Legal Volunteer Roles

We are hiring! Trustee vacancy

• Time Commitment: typically, 4 hours per month, for a term of 3 years (initial 12-month period)
• Location: Board meetings are held 4 times per year, and we work to find times that are accessible for Board members, which could include evenings and weekends. We meet twice a year in person in Oxford, and twice a year via Teams
• Renumeration: this is a voluntary role and reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed

About Us

An independent charity, The Centre for Sustainable Healthcare (CSH) has been leading efforts to incorporate the values of environmental sustainability into the health sector since its establishment in 2008. Our work is underpinned by CSH’s Principles of Sustainable Clinical Practice: prevention; patient empowerment; lean care systems; low carbon alternatives.   

CSH has a particular focus on:    

• engaging those on the front line of patient care and promoting the concept of ‘sustainable clinical practice’ 
• enabling the use of the natural environment at NHS settings to be used as ‘nature-based solutions’ in healthcare.    

As a trustee of our charity, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in shaping our organisation's future direction. The Board culture is friendly and lively, with an openness to creative ideas and input. There is a focus on core mission and values to inform decision making processes.  The meetings will be focused, effective and inspiring, and led in line with CSH’s overarching aim to transform healthcare for a sustainable future.  The Board values diversity and welcomes applicants from a range of backgrounds.  

About You

We particularly welcome new trustees who could bring skills and experience in financial management or legal and IP transfer. Though please do not be put off from applying if you do not have any of these skills or if you have never been a Trustee before.

How To Apply

For an informal conversation about the opportunity, please contact us. 

To apply, please send an up-to-date CV (or Linkedin profile) and simple covering letter answering two questions:

• why you’re interested in supporting CSH
• what you hope to bring to the Board

Or if you prefer to record your cover letter, verbally or with video, that’s also welcomed. Please contact us if you have any other accessibility needs or if you would like help with applying.

Could you be our next Trustee?

For over 50 years, Coeliac UK have been the experts on coeliac disease and the gluten free diet. We help people living without gluten to live happier, healthier lives. 

We do this by providing our 60,000 plus members and around 1 million stakeholders with trustworthy advice and support, funding critical research into coeliac disease, working with healthcare professionals to improve diagnosis and championing better availability of gluten free food. We do it all so that one day, no one’s life will be limited by gluten. 

We have an income of approximately £4m and a team of around 55 staff, all led by our highly experienced CEO. The charity is governed and guided by a team of volunteer Trustees who provide their expertise and insight to help drive the charity forward. 

We have vacancies coming up for two Trustees committed to what we do, and able to contribute to our complex agenda in a fast changing environment. 

We are ideally looking for Trustees with experience in law (corporate/trademark/IP), food industry (manufacturing/retailing), and research (medical/scientific). If you also have charity sector experience, so much the better. However, if you think you have any helpful experience for us, please do apply. Even if your skills aren’t exactly what we are looking for in a Trustee right now, this can change, and meanwhile you may be able to help us in other ways. 

It’s an exciting time to join us as we think about our next strategic phase and what we need to do to increase our effectiveness and impact for our beneficiaries. 
We are a friendly, supportive and committed organisation, ultimately, all working to one common goal – to end coeliac disease. Meanwhile, there is lots to do to help our community. 

Appropriate training and inductions are provided and all reasonable out of pocket expenses are reimbursed.

Been There is looking for an enthusiastic and experienced individual to join a small, supportive and dynamic team as a Trustee. 

What will you be doing?

Main Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Contribute to the development and implementation of our strategic objectives, providing insight, oversight, and direction to ensure the organisation's goals are achieved efficiently.

• Governance and Compliance: Ensure that Been There adheres to all legal and statutory requirements. Monitor compliance with governance best practices and ethical standards.

• Financial Oversight: Oversee the financial affairs of the organisation, ensuring its viability and that all financial resources are managed responsibly and in line with organisational objectives.

• Risk Management: Identify, monitor, and mitigate risks to the organisation, ensuring robust risk management strategies are in place.

• Advocacy and Ambassadorship: Act as an ambassador for Been There, advocating for our mission and values, and enhancing our visibility and reputation.

• Fundraising Support: Play an active role in guiding and supporting the charity's fundraising efforts, ensuring financial goals are met and resources are secured for future sustainability.

What are we looking for?

Person Specification

 Individuals are sought who have a strong empathy with any body image issues and related mental health concerns. Experience, skills and expertise in charity law, an interest in the well-being of people combined with an in-depth understanding of our work and ambitions are particularly sought.

Knowledge, skills and understanding:

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of governance experience within a board, ideally in the non-profit sector or a related field.
• Skills: Strong strategic thinking, leadership, and decision-making abilities. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge: A good understanding of the legal and financial responsibilities of a trustee and experience in risk management, strategic planning, and organisational oversight.
• Commitment: Ability to commit time for board meetings, committee involvement, and preparation work. Expected to attend quarterly board meetings and contribute to special projects as needed.

NB: Ideally you would need to attend quarterly trustee meetings in the Kingston Upon Thames area, but you are able to attend this remotely if required.

What difference will you make?

Been There is a charity in the form of an app that connects people aged 18 and over with a vetted and trained mentor to help with any body image issues they may be experiencing. This gives them the opportunity to speak to someone who has ‘Been There’ themselves. Our Mentors are here to support, empower and, most importantly, listen.

The Trustees are a core part of the team and very hands on. We have a tight knit team, and your governance support will ensure we are always acting in the best interests of our beneficiaries.

PLEASE SEE ATTACHED JOB SPEC FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CHARITY TRUSTEE.

Bardet Biedl Syndrome UK: Chair of Trustees 

Location: Remote, UK-based 

Salary: Voluntary 

Empower change: Join us as Chairperson and make a lasting impact 

BBS UK are looking for a new Chairperson, to lead our Board of Trustees and contribute to the development and success of our charity. 

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare, complex condition that causes blindness, learning disabilities, and obesity, along with other symptoms.  BBS UK is the only UK charity dedicated to helping individuals with BBS and their loved ones. Our aim is to offer wraparound support to those impacted by BBS, to empower them to live the lives they choose, as valued members of society. 

BBS UK provides advocacy services, NHS clinic support, up-to-date publications, and events that connect our community members and help them to navigate living with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Through these projects, we aim to ensure that those who seek our help are supported, connected, and empowered to achieve the best possible outcome. 

We have a team of eight dedicated part-time staff members who facilitate the delivery of these services, and volunteers who assist with our events. We support approximately 550 individuals with BBS each year.

It’s an exciting time to join our work! We aim to expand our team, improve our communication channels, and increase our overarching community benefit, all within the next few years. 

The role: 

We are looking for an experienced, professional and compassionate Chairperson to lead our Board of Trustees, many of whom have lived experience of BBS.

You will support and lead on our strategic planning, deliver on all governance requirements, and be a highly visible member of our BBS UK community. 

We’re looking for someone with: 

• Strong leadership skills 

• Excellent communication skills who can liaise with board members, staff, service users, medical professionals and other stakeholders 

• Experience in charity governance, as a Chair or Vice-Chair

• Passion for making a difference, with a particular interest in empowering persons with disabilities 

• A proven track record in developing strategic initiatives and steering an organisation forward, ensuring continued growth and success 

• Integrity, dedicated to abiding by our charity’s ethos and ethical principles 

For more details, please read our full Chairperson Role description. 

As a BBS UK Trustee, you will have: 

• Induction, training, and reimbursable expenses 

• Opportunities to make strategic decisions and develop new skills 

• Occasions to network with likeminded organisations and professionals

• Influence to shape innovative projects 

• Capability to make a real difference for the wellbeing of our BBS community 

Time commitment: 

The expected time commitment for our Chairperson is a minimum of four Trustee meetings per year via Zoom (lasting approximately three hours for each meeting); in-person attendance at our annual conference and strategy day; occasional overnight stay at a central location may be required.  Regular meetings with our Operations Manager and routine monitoring and response of emails is also required. 

Do you want to help stop needless deaths from sepsis and help improve recovery of those affected by Sepsis. UKST are looking to recruit additional Trustees to its established Board

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that affects 245,000 people in the UK every year. At least 48,000 of those people lose their lives to the condition. We believe that earlier diagnosis and treatment across the UK would save thousands more lives a year.

The UK Sepsis Trust (UKST) was founded in 2012. Founder and Executive Director, Dr Ron Daniels BEM, is an NHS Consultant in Intensive Care:

“We seek to save lives from sepsis, and improve outcomes for survivors, by educating healthcare professionals, raising public awareness, providing support for those affected by this devastating condition and political lobbying. We will protect people by enabling the prevention of severe infection and the treatment of sepsis, whist helping to ensure antibiotics are used responsibly.”

The UK Sepsis Trust has ambitious plans to increase awareness, educate wider networks beyond direct care health professionals and provide support to an ever-increasing population of survivors and bereaved. We are seeking to diversify the existing Trustee Board by gaining access to broader and deeper skills, backgrounds, and experiences. Our Trustees work in partnership with our Chairman and Chief Executives to ensure our resources are applied to maximum effect to achieve our purpose – through a clear vision and strategy, whilst exercising stewardship to operate an appropriate framework of governance.

We are particularly interested in candidates from various backgrounds including:

• Clinical/Sepsis
• Finance & Charity governance
• Corporate Fundraising engagement
• Digital, web and apps

Key Tasks and Responsibilities will include:

• Working with the Chairman, fellow Trustees and Management Team to ensure UKST’s cultural values and ethos are fully understood and adhered to throughout the organisation
• Encouraging team-working and collaboration across the charity’s activities including supporters and volunteers
• Along with fellow Trustees, making decisions that will best enable the charity to carry out its purposes. Contributing to balanced and informed decisions about the long term as well as the short-term requirements for UKST
• Ensuring the Charity’s assets and resources are only used to support it carrying out its purpose
• Providing ad hoc advice to the Management Team on specific topics relevant to their skills and knowledge
• Keeping up to date with Charity Commission legislation changes
• Continually monitoring the Trust’s progress to determine if strategic priorities need to be adjusted

Person Specification

• Significant leadership experience and commitment to our purpose
• Ability to drive organisational change and navigate growth
• Willingness and ability to understand responsibilities and liabilities as Trustees of a Charity
• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement, and work effectively as a Board member
• Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion, and numeracy to the extent required to understand the financial records and accounts

Time Commitment

The time commitment of the Trustees is variable but as a minimum they are required to attend the following:

• The Trustees have four formal meetings each year with the management team (2 of which are in person in either Birmingham/London).
• In addition there are four informal meetings with the management team along with regular Trustee only meetings which are all held virtually
• The Finance and Governance Trustee would also be required to attend four finance and audit committee meetings per year.

If you are interested in joining the team please apply with a cover letter and CV.