Social Welfare Volunteer Roles in Home Based

We are recruiting for a volunteer to facilitate weekly dance session for women and children to come together and have fun each week!

During the school summer holidays, Hestia runs a six-week Summer Play Scheme providing activities and outings for mothers and their children across our refuges. Funded through generous donations from the public, the Summer Play Scheme provides women and children with a safe and supportive space to reconnect by having fun and sharing happy memories together as family.

What you will be doing

• To develop positive relationships with the children and women, maintain professional boundaries and keep accurate records.
• Keep a record of attendees, provide feedback and report any concerns to the staff team
• Coordinate and set up a weekly dance class.
• Inspire and motivate individuals to participate in the sessions and take a role in planning/designing upcoming sessions.
• Create a safe space for individuals to express themselves.
• In group workshops, encourage members of the group to connect and relate to each other through expression of dance.

The skills you need

• Understanding of Domestic abuse and its impact on children and women
• Good interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work with people from different backgrounds
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation.
• Calm and patient approach
• Experience in Dance in either a professional, educational, or personal level. Experience in teaching dance desirable but not required.

What's in it for you

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

We are a Kingston-based social marketing enterprise using creative thinking to build community cohesion. We aim to attract knowledgeable individuals encouraging different cultures to unite which enables us to share and celebrate essential lessons. Partnering with local organisations, we put on programmes of training, workshops and other events that promote unity and tolerance. We conduct research to support our cause to challenge preconceptions around race and stereotyping. As well as delivering workshops on unconscious bias in the workplace.

Ready for an adventure? Dive into the heart of Quilombo UK by exploring our website and videos! Explore the values that guide our mission, values, and the impactful work we do to make a difference in our community.

Join us in leading positive change!

As the Video Production Assistant, you will support the Video Production Manager and team in all stages of video production from pre-production through post-production. This is an excellent opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a creative environment while contributing to Quilombo UK's mission of promoting cultural awareness and community wellbeing.

Main Responsibilities

• Assist with setting up video/photography equipment for shoots and live events
• Help manage video footage, files, and digital assets
• Perform basic video editing tasks
• Provide production assistance as needed (e.g. props, crafty, runner duties)
• Support live streaming setup and execution for events
• Archive and organize video footage and media files
• Attend video shoots, events, and team meetings as required

Essential Skills & Experience

• Familiarity with video production equipment and workflows
• Working knowledge of Video Editing software
• Basic understanding of different video file formats and codecs
• Ability to follow direction and take initiative when needed
• Strong organizational and time management abilities
• Good interpersonal skills to work well in a team environment
• Proficiency with Google Workspace/Microsoft Office

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Hands-on experience with live video production/streaming
• Knowledge of Video Editing Software
• Understanding of colour grading and audio mixing techniques

The Professional Development Programme with Quilombo UK runs over a period of 16 weeks, is UNPAID and requires a minimum of 12 hours commitment per week across Monday, Wednesday and/or Friday.

Upon successful application, our HR team will contact you to arrange an interview. Following a successful interview, we'll initiate the onboarding process by sending you the necessary documents. Once your onboarding and identification documents are received and verified, you'll be invited to a 6-hour HR and System Induction. Subsequently, you'll meet with your Head of Department or Assistant Manager for your First Day.

We are looking for trainee volunteer advisers to join our advice team to support people across Ashford, Kent

You will be trained to give advice to clients across channels including face-to-face and telephone.

Volunteers make up around 75% of our workforce. We would not be able to provide such a vital free advice service without them.

What will you do?

• complete an introduction to Ashford Borough Citizens Advice and training for your role

• talk to clients over the phone, face to face, or online to explore what problems they've come for help with

• find information about the clients' problems and help them to understand their options

• support clients to take action to resolve their problems. This might include drafting or writing letters, making phone calls, or referring the client to another organisation

• write a summary of the clients' problems and what action you've taken

• look out for problems' that are common, or are unfair, and write a short report about the problem or a letter to an elected official like an MP, AM or local councillor

What's in it for you?

• make a real difference to people's lives

• learn about a range of issues such as benefits, debt, employment and housing.

• build on valuable skills such as communication, listening and problem solving

• work with a range of different people, independently and in a team.

• have a positive impact in your community. And we'll reimburse expenses too.

What do you need to have?

You don't need specific qualifications or skills but you'll need to:

• be friendly and approachable • be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own

• have good listening skills

• have excellent verbal and written communication skills

• have good maths and IT skills • be able to understand information and explain it to others

• be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection

• be willing to undertake training in your role

How much time do you need to give?

Ideally we ask for you to be available for 2 advice sessionsw per week, for at least 12 months.

We can be flexible so come and talk to us.

About Smart Works

Smart Works is a dynamic, high profile and fast-growing UK charity that dresses, coaches and empowers unemployed women for success at their job interview. After visiting Smart Works, 69% of clients secure a job within a month. 

The Smart Works service is delivered in 11 centres across the UK. Over the past ten years, Smart Works has helped over 35,000 women. It is our mission that any woman who needs our service should be able to find her way to a Smart Works centre. More information about who we are can be found on our website.

About the opportunity

Our wardrobe is at the heart of our dressing service, where we create that magic mirror moment and ensure our clients receive a consistently professional, boutique dressing experience. Our clothing is generously donated from the public, corporate organisations and our retail partners such as Burberry, Hobbs, Whistles, John Lewis, M&S and more

At Smart Works we strive to deliver a ‘best in class’ experience, ensuring every client receives a high-quality outfit and outstanding dressing experience. This is why we are recruiting for a new team of wardrobe volunteers to maintain our wardrobe space for our clients and dressing team.

We also have an exciting calendar of fundraising events including our signature fashion sales and annual Fashion & Fizz events, where our wardrobe volunteers are responsible for curating amazing rails for our supporters to buy from and in turn raise vital funds for our service.

This opportunity would be perfect for anyone who has a passion for clothes and sees fashion as a force for good. Our wardrobe volunteers should have a meticulous eye for detail and a passion for organisation, as they will be involved in all things sorting and quality control.

We will be recruiting three to four wardrobe volunteers in Newcastle, who will be joining a busy and bustling community consisting of 5 staff members and over 40 volunteers.

Key Tasks

• Working as a team to create successful sorting systems.
• Sorting our incoming clothing donations for client wardrobe and sales.
• Rotating our wardrobe items seasonally and as new items come in.
• Maintaining our rails through steaming and sorting.
• Curating/pricing our fashion sale stock with our events calendar in mind.
• Administrative support with stock takes and inventories.
• Support with our fashion sale events.

Skills you should have

• Great attention to detail.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Work well as a part of the wider wardrobe and volunteer team.
• An awareness of fashion brands is desirable but not essential.
• Passionate about our mission and fashion as a force for good, evidenced in your written application.

Benefits of volunteering

• Making an impactful and positive difference to the lives of our clients. 
• Gaining work experience in the charity sector. 
• Using your knowledge and skills for good. 
• Meeting people from a range of backgrounds and making new friends. 
• Access monthly UK wide virtual volunteer forums to meet individuals across the charity.

How to apply

To apply, please submit a CV (no more than two pages) and a one-page cover letter via our recruitment portal here and we will be in touch May-June 2024 if your application is of interest.

Your application should be addressed to Smart Works Newcastle and your cover letter should include why you would like to become a Wardrobe Volunteer. 

There will be a short webinar on the opportunity held on Wednesday 10th April at 12:30pm. Please register to attend the webinar here. This will be a chance to hear first-hand from the Smart Works Newcastle Centre Manager about this opportunity.

*Please note this is a rolling recruitment advert, which means we will interview as people apply for the position and therefore may close the advert earlier than planned if we have find an appointable candidate. If you are interested in this position, please submit application as soon as possible. 

TEOM is looking for a director to join our small team, with special responsibility for looking after our finances.

The Expert On Myself (TEOM) is a Community Interest Company in Cambridgeshire, helping people speak and organisations listen. We create opportunities for people to educate professionals about the issues that affect them. Our expertise comes from lived experience.

At TEOM we believe that most people want to be inclusive and accommodating, and would make positive changes if they knew how. We’re looking for a team member with this same positive outlook, who would find joy in helping us to grow our dream not-for-profit business.

About the role

We’re looking for someone to join our team of directors. You don’t have to have been a director before for this role.

All directors’ roles are unpaid but there are opportunities for paid work alongside this. 

The hours are very variable, and depend a lot on what you feel able to contribute. At the minimum, we have a director’s meeting at least once every two months (usually more often), and you must come to at least 4 director’s meetings a year. These are usually online, in the early evening.

You would also need to help us with our decisions by following a comms channel (at the moment we use WhatsApp) and contributing your ideas and responses.

The role includes some finance tasks and some general directors tasks.

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER - VOLUNTEER ROLE

Unlock YOUR Potential is on the lookout for a visionary leader to join our team as our Chief Operating Officer (COO) in a volunteer capacity. This remote role is pivotal in steering our operations, fostering an exceptional organisational culture, and amplifying our impact.

About Us:

Unlock YOUR Potential is a vibrant, impact-driven startup charity dedicated to uplifting individuals from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. We are committed to delivering impactful programmes that encompass employment, education, life skills, mentoring, personal development, and comprehensive support. Our goal is to carve out new avenues for those in pursuit of positive transformation.

Role Overview:

As the COO - VOLUNTEER ROLE, you will be instrumental in overseeing our operations and ensuring the smooth execution of our mission. Your leadership will be key in nurturing our team and advancing our strategic objectives. This role is remote, with collaboration conducted via telephone or online platforms like Zoom.

Key Responsibilities:

• Guide the charity’s operations, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in all aspects.
• Collaborate with the CEO and board to set ambitious yet achievable goals.
• Streamline processes to enhance productivity and resource allocation.
• Lead our passionate team, promoting a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
• Implement robust systems to track progress and drive organisational success.
• Work closely with the finance department to safeguard the charity’s financial health.
• Ensure adherence to legal standards and proactive risk mitigation.
• Foster strong relationships with partners, donors, and the community.
• Be an ambassador for Unlock YOUR Potential, advocating for our mission and values.
• Carry out of duties that support the running of Unlock YOUR Potnetial and your role as COO.

Qualifications and Experience:

We encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds, ages, and skill sets to apply. Ideal candidates will possess:

• Proven track record in a management role, preferably within the non-profit sector.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee complex operations and drive strategic initiatives.
• Understanding of financial management principles and budgeting.
• Exceptional ability to communicate and engage with various stakeholders.
• Dedication to the ethos and aspirations of Unlock YOUR Potential.

Time Commitment:

The role requires a commitment of approximately 8-10 hours per week, which can be accommodated during evenings and weekends, offering fantastic flexibility to fit around your life.

Join Us:

If you’re eager to make a significant contribution, inspire change, and lead with conviction, we welcome your application. Together, let’s unlock potential and enact meaningful change.

Unlock YOUR Potential is proud to be an equal opportunity organisation.

HEAD OF HR AND VOLUNTEERING - VOLUNTEER ROLE

We are looking for a volunteer to join us at Unlock YOUR Potential in the volunteer role of HEAD OF HR AND VOLUNTEERING (Remote), where you will lead on Unlock YOUR Potential's HR and Volunteering aspects and function, ensuring an amazing organisational culture and team spirit.

About Us:

Unlock YOUR Potential is a dynamic and impact-focused startup social mobility charity committed to empowering individuals of all ages from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Our mission is to provide meaningful services and programmes that span employment, life skills, mentoring, personal development, and holistic support. We believe in building new pathways for those seeking positive change.

Role Overview:

As the Volunteer, Head of HR and Volunteering, you will play a crucial role in leading all our HR and Volunteering functions at Unlock YOUR Potential. This is a remote position, with meetings done via telephone and online via Zoom or other platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Leadership: To formulate and execute strategic plans related to HR and volunteering, aligning these functions with Unlock YOUR Potentials overall goals.
2. Policy Development: To create and implement policies, procedures, and guidelines for HR practices and volunteer management.
3. Resource Allocation: To allocate resources (financial, personnel, and technology) to support HR and volunteering initiatives.
4. Stakeholder Engagement: To collaborate with senior management, trustees, and external partners to enhance HR and volunteering programmes.
5. Performance Metrics: Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of HR and volunteering efforts.
6. Leadership Team: To be a member and part of the organisation’s leadership team.

​Qualifications and Experience:

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities. We are especially interested in candidates who have:

• A recognised UK HR qualification.
• Experience within HR Management within the UK.
• Experience of developing and implementing HR policies and procedures.
• Ability to set up a HR/Volunteering Department: Including the proficiency in establishing systems and processes for a startup charity.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Commitment to the vision and values of Unlock YOUR Potential.

Time Commitment:

Approximately 6 hours per week (very flexible). This can be spread over evenings and weekends.

Join Us:

If you are ready to make a lasting impact, drive positive change, and lead with purpose, we invite you to apply. Together, we can unlock potential and transform lives.

Unlock YOUR Potential is an equal opportunity organisation.

Come join our volunteering team to help change the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society. Ranked 2023 Q3 by Best Companies as the 6th best charity to work for in the UK, Medaille Trust is one of the UK’s leading charities in the fight against modern slavery. Our innovative model is based on three principles: Prevent, Protect and Pursue.  We are one of the UK’s largest providers of survivor services, with ten safehouses and six outreach hubs, staffed round the clock by specialist staff, working with more than 600 men, women and dependent children each year.  We work to raise awareness in the UK and to provide preventive work in source countries. Our Pursue work helps survivors to engage with police and within the legal  system to seek justice and to secure convictions against their perpetrators.

We are looking for a volunteer to help support us with gardening and working alongside our service users to support them with all things gardening related. Tasks will include:

•Trimming hedges and bushes

•Weeding, planting and watering plants

•General vegetable patch maintenance

•Sharing knowledge of plant, flower and food cultivation with service users.

•Offering a safe and comfortable experience for all service users, showing awareness of service users’ varying physical and mental well-being needs.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life and have a wide range of experience and motivations. Whatever your reason for deciding to volunteer, we want to make sure you enjoy your time with us and know just how much we value your support.

This role requires maturity, and an ability to engage with female adults in a trauma informed way, while working alongside staff members to deliver the activities in line with agreed procedures and systems.

Volunteers need to:

•Be at least 18 years old

•Be female as this role is restricted for females under the Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010

•Be able to get to the venue which is based in Thanet

•Have experience or qualifications in gardening, cultivation, harvesting of plants.

•Be able to regularly commit on a weekly basic

•Be willing to have an enhanced DBS check

•Have knowledge and understanding of human trafficking issues or willingness to learn

•Have knowledge and understanding of mental health conditions or willingness to learn

•Have an understanding of the importance of professional boundaries in the role

•Have the ability to maintain confidentiality

For full details and how to apply our website and complete an application form. 

Overview of the role:

Knottingley Foodbank are seeking someone with experience of working in a financial role to join the Board as a Trustee, who will be able to advise on financial matters, ensure we meet our financial obligations and help us build a sound financial strategy as we move forward. As a Trustee you will share collective responsibility for the governance of Knottingley Foodbank and all decisions made by the board, ensuring the organisation is well run, fulfils its mission, ensuring compliance with charity law and that the charity is open and accountable.

Responsibilities

All trustees are responsible for setting the strategic direction for Knottingley Foodbank, ensuring alignment to our values, defining goals, setting organisational policies, agreeing financial plans, evaluating the charity’s performance and ensuring good relationships amongst the trustees and with the senior staff.

Key tasks

All Trustees:

• Embrace the organisation’s vision, mission and values.
• Ensure the charity complies with its governing document and charity law.
• Ensure focus on strategy, performance, risk and assurance rather than operational matters.
• Act with integrity, making objective decisions without undue influence by special or personal interests.
• Ensure openness and accountability, build public trust and confidence in the foodbank’s work and legitimacy in representing beneficiaries and stakeholders.
• Uphold collective responsibility of the board.
• Commit sufficient time and energy to the role of trustee and make reasonable use of own skills and experience to support the work of the board and foodbank.
• Ensure the principles of equity, equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded in Knottingley Foodbank and help deliver public benefit.

Specific to the Treasurer Trustee:

• Oversee the financial affairs of the foodbank, ensuring that they are conducted with probity and transparency.
• Ensure the board receives sufficient information to carry out its financial responsibilities.
• Ensure that the charity has robust and effective financial controls.
• Ensure appropriate financial policies are in place.
• Ensure an annual budget is provided for board approval.
• Be responsible for the foodbank’s payroll.
• Review management and statutory accounts are produced on time.
• Ensure that organisation risks are reviewed by the board annually.

Trustees may also undertake additional work for the charity between meetings subject to their availability and skill set.

As a Criminal Justice Dependency & Recovery Volunteer, you will work closely with Dependency and Recovery Coordinators to deliver a range of tailored activities to adult males who are on probation.

Assistingin delivering psychosocial interventions which address drug, alcohol addictions and offending behaviour. You will besupporting the person on probation to achieve their goals around their substance misuse and offending behaviour.

As a Change Grow Live volunteer you will join a supportive team and receive comprehensive training, and guidance to help you to develop in the role. This is an exciting opportunity where you will be making a real difference to the lives of others and gain experience of working with the Dependency and Recovery Project, and Prison and Probation field.

Key Activities:

· Support the D&R Coordinator to deliver recovery focused interventions including drug, alcohol and harm minimisation, offending behaviour, consequential thinking and developing positive coping strategies

· Support in key-working and group sessions

· Work in partnership with and build professional relationships with external organisations, e.g. Probation, Prison and Recovery Services

· Build therapeutic relationships with the people we support

· Empower the people we support to achieve their ‘Action Plan’ goals

· Motivate the people we support to engage in recovery activities within Change Grow Live, Probation and the wider community

· Research and signpost the people we support to Asset Based Community Services e.g. food banks, mental health services, housing, mutual aid

· Remind and empower the people we support to attend appointments and groups

· Input data on to IT systems

· Support the D&R Coordinator at events to promote and provide information about the D&R service

· Collect and collate feedback from the people we support using our services

The Access to Justice Foundation is seeking a trustee and honorary treasurer. This role will have a substantial and meaningful impact on our organisation – the new trustee will play an important role in the oversight and strategic execution of our finances and governance during an exciting period of organisational growth and development.

As a member of the Board of Trustees and as its honorary treasurer, you will ensure the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit and in compliance with its governing document and the law; monitor the financial administration of the charity and authorise key payments; and chair the board’s Governance, Risk and Audit Committee.

We are striving to run an inclusive search process. We believe that diverse identities and experiences will strengthen our Board of Trustees. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities and experiences to apply.

Please download the full applicant pack below.

About The Role
About the opportunity
The charity is in an exciting place with its five year ‘Help and Hope’ Strategy and is making great strides in delivering its aims. The Board of Trustees is responsible for providing appropriate oversight, governance, and leadership to the Society in the pursuit of its strategies to fulfil its charitable purposes. Technology, data, and digital transformation are all a significant part of its growth and future requirements, it is vital that the Board of trustees includes these specialist skills.
As the newest External Member, the successful candidate will be responsible for guidance and assurance to board members. They will be supporting the Chair of Assurance, Audit and Risk to ensure that the Digital Data and Technology requirements are brought to the Board where needed, acting as an ally, sounding board and constructive challenger.
External Members are volunteers who have a legal responsibility to ensure the Society complies with the law, is well run, financially stable, and that decisions are made in the best interests of the Society to meet its charitable purpose. Trustees are accountable to a variety of different stakeholders including beneficiaries, funders, regulators.
Responsibilities & commitments

·       Upholding the highest standards of integrity and probity, adhering to the seven standards of public life (‘Nolan Principles’) and the Governance Code of Conduct
·       Proactively raising any conflicts with the Society’s work.
·       Participating fully in the work of the Board of Trustees, ensuring the collective responsibility of the Board of Trustees.
·       Attending Board of Trustee and assigned Committee meetings, chairing such meetings if assigned (it is expected that Trustees will be a member of at least one Committee).
·       Participating in induction and ongoing training.
·       Maintaining the Trustees’ commitment to Board diversity, renewal and succession management, in accordance with the Society’s articles of association and good practice.
·       Undergoing an annual performance review with the Chair of the Board.
·       Maintaining absolute confidentiality about all aspects of the Board of Trustees’ business, bearing in mind the overriding legal obligations placedupon Trustees.
·       Promoting the highest standards of corporate governance in compliance with the Charity Governance Code and other regulatory requirements and good practice.
Requirements
·       Demonstrable experience within large and complex organisations with a good overview across Digital, Data and Technology.
·       Knowledge and experience with Digital Data and Technology programs and tools
·       The ability to operate at a strategic level and to play a guiding role with regards to good governance.
·       Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical requirements to the non-technical board members.
·       Able to credibly advise and assure board members of technology investments and changes.
·       Experiences in chairing a committee would be advantageous.
·       Contacts within the digital data and technology sector that can be leveraged to provide additional third-party support and guidance to the society would be advantageous.
·       Sufficient time commitment to fulfil the role.
 
Interested?  To apply for this role please click on the 'Apply' button at the bottom of the page.

About Alzheimer's Society
At Alzheimer's Society, we believe passionately that life doesn't end when dementia begins. We are here for anyone affected by dementia, and we do everything we can to keep people with dementia connected to their lives and the people who matter most.
Everything we do is shaped by people affected by dementia. Their knowledge and experience are critical to bringing about real-world solutions. From choosing the most promising research through to telling their stories to raise awareness; they are the heart of this organisation.
Our Values
We are Determined to make a difference when and where it matters most, by being passionate, focussed and making a lasting impact for people affected by dementia.
Every one of us is a Trusted expert, listening, learning and using evidence and experience. We are Better together by being open, combining our strengths, helping us to achieve more together. We are Compassionate, we are kind and honest, and we don’t shy away from challenges.
Through our values we will make the greatest difference for people affected by dementia.
Equal Opportunities
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society.
We are committed to building a diverse organisation that represents the communities we serve and ensuring inclusion in everything we do. During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and be at your best.

Do you want to play your part making Norfolk a better place to live today and tomorrow? Would you like to learn and understand the issues facing our communities? Can you help us change and develop as we continue to be more innovative as a Community Foundation?

The continued growth and development of the Norfolk Community Foundation has resulted in the need to identify trustees with specific skills and experience in the areas: health / health research, agricultural partnerships, and strategic communications. As a Trustee, you’ll play an important role in helping us to achieve our ambitions of making local communities thrive and improving the lives of people who live there. Previous Board/Trustee experience is not necessary.

This is a perfect opportunity for someone who:

• Has a personal drive and ambition to want to make a difference.
• Has a desire for continuous improvement.
• Works constructively within a team.
• Is enthusiastic with an ability to inspire others.
• Is innovative, with an interest in piloting change.
• Is interested to learn and understand the issues facing our communities.

We feel passionate that our Board should be representative of Norfolk communities and so are especially keen to broaden the diversity of the Board and add more voices with lived experience.

Who are the Norfolk Community Foundation?

We are a local charity with a clear vision of strengthening communities from the bottom up to make Norfolk a vibrant and fairer place to live. Working in partnership with local charities and community groups by providing them with funding, leadership and guidance, we help to inspire local people and those with an interest in Norfolk to give funds, time and resources to support their communities.

Do you want to help govern a charity that also runs Almshouses, alongside other trustees?

Do you have a focus on strategically-planning our accommodation for older people in Wokingham?

We are looking for a trustee to join one of our subcommittees, that looks after the provision and future of our Almshouses, as well as participate in our full Board of trustees.

As  the oldest charity in England (formed in 1451) we want a new trustee to join our Board, to cooperatively govern our organisation alongside other trustees. Wokingham United Charities has a mission to relieve poverty and enhance the quality of life of those people in need in our community. We do this by our Almshouse accommodation, as well as using our funds to help alleviate financial distress, hardship and poverty.

Our usual income per annum is ~£700k, but we’ve been managing funds to help to relieve poverty in the midst of this cost-of-living crisis, and recently our turnover has been ~£1.5m. Of that, some £160k p.a. is income and usual expenditure for our Almshouses.

The role and what we are looking for in a new trustee

Trustees are the people who make the top-level decisions for our charity. Our Board includes people with experience and skills in governing our charity, and we’d expect our new trustee to have strong empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. If you can think strategically and plan long-term, you have the primary skills we need.

Our Westende subcommittee meets every two months, and we want you to join this group, as well as becoming a trustee and thus joining the Board. The subcommittee devises and analyses plans for the Almshouses, as well as overseeing the operational delivery that is managed by our Westende Manager.

You don’t necessarily need prior experience of trusteeship, as full induction to our organisation and operations will be provided, plus specialist support for a new trustee, including access to external training.

We are a charity not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds and we’d like to expand the diversity of our Board, in all meanings, thus strongly welcome applications from people from less-represented groups. 

We ask for approx. six hours of your time per month, which includes all meetings, discussions, etc.  You will need access to digital communications, as much of our charity’s business is run that way.

How to apply  

This appointment is being managed for us by inVOLve Community Services, a charity-support organisation, who offer a no-obligation discussion by phone or video. A detailed Role Description and Skills Specification can be made available to you upon request.

Trustee appointments are subject to satisfactory references, to completion of an online Safeguarding course and a Cyber-awareness training.

Your CV and supporting statement will be read by our trustees and Charity Manager; an informal discussion can be offered as soon as mutually convenient, potentially leading to formal interview.

I need to know more 

Contact Mike Allen via Quick Apply below for more information and arrange to have a no-obligation initial informal discussion (Teams/Zoom/phone)