Volunteer Roles in Blyth

Pranic Evolutions
 

Pranic Evolutions are addressing unequal access to alternative healthcare with a focus on energy healing.

Pranic Evolution is a small but growing team whose aim is to provide practical, video-based lessons to empower all those who have the desire to do so to become effective energy healers.

There is a growing body of evidence (both scientific and anecdotal, experiential) showing the effectiveness of various energy healing modalities such as Pranic Healing and Reiki in easing (and often even completely alleviating) the suffering caused by a number of physical, mental and emotional ailments. Master Choa Kok Sui, the founder of Pranic Healing, imagined a world with one energy healer in every household, irrespective of their culture or socioeconomic status, and we want to do whatever we can to assist in this noble mission.

The beauty of energy healing is that no special ability, material or tool is required for it to be carried out effectively, other than knowledge and dedicated practice of the techniques, a clear mind, a sincere will and a compassionate heart open to helping and serving others. We know that there are millions of kind, loving, caring individuals around the world who could become excellent energy healers but have not so far had the opportunity to explore this avenue because of limited awareness of its potential, and also the time and cost incurred in attending courses.

Their intention is to share all that we have learned about energy healing with anyone who might find it of help or interest. We see this as both our duty and our privilege. They plan to do this predominantly through a series of free of charge, freely accessible, ad-free video tutorials run through YouTube, which we hope to translate into as many languages as possible in order to reach as wide an audience as possible. They will not ever charge or profit in any way from our work or from the video or social media channels we create. Their work is funded entirely by private contribution, and we do not even have a bank account.

Your time helps alleviate illness

Responsibilities

They are looking for a VOLUNTEER Special Effects Video Editor 

• Their video team are working to produce our video based lessons. They need someone with the technical skills to add post production effects. They need to show energy and light on top of the original raw footage. If you know anything about animation, this might well be helpful.

• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week remotely for 3-5 months ��

Noms
 

Noms  solve the question “What’s for dinner?” and make daily cooking easy with an app that converts any social media video into an intuitive, easy-to-follow and step-by-step recipe and lets you search for recipes by what’s already in your fridge.

We all have to eat 3 times a day, yet many of us never learn how to cook for ourselves and grocery shop. We waste time and money and harm our health through poor food choices. The questions "What's for dinner?" and "What groceries should I buy?" can cause daily stress for many of us, and finding a good answer has you googling for hours. If we're being honest, most of us cook because we have to, not because we're Gordon Ramsey. So it's time for a suitable solution for us.

Noms makes daily cooking easy. They solve the question “What’s for dinner?” by automatically converting online cooking content into intuitive, easy-to-follow and step-by-step recipes. With the app, you can search for recipes by what’s in your fridge, customise recipes to suit your needs, swap ingredients you do not like or have, and display quantities in intuitive measurements (handfuls, spoons, etc.). You can cook these recipes with our easy-to-follow format that shows only essential information (no ads, long descriptions, or touching the phone). And, you can optimise your groceries to make more food with less money and zero waste.

They are a two-person team building this from zero and are excited to meet you and work with you! They are Austria-Bulgarian and French-Malaysian with a good load of experience working in the Nordic and Silicon Valley startup culture, so they cherish multicultural teams and making team members feel welcome.
They aree raising funds this year and will expand the full-time team once we do. That being said, we're also looking for volunteers who could potentially join Noms as full-time team members in the future and be compensated accordingly.

Other than that, they have experience working remotely and with freelancers and volunteers, value and create a friendly environment and don't believe in unnecessary calls or standup meetings. They just care about making cooking easier for our generation, and getting there as fast as we can.

Responsibilities
 

• They are looking for a VOLUNTEER Social Media Marketer

• is this you? ⚪️ familiar with social media management ⚪️ familiar with content creation ⚪️ familiar with social media strategy then we can't wait to meet you! your responsibilities at noms could include for example: ⚪️ creating new social media content ⚪️ reaching out to content creators for partnerships perks of joining us? �� we are a lean startup, which means every week looks different! �� we are fundraising this year and looking for longterm team members. if we're a great match, your volunteering could turn into a longterm paid position as a part of the noms team. in this position, you'd be working closely with our experienced CEO on our exciting social media account and content creation.

• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week remotely for 1-2 months ��

Canopey
 

Canopey are on a mission to make shopping sustainably easier for everyone.

Fast fashion retailers and cheap plastic products are still wrecking our planet and choking our waterways. We need to buy better. But big retailers are now consistently greenwashing, misleading the very people who are trying to do their bit. It's left nearly 50% of consumers finding it too complicated to even try to shop sustainably. For consumers to shop sustainably they have to go through multiple user journeys on different platforms with very little support in moving from one to the next. Verifying claims, learning about swaps, making a purchase, and tracking your impact accurately are all separated and difficult to do.

We need to remove the barriers, streamline the user journey and give back proper trust. Canopey is the only platform to completely streamline the ethical consumer journey. They bring thousands of verified sustainable products into one online marketplace with powerful impact stats to show the Co2e, water waste, and plastic waste saved per purchase compared to the mainstream alternative. Canopey helps guide you through the minefield of greenwashing to empower everyone to buy better. On one platform, with one user journey, and one mission.

 

Responsibilities

• They are looking for a VOLUNTEER Social Media Content Creator

• Responsibilities include: - Brainstorming content ideas and key dates, and working with the Chief Marketing Officer to plan out content into a schedule - Research and copywriting, with a focus on sustainability and climate change - Staying up to date on latest trends, memes and video content on Instagram and TikTok, to tap - Basic filming and editing skills video content - Populating Canva templates to create carousels and still images You'll be building on a huge bank of existing content, and will get support from the company's CMO to learn and gain new skills. Importantly, you'll be helping people learn about how to live a more sustainable lifestyle and come up with fun ideas to raise awareness on climate change.

• Volunteer 4-6 hours per week remotely for 1-2 months ��

Are you passionate about building a world free from all forms of prejudice?

Do you believe deeply in the power of education, especially around the Holocaust?

Can you contribute time and expertise in…?

·fundraising

·and/or organisational infrastructure and governance

If the answer is Yes, we’d love you to hear from you. We are currently looking for two new trustees to join our Board.

This is an exciting time at the Anne Frank Trust UK.

We are an education charity. Through learning about Anne Frank and the Holocaust, we empower young people aged 9 to 15 to recognise and challenge all forms of prejudice. Founded in 1991 by friends of Anne’s father Otto, we are the UK partner of the Anne Frank House Amsterdam.

We are looking to grow, building on our great achievements over the last few months:

• In 2023 we reached a record 119,000 young people through the three strands of our education programme – (i) our live online learning events open to all schools, (ii) our workshops and peer education delivered in person in schools across the country, and (iii) our ambassadors programme, which provides individual support and life-changing group opportunities for disadvantaged young people who have a long-term commitment to challenging prejudice.
•  As we continuously develop our programmes, our impact is increasing, and our evidence of this impact is outstanding. The latest report from our research partners at the University of Kent shows, for example, that our positive impact on young people’s attitudes towards Jews has increased by 59% since 2019. Of our young peer educators, 83.3% make significant progress in their knowledge of prejudice, and 87.6% become more positive towards at least one other group of people different from themselves. 
• In January 2024, HM Queen Camilla became our first Royal Patron.
• Nicola Cobbold, our new Chair of Trustees, brings wide-ranging operational and strategic experience from not-for-profit settings, as well as excellent networks in the Jewish community and beyond.
• Our new Development Director, Ruth Berenblut, arrived in post in October 2023, she has produced an appropriately ambitious plan for fundraising growth, and is recruiting a new team to deliver it.

About BelEve UK

BelEve engages with girls and young women to support them in gaining skills, confidence, and self-belief to fulfil their potential, despite barriers in their lives that might suggest otherwise.

Through carefully crafted programmes, mentoring, events, and campaigns, bringing individuals and groups together helps to motivate them, reduce isolation, combat differences, and build strength across communities from the girls who are at the centre of these. Through the programmes, beneficiaries improve their social mobility, as well as their life and career prospects.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Chair who can lead our Board and support our Chief Executive to drive our charity’s long-term success, sustainability, and impactful growth.

Our new Chair will be an ambitious and visionary leader with a strong track record of governing complex organisations through change.

We are open to your professional background if you bring effective governance experience, strategic thinking and a good understanding of issues affecting the lives of girls and young women.

We are looking for a Chair with experience and expertise in the following areas:

• Experience of being a Chair
• Track record of relationship building, with stakeholders, partners, decision-makers, team, and Board
• Governance and organisational leadership experience
• Experience in creating strong partnerships with stakeholders and successfully influencing decision-makers
• Understanding of risk management and mitigation
• Ability to encourage positive change and innovation where appropriate.
• An understanding of the key challenges the organisation aims to tackle from issues impacting various communities of young women and girls
• Extrovert, Fun, Dynamic, and Engaging
• Values Led

For more information, please access the attached recruitment pack, our contact information can be located there.

How to Apply

If this role is of interest, please submit your CV and supporting statement via the link below.

Your statement should be up to 2 pages long (no more than 900 words), addressing the following statements:

• Please outline your demonstrable commitment to BelEve UK's mission and purpose and your motivation for applying.​
• Detail your previous experience and capabilities which you believe make you suitable for this Chair role.

Closing Date: Sunday 19th May 2024 at 23.59hrs

Our Commitment

BelEve is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from people from all sections of the community. We would like to encourage applicants from black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and those with disabilities.

The Eve Appeal is the UK’s leading charity working on prevention of the five gynaecological cancers – womb, ovarian, cervical, vulval and vaginal.

Our aim is to prevent gynaecological cancers and save lives by raising awareness and funding ground-breaking research focused on developing effective methods of risk prediction, earlier detection and developing screening for all of the five gynae cancers.

We are looking for a Trusts and Foundations Volunteer to support our Trusts and Foundations Officer in developing our portfolio and achieving our 2024 income target to ensure our lifesaving work can continue.

To support this area of fundraising we are looking for someone looking to develop their skills in prospect research and gain familiarity with the broader landscape of medical research and healthcare funding.

We’re willing to be truly flexible for the right candidate as we appreciate this role may need to be worked around other commitments. We envisage 2-4 hours a week at times to suit you over the course of a month.

We are looking for a commitment of 3 months but again are willing to be flexible as we appreciate other or unknown circumstances may dictate your availability at this time.

There is an opportunity to expand the role to include application writing and submission if experience and your capacity to support the team allows.

Please note the successful candidate will need access to their own laptop/PC to complete this role.

Could you volunteer in your local PDSA charity shop and help us raise vital funds to treat pets in need?

PDSA is a charity with 48 pet hospitals that supports pets and people in need. All of our charity shops need an amazing team of volunteers to make them a success and we need you now more than ever.

By becoming a charity shop volunteer with PDSA you will:

• Gain retail experience

• Develop new skills and boost your CV 

• Meet new people 

• Support your local community 

• Donate your current skills and knowledge 

• Have fun

• Be part of a friendly team 

Charity Shop Volunteers are involved in a wide range of roles and day-to-day activities that support the running of each shop and even a few hours a week will make a difference.

On the shop floor you could be involved with providing excellent customer service, processing transactions on the tills, replenishing stock and putting up eye-catching displays to entice customers in. 

Behind the scenes, volunteers get involved with sorting through donations to find those hidden gems and preparing goods for sale by sorting, steaming and pricing

We provide training, so you don’t need experience – and we reimburse travel expenses so you won’t be out of pocket.  

We’re looking for people who are 18 years of age or over that enjoy working as part of a team and making a difference. 

Get in touch today to talk to us about volunteering in one of our shops or to apply for this role please visit Volunteering with PDSA - PDSA 

PDSA positively encourages volunteer applications regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.  

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect.    

To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous and all appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks. 

Could you volunteer in your local PDSA charity shop and help us raise vital funds to treat pets in need?

PDSA is a charity with 48 pet hospitals that supports pets and people in need. All of our charity shops need an amazing team of volunteers to make them a success and we need you now more than ever.

By becoming a charity shop volunteer with PDSA you will:

• Gain retail experience
• Develop new skills and boost your CV
• Meet new people
• Support your local community
• Donate your current skills and knowledge
• Have fun
• Be part of a friendly team

Charity Shop Volunteers are involved in a wide range of roles and day-to-day activities that support the running of each shop and even a few hours a week will make a difference.

On the shop floor you could be involved with providing excellent customer service, processing transactions on the tills, replenishing stock and putting up eye-catching displays to entice customers in.

Behind the scenes, volunteers get involved with sorting through donations to find those hidden gems and preparing goods for sale by sorting, steaming and pricing

We provide training, so you don’t need experience – and we reimburse travel expenses so you won’t be out of pocket.

We’re looking for people who are 18 years of age or over that enjoy working as part of a team and making a difference.

Get in touch today to talk to us about volunteering in one of our shops or to apply for this role please visit Volunteering with PDSA - PDSA

PDSA positively encourages volunteer applications regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect

To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous and all appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks.

Could you volunteer in your local PDSA charity shop and help us raise vital funds to treat pets in need?

PDSA is a charity with 48 pet hospitals that supports pets and people in need. All of our charity shops need an amazing team of volunteers to make them a success and we need you now more than ever.

By becoming a charity shop volunteer with PDSA you will:

• Gain retail experience
• Develop new skills and boost your CV
• Meet new people
• Support your local community
• Donate your current skills and knowledge
• Have fun
• Be part of a friendly team

Charity Shop Volunteers are involved in a wide range of roles and day-to-day activities that support the running of each shop and even a few hours a week will make a difference.

On the shop floor you could be involved with providing excellent customer service, processing transactions on the tills, replenishing stock and putting up eye-catching displays to entice customers in.

Behind the scenes, volunteers get involved with sorting through donations to find those hidden gems and preparing goods for sale by sorting, steaming and pricing

We provide training, so you don’t need experience – and we reimburse travel expenses so you won’t be out of pocket.

We’re looking for people who are 18 years of age or over that enjoy working as part of a team and making a difference.

Get in touch today to talk to us about volunteering in one of our shops or to apply for this role please visit Volunteering with PDSA - PDSA

PDSA positively encourages volunteer applications regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect

To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous and all appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks.

Do you want to take part in vegan volunteering around your local area?

You can do that – right here at The Vegan Society. 

We have an ever-growing Community Network of vegans just like you, who have a passion to volunteer and promote veganism where they live. 

Every month, our Network choose from a range of outreach tasks. These could include town centre stalls, writing to a councillor or MP, sharing our campaigns on social media or contacting local businesses. You're in control of how much or how little you do. 

As an Advocate, you will have a network of other Advocates and an Organiser in your area. Your Organiser will be your main point of contact. They will send you tasks every month and ask you to feed back on what you've completed and any positive outcomes. 

Why do we need you to volunteer?

As the vegan community grows, veganism itself becomes better understood. We're finding that more people are looking to The Vegan Society to find out what being vegan is all about.

Local communities are starting to see the vegan movement as something real and something that’s happening in their area. More people are embracing a vegan lifestyle, which we welcome. From new businesses, to families, to councillors, many people need support. This could be with a range of topics: going vegan, finding correct information around a vegan diet, providing vegan options in their business, MPs listening to vegan constituents, and learning about our work.

Local issues are often unique and more varied than national issues. Our volunteers from local areas are vital! They enable us to share our messages and campaigns in an effective way. Research tells us that people are far more likely to trust information from a peer rather than an outside expert, so community volunteering vastly increases the impact of our campaigns.

Our network of committed local vegans across the country is growing! The Vegan Society organises various outreach activities to influence change in every level of society. There are a range of activities going on all the time, from general educational stalls at events to meeting with local policy influencers.

Advocates are a crucial voice in their own community. They ensure that our campaign messages are spread far and wide. They provide a strong vegan presence in local communities.

What does the Advocate role involve?

Being an Advocate for veganism with The Vegan Society will mean communicating with people in your local community. You'll share the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. You will form part of a local group, headed up by a local Organiser. The Organiser will feed back your collective efforts to staff. You will also be invited to our private Facebook group, for vegan socialising and ideas sharing.

You’ll stay in touch with the Organiser and bring your passion to tasks. Activities can range from staffing a stall to giving a talk at an employee event. It could also mean writing to a local newspaper or lobbying an MP.

Messaging can differ every month. Part of our mission statement is to ensure people can remain vegan, so you might focus on getting more vegan options available in local businesses. Or within our Live Vegan for Less campaign, you may share cheap vegan recipes to help people with the cost of living.

When acting as an Advocate, you will use The Vegan Society’s branding and messaging guidelines. Your local Organiser will guide you in doing this, as they hold physical resources and handbooks. You can report any issues and feedback you have to your Organiser. You can also contact staff if your Organiser isn't available or you have any problems.

What training and support is available?

You will be provided with a big welcome and full induction from your local Organiser. They will introduce you to the group and any actions that are ongoing. Any training and development will be provided via your Organiser, and you can also ask for specific training on any areas that you need some development in.

What skills would be useful in doing this role?

• The ability to stay motivated in order to achieve the best possible outcomes
• Good email etiquette, responding in a timely manner
• Committed to veganism and the mission of The Vegan Society
• Ability to stay calm if confronted with differing opinions or challenges
• A good communicator, with the ability to be persuasive
• Confident in communicating with people from a range of backgrounds
• Experience of campaigning
• Any experience in talking with members of the public through customer/public service would be helpful
• Awareness of current affairs, especially those that relate to veganism
• Regular availability and a willingness to stay committed to actions
• Good team player

How much time do I need to invest? 

For Advocates, we ask for people to engage in a minimum of four to six actions per year. An example of an action could be writing to an MP or holding a stall. But the more you can do, the better! On occasion, there may also be online meetings to plan for actions or provide training.

Could you volunteer in your local PDSA charity shop and help us raise vital funds to treat pets in need?

PDSA is a charity with 48 pet hospitals that supports pets and people in need. All of our charity shops need an amazing team of volunteers to make them a success and we need you now more than ever.

By becoming a charity shop volunteer with PDSA you will:

• Gain retail experience
• Develop new skills and boost your CV 
• Meet new people
• Support your local community 

• Donate your current skills and knowledge 
• Have fun
• Be part of a friendly team 

Charity Shop Volunteers are involved in a wide range of roles and day-to-day activities that support the running of each shop and even a few hours a week will make a difference.

On the shop floor you could be involved with providing excellent customer service, processing transactions on the tills, replenishing stock and putting up eye-catching displays to entice customers in. 

Behind the scenes, volunteers get involved with sorting through donations to find those hidden gems and preparing goods for sale by sorting, steaming and pricing

We provide training, so you don’t need experience – and we reimburse travel expenses so you won’t be out of pocket.  

We’re looking for people who are 18 years of age or over that enjoy working as part of a team and making a difference. 

Get in touch today to talk to us about volunteering in one of our shops or to apply for this role please visit Volunteering with PDSA - PDSA 

PDSA positively encourages volunteer applications regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.  

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect.    

To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous and all appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks. 

As the vegan community grows, veganism itself becomes better understood. We're finding that more people are looking to The Vegan Society to find out what being vegan is really all about.

Local communities are starting to see the vegan movement as something real and something that’s happening in their area. A greater number of people are embracing a vegan lifestyle, which we welcome. From new businesses, to families, to councillors, many people need support. This could be with a range of topics: going vegan, finding correct information, providing vegan options in their business, MPs listening to vegan constituents, and learning about our work.

Local issues are often unique and more varied than national issues. Our volunteers from local areas are vital! They enable us to share our messages and campaigns in an effective way. Research tells us that people are far more likely to trust information from a peer rather than an outside expert or organisation, so community volunteering vastly increases the impact of our campaigns. 

Our network of committed local vegans across the country is growing! The Vegan Society organises various outreach activities to influence change in every level of society. There are a range of activities going on all the time, from general educational stalls at events to meeting with local policy influencers. 

What does the Organiser role involve? 

Every month, you will be sent a collection of tasks to choose from. We create these from our programme of campaigns. You would be the point of contact for Advocates in your area, sharing these tasks and coordinating activities, such as stalls and lobbying councillors. We will provide you with a campaign toolkit and be in regular contact with you to ensure you have everything you need. You will also be invited to our private Facebook group and WhatsApp chat.

We would expect you to provide any updates from your group and give feedback on each task. It's vital that we measure the impact that we are having, in terms of positive conversations and leaflets handed out. You can also give us ideas you have for future outreach tasks or campaigning. Many Organisers find a huge sense of satisfaction, improvement in self-esteem and enjoy the social side of volunteering in this role.

You will also be responsible for welcoming new Advocates in your area. We will let you know when somebody new applies, and you will help them to get involved with any activities. As the main contact for Advocates, this role does require some awareness of safeguarding and data protection procedures and policy. You'll also be the health and safety contact for your group. There will be full training on your role in this, as well as a handbook and ongoing guidance and support. 

As an Organiser, you will ensure any resources or actions undertaken are in line with our branding and messaging guidelines and make sure that Advocates understand this too.

What training and support is available? 

There will be a full induction to the role, with a gradual introduction of new tasks and responsibilities. To start with, we will provide an initial training session to cover the basics of community organising, communication skills and event planning. This will be done remotely from wherever you are. Along with this, we will provide a full pack of resources that covers a range of work that we do. 

From there, there will be regular conversations and reviews, where we can discuss other training requirements. Staff are always available to Organisers for any questions, via phone or email. 

What skills would be useful in doing this role? 

• Great organisational skills
• Experience of coordinating people
• Experience of working to specific dates and deadlines
• Good time keeping
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to motivate people around the topic of veganism
• Ability to stick to branding
• Ability to read emails in a timely manner and translate tasks into actions quickly
• Ability to report back on activities
• Excellent knowledge of vegan issues

It would be beneficial for this role to have access to a vehicle, as some actions will involve taking resources to events or visiting MPs’ offices. However, this is not mandatory as the campaign toolkit can be carried in a backpack. 

How much time do I need to invest?

This role requires more time than the Advocate role. You should be able to commit around two days a month to carry out actions, and this is usually spread out across the month. We also expect timely responses to emails. When a new Advocate applies to work with you, we would like them to be contacted within seven days.

Who can I contact to find out more?

Enquiries are welcome! Please contact Katy Malkin (Volunteering Coordinator).

Bring your financial expertise to our engaged and committed board of trustees 

Unlock has achieved a great deal for the people we support and that is testament to the talents of our dedicated team of staff, volunteers, and trustees. Through listening and engaging with people who face difficulties because of their criminal records we have an impressive track record of identifying issues, finding solutions, and putting them into practice. We also influence policy and create systemic change. 

We have an opportunity to join our engaged and committed board of trustees as our treasurer. 

About the role 

Trustees play an important role in the leadership, strategic direction and governance of Unlock. 

Alongside this, the treasurer’s role is to maintain an overview of Unlock’s finances, ensure our financial viability and to ensure proper financial records and procedures are maintained. 

About you 

Can you bring the following attitudes and skills to our board? 

• Financial qualifications and experience. 

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

• The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences. 

• Willingness to be available to staff for advice on an ad hoc basis, with “hands on” involvement where necessary. 

• Commitment to the vision, values and mission of Unlock. 

While experience in charity finance is desirable, we are happy to train and support a successful candidate without this previous experience. So if you’re looking to step into the charity sector, don’t let that hold you back from applying. 

We’re committed to increasing diversity across the organisation, including our board of trustees. We’re especially keen to appoint people who have themselves met with and overcome the disadvantages of having a criminal record. 

If you’re excited by this opportunity to support, and drive, the work of a small criminal justice charity with an impressive national impact, we’re looking forward to hearing from you. 

How to apply 

Read the full Treasurer application pack. 

Download and complete the application form. 

Alpine Garden Society President and Board Chair person 

Thank you for expressing interest in joining the Board of the Alpine Garden Society as our President and chair. You do so at an exciting time for the charity as it seeks to embed recent changes to thrive for another 90 years.

Since our founding in 1929 we have been a specialist interest society that has aimed to share our passion for growing and conserving alpine plants. With the increased pressures on society with smaller gardens and the advent of social media, alpines are enjoying a resurgence and so we wish to see the society grow from the strong foundations of the past.

The last five years have seen us adapt to change and develop to the modern society we are today. Our switch to embracing digital technology and use of modern communication has allowed us to harness the decades old love of our interest and bring it to new audiences on a global stage. We continue to indulge in traditional activities like garden visits, plant fairs and shows that we are renowned for by our loyal members.

The next chapter on our journey to our centenary sees consolidation of our operation and putting our membership at the heart of what we do to deliver our charitable mission. We wish to grow our membership from a stable base and seek new and exciting ways to inspire people through our passion for plants.

About Us

Welcome to the Alpine Garden Society! We are one of the largest specialist garden societies in the world. The Society has a wide interest in plants that encompass not only true alpine and mountain plants, but also small hardy herbaceous plants, hardy and half-hardy bulbs, hardy ferns, hardy succulents, and small shrubs. We are passionate about plants.

The Alpine Garden Society was founded in December 1929. The main purpose of the Society was, and still is to educate its members and the public on alpine plants, their cultivation and conservation. We achieve our charitable objectives through staging our National Shows, publishing our quarterly Journal, The Alpine Gardener and by organising talks, events and conferences. Ever since its inception the Society has also built displays incorporating alpine plants at various national Flower Shows.

We are passionate about the conservation of alpine plants and as a registered charity, we fund cultivation and conservation projects across the UK and abroad. We also encourage the development of knowledge and skills in the alpine field by funding the AGS Trainee Scheme.

Alpine Garden Society members enjoy exclusive benefits such as expert-led AGS Expeditions tours all over the world and access to one of the biggest seed exchanges in the world.

The Alpine Garden Society is governed by a Board of Trustees and run by a director alongside a small staff cohort and a team of dedicated volunteers.

We are located adjacent to Pershore College in Worcestershire, where we maintain a quarter of an acre alpine garden adjacent to our office. We have a network of AGS local groups located around the country who stage regional shows, talks and events.

Person Specification – who we are looking for

• An inclusive, empathetic, transparent approach to leadership
• A passion for alpine plants
• A balance of independent judgement and an ability to work effectively as part of a cohesive Board
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• A diplomatic, clear, tactful approach, with the ability to listen and engage effectively
• A demonstrable understanding of the role of charity Board Members

• Proven experience of working effectively with a Board, with an ability to make the most of the skillsets around the table
• Experience of non-profit governance, ideally in a board capacity
• Experience playing a key role in an organisation’s evolution and growth

Role Responsibilities and Duties (three year term)

The President/Chair of the Society has a dual role.  In addition to having the same responsibilities as any trustee they also have to act as a team leader with the extra duties and responsibilities that accompany this role.

General responsibilities of the President/Chair

Providing leadership for the board as it fulfils its governance duties and responsibilities toward the organisation, including :

• setting vision, values, mission strategy and high-level policy in accordance with charity regulations and the governing document
• monitor the organisation's performance against established targets
• securing financial stability for the organisation
• assisting the Treasurer to protect and manage organisation property and investments
• safeguarding the organisation's reputation and values
• must guide the Board to ensure that the Society operates in line with its charitable purposes
• must always act in the best interests of the organisation as a whole and not allow any personal interest to sway policy making
• making sure all organisational activities comply with regulations and the law
• reviewing major risks and making provisions for the organisation to respond appropriately
• appointing and managing the Chief Executive Officer (Society Director)
• organising and leading board development activities such as self-assessments
• delegating the above duties appropriately

Specific duties:

Meetings

· planning meeting schedules and setting agendas, in close liaison with the Society Director

· leading meetings and facilitating discussion, encourage all trustees to participate and prevent the more talkative members from dominating the debate

Board  leadership

· Alongside the society director, lead trustee recruitment and induction

· Ensure that the whole board is engaged - A Chair must not allow cliques or inner circles to form or allow cliques to influence policy to suit their own personal interests or those society activities in which they are interested.

· Utilise the skills and interests of all board members.

· To oversee the establishment and activities of the board committees, ensuring they are accountable and report properly to the board.

· Deal with conflict on the board

· Give direction to board policy -making.  Exercises leadership by setting priorities for the board and steering discussion toward strategic issues

· Monitor the implementation of board decisions

· Work closely with other Officers

Representing the organisation

· Represent the organisation at functions and meetings (both internally and externally), and acting as a spokesperson as appropriate

Financial & legal responsibilities

· The President must be prepared to be a signatory on the Society bank mandates and other official investment documents.

Limited Companies

· Act as a Director of each limited company and also a signatory on the bank mandate forms.

· Undertake the necessary ATOL training and pass the certification process to be the responsible person ATOL holder on behalf of the limited company.  This also involves ensuring that the necessary ATOL quarterly returns are accurately completed and submitted on time to the CAA.  In addition to ensure that the correct documentation and renewal forms are completed as part of the annual ATOL licence renewal process. 

· Ensure that the necessary insurance policies are in place with regard to AGS Expeditions Ltd.

· Assist and advise with the planning of AGS Tours.

Staffing

· Work closely with the Society Director who acts a the CEO to the Society.  Both the Director and the President should liaise regularly and work together as a team on behalf of the board.  They should jointly seek ways of improving board effectiveness.

· Recruitment - oversee the selection process when a new Society Director is appointed.  This will entail ensuring that an appropriate job description is produced, proper selection procedures are followed and also representing the board on the appointment panel. 

Renumeration

The position is a voluntary role although all reasonable expenses in pursuit of exercising the role will be covered

How to Apply

To apply for the president/chair role, please provide the following documents:

• An up-to-date CV.
• A supporting statement. Please submit a PDF document (maximum two pages) that outlines a bit about you, what you feel is your most relevant experience qualifying you to be our president, and why you’re interested in becoming president of the Alpine Garden Society. Moreover, we would like to understand how you perceive the role of Chair of a charity like Alpine Garden Society, how you might approach the relationship between Chair and CEO and what is your vision for the society.