interpersonal skills
• A good level of written and verbal communication
• A good level of computer literacy
• A good eye for detail
• Experience supporting disabled or neurodivergent children
• Experience supporting families in health and social care sector

What’s in it for you?

• Relevant training, mentoring and support will be provided
• Gain experience to add on to your CV
• Utilise your skills and learn new ones
• Social opportunities
• Access to wellbeing support
• Out of pocket travel expenses can be reimbursed
• We strive to make reasonable adjustments and improve accessibility

Location:

Maryhill Family Hub in Kidsgrove, Gloucester Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST7 4DJ

Age limit:

18

Schedule / How much time are you expected to give and when?:

For the role to be mutually beneficial, we hope for volunteers to volunteer for 6 months.

The Kidsgrove sessions take place on the 2nd and 4th Friday morning of the month.

Coordinator Volunteer - Read Easy Leeds

Are you an enthusiastic volunteer looking for a new role where you'll be able to use your organisation and people skills to really make a difference? Are you passionate about helping others? Could you be part of someone’s journey towards learning to read?

Read Easy Leeds is a local charity that provides free, confidential, one-to-one reading coaching for adults who struggle with reading. As part of the Read Easy UK network, we help adults improve their reading skills, confidence and opportunities in life. We are looking to expand our work and are seeking new Coordinators to join our friendly team.

This voluntary position would be ideal for someone with strong organisational and problem-solving skills, alongside excellent people skills and a friendly, caring nature. If you enjoy helping others and finding practical solutions, this could be the perfect role for you.

Being a Coordinator is a vital and rewarding role within the Read Easy Leeds team. You will meet adults who want to learn to read and interview volunteer Reading Coaches. You will then pair Readers with Coaches and provide ongoing support, alongside our Literacy Specialist, checking in regularly to ensure that both Reader and Coach are progressing well. You will play an important role in helping the group continue to thrive and grow.

You do not need previous experience, and you do not need to have volunteered as a Reading Coach first. Full training and support will be provided by Read Easy UK, and you will work alongside an enthusiastic and supportive team.

The role is flexible and can largely be carried out from home. However, you will need to make occasional visits to reading pairs at venues across Leeds and attend occasional in-person meetings.

You can choose your own hours and the number of reading pairs you support. Most Coordinators spend around 3 to 5 hours per week in the role. Some daytime and evening availability is essential. To get the most from the role, we ask Coordinators to commit to supporting Read Easy Leeds for at least one year.

What's in it for you?

• A rewarding role that has a positive impact on people's lives – there is no better feeling than seeing Readers graduate from the programme.

• The opportunity to meet new people and work collaboratively as part of a supportive team.

• The chance to develop skills in coordination, communication and volunteer support.

• Regular contact with the team, including social events and face-to-face opportunities.

• Support from a dedicated Team Leader, together with comprehensive training and ongoing guidance.

The skills you will need

• A passion for supporting others to achieve their goals.

• Strong communication, interpersonal and organisational skills.

• Reasonable confidence using IT, including email, online meetings and electronic records.

• The ability to use initiative and work independently, while also contributing as part of a team.

• A non-judgemental attitude, respect for others, and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

• Energy and enthusiasm to commit to the role for at least one year.

• A willingness to follow Read Easy policies and procedures.

Please be aware that reading sessions take place at venues across Leeds, mainly libraries and community centres. As the role occasionally involves visiting reading pairs to provide support, you will need to be based in or near Leeds and able to travel across the city when required.

Job Title: Operations Assistant (Volunteer Role)

Location: London - Hybrid / Remote]
Contract Type: Volunteer (with potential to become a paid salaried role)
Hours: Flexible / Approx. 20 hours per week

About the Role

We are looking for a dedicated and detail-oriented Operations Assistant to support the CEO and Operations Manager in ensuring the smooth running of daily operations. This role will involve working at the heart of the organisation, contributing to both strategic projects and routine administrative tasks.

Initially offered as a voluntary position, this opportunity has the potential to evolve into a salaried role as the organisation continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational and administrative support to the CEO and Operations Manager.

• Assist with coordinating projects, ensuring deadlines are met and deliverables achieved.

• Maintain accurate records, systems, and documentation to support efficient workflows.

• Help track budgets, invoices, and expenses in coordination with the Operations Manager.

• Support meeting preparation, including agendas, minutes, and follow-up actions.

• Coordinate logistics for internal and external meetings, events, and travel.

• Liaise with stakeholders, suppliers, and partners in a professional and timely manner.

• Contribute ideas to improve processes and enhance organisational efficiency.

• Provide general administrative support as required across the organisation.

Skills & Qualities We’re Looking For

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.

• A proactive, can-do attitude with the confidence to work alongside senior leadership.

• Competence with Microsoft Office Suite and/or collaboration tools (e.g., Google Workspace, project management platforms).

• Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.

• Flexible and adaptable, with a willingness to take on varied responsibilities.

• Previous experience in operations, administration, or project coordination is desirable but not essential.

What You’ll Gain

• Direct experience working with a CEO and Operations Manager.

• A unique insight into both the strategic and operational running of an organisation.

• Opportunities to develop skills in project coordination, administration, and process improvement.

• Flexibility to fit the role around other commitments.

• Clear potential for the role to develop into a permanent, paid position.

Additional Information

This is a volunteer role at the outset. We are committed to supporting your professional development, offering mentorship and opportunities to gain practical, hands-on experience. As the organisation grows, there is strong potential for this position to transition into a paid salaried role.

Womankind is looking for compassionate women to become Befriending Volunteers and help transform lives.

This role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals who have experienced sexual violence and/or domestic abuse. This position is ideal for individuals looking to gain experience in counselling/ support roles or uplift and empower women through voluntary work.

As a volunteer, you’ll commit to around 1 or 2 hours per week, meeting your Befriendee either in their home or a community setting (or via phone or zoom if you choose the remote option).

We offer two opportunities:

• In-person befriending in Bristol and South Gloucestershire (12 Months)
• Telephone befriending supporting women across the UK (6 Months)

Responsibility
- Help create a safe, trauma-informed relationship that improves mental well-being and reduces isolation.
- Provide empathetic and listening support to women who have experienced violence and abuse.
- Uphold confidentiality and safeguarding policies at all times.

We’re looking for women who want to make a real difference, can listen without judgment and believe in building warm, supportive connections. You'll need to have:
- A genuine interest in supporting women who have experienced abuse or violence.
- A willingness to learn and develop your skills in training.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage empathetically with vulnerable people.
- Fluency in English (both written and spoken)
- Basic IT skills for record keeping and organisational tasks
- Be reliable, responsible, and committed to volunteering hours as agreed

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you! We welcome women from all backgrounds who are eager to make a difference.

We’re looking for unequivocally pro-abortion volunteers to continue to power our helpline. We are particularly interested in applications from both Polish and German speakers.

Please be aware that it is not possible to volunteer from Malta or Poland due to the abortion laws in these countries 

Location: Virtual / Remote
Commitment: 1 Monday-Saturday shift every 6 weeks, 2 hours per day 
Mandatory Training Dates: Sat 11 July and Sat 18 July, 10am-4pm UK time/11:00-17:00 CET; Tue 14 July OR Thu 16 July, 6-8pm UK time/19:00-21:00 CET; and Tues 21 July OR Thu 23 July, 6-8pm UK time/19:00-21:00 CET (via Zoom).

We believe that supporting someone to arrange an abortion is an act of radical solidarity, and we’re looking for people who can work collaboratively and empathically with abortion seekers all over Europe 

As a Helpline Volunteer, you’ll:

• Provide deep care to abortion seekers by centring compassion and empathy
• Provide invaluable practical support to those forced to travel for an abortion
• Support people via phone and email

You’ll gain valuable skills in teamwork, working with abortion seekers across the EU, empathy and problem solving.

Benefits include:

• Flexible remote volunteering
• A supportive, inclusive community of volunteers
• Training and transferable skills
• Ongoing support including supervision

Deadline for applications is Friday 12 June at 9:00 BST/10:00 CET.

WE FUND ABORTIONS

Volunteer with us!

At Acorns we provide care and support for life limited or life threatened children and their families. We are a charity, so most of the care that we provide is funded through fundraising and through our shops.

To help us to continue to provide the care that we do, we are looking for fun and enthusiastic volunteers to join us in our Acorns charity shops. Our shops are exciting and dynamic, with no two days being the same. From our walk-in customers, to receiving donations, and everything in between!

We are currently looking for volunteers to support our team with online sales by photographing items, creating listings using AI software, fulfilling and packaging orders, and posting completed orders.

This role is ideal for individuals who are comfortable using technology, organised, and confident working as part of a team

What you'll be doing:

• Photographing items to sell online
• Listing items online using AI software
• Fulfilling orders
• Packaging orders
• Posting orders

Pershore Superstore is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. You can volunteer the hours that suit you, but it would be great if you could support in the shop for at least 10 hours a week.

Who are Fair Ways and what do we stand for?

Fair Ways is a leading children’s services charity based in the Solent, delivering Fostering, Education, Residential and Family services and cares for over 400 children, families, young people and vulnerable adults each year. Fair Ways is a great place to work. We are a team. We care about each other and are all committed to making a change to the lives of those we care for. We will not apologise for calling our staff great, the best, or world-class. Our staff are at the core of our organisation and we celebrate them by shouting it from the rooftops!

Where and when do we need you?

We are currently looking for a Chair of Trustees to join us at Fair Ways. As the Chair of Trustees, you will share in our passion to improve the lives of children and young people. You will provide leadership to the Board, ensuring that Fair Ways is well governed and puts child protection and health & safety front and centre of its agenda. You will be strategically focused and committed in supporting Fair Ways in delivering against its charitable objectives. Working in close partnership with the Chief Executive you will ensure that the Board operates effectively, maintains high standards of governance, and provides appropriate support and constructive challenge to the executive team.

As the Chair of Trustees for Fair Ways Foundation, you will be responsible for:

• Strategic Leadership - Leading the Board in setting and overseeing the organisation’s vision, mission and strategic direction. Ensuring alignment between strategy, business plans and organisational performance. Promoting long-term sustainability and impact ensuring Fair Ways acts in the best interest of its people, promoting diversity and inclusion for all.
• Governance and Compliance - Ensuring that the organisation operates in accordance with its governing documents and relevant legal and regulatory requirements, including those of the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Overseeing financial stewardship, ensuring appropriate scrutiny of budgets, audit and financial reporting. Ensuring effective systems of risk management, health & safety, child & employee wellbeing and internal controls are in place and regularly reviewed and maintaining oversight of safeguarding as a core organisational priority
• Board Leadership and Effectiveness - Chairing Board meetings effectively, enabling balanced participation, constructive challenge and clear decision-making. Ensuring the Board operates within its agreed governance framework and delegated authorities. Leading the ongoing development of the Board, including Trustee recruitment and succession planning, Induction and development of Trustees, regular evaluation of Board effectiveness and appraisal of the CEO and through them the Executive. Promoting a Board culture that reflects the organisation’s values and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Chief Executive Support and Oversight - Developing and maintaining a strong, open and constructive relationship with the Chief Executive. Providing support, guidance and appropriate challenge. Leading the Chief Executive’s appraisal and performance review process. Ensuring clarity of roles between governance and executive & operational management, maintaining appropriate boundaries
• External Representation - Acting as an ambassador for Fair Ways as appropriate, supporting stakeholder engagement and organisational reputation.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Ensuring that Board decisions are implemented and appropriately monitored
• Working with the Chief Executive and Company Secretary to set Board agendas and annual cycles of business
• Ensuring Trustees receive timely, relevant and high-quality information to support decision-making
• Facilitating open communication and effective working relationships across the Board and executive

Required Experience:

• The Chair of Trustees must demonstrate significant experience of serving as a Boards, including at least one role as Chair of Trustees or as a Board member operating at executive or equivalent senior governance level.
• Board experience at a senior level within the charitable, statutory or commercial sectors
• Demonstrable experience of setting and delivery of strategies at board level
• Experience of applying good governance to Charity or commercial Boards
• Ability to proactively engage with all stakeholders both internal and external at a senior level ensuring professional boundaries relationships

Successful candidates will be required to provide an enhanced Disclosure (DBS). This disclosure cost will be met by Fair Ways.

Your commitment:

This role is offered a voluntary position (reasonable expenses reimbursed), with a commitment of approximately 30–40 days per year, including:

• 4 Board meetings per year (full day)
• Preparation and review of Board papers
• Regular meetings with the Chief Executive (typically fortnightly)
• Committee involvement as required
• Attendance at key organisational events and stakeholder engagement

Become a part of our community – We can’t wait to meet you!

If you're passionate about making a difference and are ready to embark on an incredible journey, apply today and be a part of something amazing at Fair Ways. Join our team and help shape brighter futures!