Volunteer roles

Who are Governors for Schools?

Governors for Schools operates across England and Wales to improve educational standards and ensure all children and young people have the chance to realise their full potential.

We believe the key to improving school performance is effective governance. By finding, nurturing and supporting a committed network of governors, we drive positive systematic change that benefits each and every student, regardless of their background.

Governors for Schools recruits and matches volunteers with school governing boards and provides ongoing support.

What’s involved?

There are governor vacancies across England and Wales. Some schools are also looking for remote governors who don't need to live near the school they support.

Governors volunteer at board level to set the strategic vision for their school. This involves constructively challenging current processes, using your unique skills to support senior leaders, and overseeing school finances. You’ll be involved in areas such as monitoring, budget management, and data analysis. As well as putting your expertise to good use, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your professional skills. Ultimately, you’ll work towards facilitating the delivery of a broad and exciting curriculum and oversee wellbeing and inclusion initiatives. Governance represents a fantastic opportunity to develop yourself while making a real impact on the education of children and young people.

Governors work collaboratively with the headteacher and other members of the board, including parents and school staff. In most schools, full board meetings are held termly, as are committee meetings. Many governors will sit on a committee linked to their expertise or interests, such as teaching and learning or finance and resources. In addition to attending meetings, governors will need to read the papers in advance, complete training courses, and occasionally visit their school.

Governors usually support schools for a period of four years and with an estimated time commitment of 7 hours per month. During these hours, you will attend meetings, read papers, attend training sessions, and make occasional visits to school.

Who can be a governor?

The most important part of being a governor is the ability to ask questions, provide support and have the best interests of the school at heart. You don't have to be a parent or have experience in education to become a governor. Schools seek a  wide range of skills to support the board, including finance, HR, and data analysis.

Boards also need governors with a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences to ensure a range of perspectives are considered during board meetings.

Schools welcome professional experience, as well as community insight and experience of working collaboratively.

You need to be aged 18 or above and there are certain criminal convictions that would exclude you from the role. A Disclosure and Barring Service check will be carried out by the school.

What’s the process?

You can find out more about the school governor role by attending one of our recruitment webinars.

You can complete your online profile on the website, including your motivation to take on the role, your skills and your school preferences. Your regional Partnership Manager will then look at vacancies that match your requirements. Once a school is identified, you will have the opportunity to discuss the role with them in more detail, visit the school, and observe a meeting. If appointed, a DBS check will take place and, in some cases, the school will seek references.

Ongoing support

Governors for Schools isn’t just a matching service. We want to help you thrive in your role through bespoke and ongoing support. We provide eLearning and monthly webinars covering a variety of topics to increase your knowledge of the education sector and governance. You’ll also have access to The Key for School Governors, an information hub designed to show new governors the ropes and offer a useful point of reference for existing governors.

Who are Governors for Schools?

Governors for Schools operates across England and Wales to improve educational standards and ensure all children and young people have the chance to realise their full potential.

We believe the key to improving school performance is effective governance. By finding, nurturing and supporting a committed network of governors, we drive positive systematic change that benefits each and every student, regardless of their background.

Governors for Schools recruits and matches volunteers with school governing boards and provides ongoing support.

What’s involved?

There are governor vacancies across England and Wales. Some schools are also looking for remote governors who don't need to live near the school they support.

Governors volunteer at board level to set the strategic vision for their school. This involves constructively challenging current processes, using your unique skills to support senior leaders, and overseeing school finances. You’ll be involved in areas such as monitoring, budget management, and data analysis. As well as putting your expertise to good use, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your professional skills. Ultimately, you’ll work towards facilitating the delivery of a broad and exciting curriculum and oversee wellbeing and inclusion initiatives. Governance represents a fantastic opportunity to develop yourself while making a real impact on the education of children and young people.

Governors work collaboratively with the headteacher and other members of the board, including parents and school staff. In most schools, full board meetings are held termly, as are committee meetings. Many governors will sit on a committee linked to their expertise or interests, such as teaching and learning or finance and resources. In addition to attending meetings, governors will need to read the papers in advance, complete training courses, and occasionally visit their school.

Governors usually support schools for a period of four years and with an estimated time commitment of 7 hours per month. During these hours, you will attend meetings, read papers, attend training sessions, and make occasional visits to school.

Who can be a governor?

The most important part of being a governor is the ability to ask questions, provide support and have the best interests of the school at heart. You don't have to be a parent or have experience in education to become a governor. Schools seek a  wide range of skills to support the board, including finance, HR, and data analysis.

Boards also need governors with a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences to ensure a range of perspectives are considered during board meetings.

Schools welcome professional experience, as well as community insight and experience of working collaboratively.

You need to be aged 18 or above and there are certain criminal convictions that would exclude you from the role. A Disclosure and Barring Service check will be carried out by the school.

What’s the process?

You can find out more about the school governor role by attending one of our recruitment webinars.

You can complete your online profile on the website, including your motivation to take on the role, your skills and your school preferences. Your regional Partnership Manager will then look at vacancies that match your requirements. Once a school is identified, you will have the opportunity to discuss the role with them in more detail, visit the school, and observe a meeting. If appointed, a DBS check will take place and, in some cases, the school will seek references.

Ongoing support

Governors for Schools isn’t just a matching service. We want to help you thrive in your role through bespoke and ongoing support. We provide eLearning and monthly webinars covering a variety of topics to increase your knowledge of the education sector and governance. You’ll also have access to The Key for School Governors, an information hub designed to show new governors the ropes and offer a useful point of reference for existing governors.

We’re Mind, the leading mental health charity. We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. We provide advice and support to empower anybody experiencing a mental health problem and we campaign to improve services, raise awareness, and promote understanding.

Our volunteers are a fundamental part of our shops. Any time which they volunteer at our shops, help us be there for more people who are experiencing a mental health problem. 

About the volunteer role

To provide our volunteers with opportunities to gain a variety of skills and experience, we offer them a range of volunteer roles to choose from, which include:

• Stock preparation volunteer
• Volunteer shop sales assistant
• Volunteer stock generation assistant
• Volunteer window dresser/Merchandiser
• Specialist knowledge volunteer (antiques and collectables)
• Specialist knowledge volunteer (books and entertainment)
• Housekeeping volunteer

Key tasks

There is a variety of tasks within the above mentioned roles that our volunteers get involved with, including:

• Welcoming and assisting customers with their purchases, providing them with great customer service and a delightful shopping experience
• Receiving donated items from members of the public
• Sorting, steaming, tagging and preparing donated items for sale
• Creating visually appealing window and in-store displays
• Keeping the shop floor well stocked, clean and coordinated
• Processing sales and serving at the till
• Signing up gift aid donors
• Stock rotation
• Identifying special or valuable items within donated stock

About you

• Passionate about customer service 
• Good communication skills 
• Friendly and helpful
• Respectful of others and their diversity

Experience & skills you will gain

• Experience of working as part of a team
• Retail experience 
• Stock organisation
• Selling skills 
• Customer service skills 

Our Commitment

We are committed to becoming actively anti-racist in everything we do. This is a critical priority for Mind. We embrace diversity and understand that being an inclusive organisation, recognising different perspectives, will enable us to provide excellent services. We are committed to ensuring all our employees are treated fairly and equitably at work and promoting equity in physical and mental health for all.

Young Enterprise is the UK’s leading youth charity for enterprise and financial education, helping young people develop the skills, confidence, and mindset they need to thrive in work and life.

Since our founding, we have supported 7.2 million young people through financial and enterprise education opportunities. Through our ambitious 2024–2030 Transforming Futures strategy, we are working to ensure every young person has access to the financial education, enterprise capability, and work readiness they need to succeed.

We are seeking to appoint three new Trustees to join our Board at an exciting and pivotal time for the charity.

We are particularly interested in candidates with senior expertise in one of the following areas:

• Finance – ideally a qualified accountant interested in chairing our Risk and Audit Committee

• Governance – with experience in employment law and/or charity law

• Human Resources – senior-level HR leadership experience

We are looking for strategic and community-minded individuals who can help strengthen our governance, guide our future direction, and support our mission to improve life chances for young people across the UK.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting strategic leadership and governance

• Safeguarding the charity’s financial stability and reputation

• Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance

• Providing specialist expertise to Board discussions and decision-making

• Acting as ambassadors for Young Enterprise and our mission

We are particularly interested in applicants who offer:

• Strong strategic thinking and sound judgment

• Commitment to young people and social mobility

• Collaborative leadership and communication skills

• Understanding of good governance

• A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and safeguarding

We strongly encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with lived experience of disadvantaged communities or supporting young people facing barriers to opportunity.

This is an unpaid role with reasonable out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed. Trustees are expected to attend Board meetings (primarily London-based), undertake training, be willing to participate in committee work if applicable, and contribute approximately 7–10 days annually. Appointments are for an initial three-year term, with potential reappointment for up to six years.

Keeping Young People Safe

We are committed to keeping young people safe. All successful candidates will undergo an enhanced DBS (England & Wales) check and receive safeguarding training.

At Young Enterprise, safeguarding is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. All successful candidates will receive ongoing safeguarding training throughout and be expected to uphold excellent safeguarding practice at all times.

How to Apply:

Please refer to our information pack for full details.

To apply, please send:

• An up-to-date CV (PDF format)

• A supporting statement (maximum two sides of A4) outlining your suitability for the role, based on the essential criteria in the person specification

Applications should be received by 23:30 on 31 July 2026. We will be assessing applications on a rolling basis and may shortlist and invite candidates to interview before the closing date.

At YE we are passionate and committed to keeping your data safe and secure.  Full details can be found in the YE People’s Privacy Notice.

Join us in shaping brighter futures for young people across the UK.

THE LYONIC SCOTS CALL FOR A VOLUNTEER GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Forge the Look of a Modern Clan. Shape the Legacy of the Lyonic Scots.

Across the world, the Lyonic Scots are rising — a Scottish Clan Community built on heritage, unity, creativity, and pride. Now, we seek a vision‑driven Volunteer Graphic Designer to help bring our story to life.

This is more than a volunteer role. It is a creative calling, a chance to leave your mark on a growing cultural movement.

YOUR MISSION

As our Graphic Designer, you will help forge the visual identity of the Lyonic Scots across the world.

Your work will become the banners we rally behind, the symbols we share, and the imagery that carries our Clan into the future.

You will create:

• Clan logos & insignia

• Digital and print banners & campaign visuals

• Brochures & heritage materials

• Social media graphics & storytelling assets

• Event branding, posters, and ceremonial designs

• And more — wherever your creativity leads

Every design you craft becomes part of our living legacy.

WHY YOUR WORK MATTERS TO US

The Lyonic Scots are more than a community — we are a clan of people who believe in:

• Scottish heritage and identity

• Creativity, culture, and storytelling

• Community, belonging, and pride

• Building something meaningful together

Your designs will inspire new members, strengthen our message, and help shape the future of our Clan.

This is your chance to create work that matters, that endures, and that represents a people united by spirit.

REMOTE  •  FLEXIBLE  •  IMPACTFUL

This role is fully remote and designed to fit around your life. Whether you contribute as a one off, short term or regularly, your creativity will help build something extraordinary.

STEP FORWARD. JOIN THE PRIDE.

• If you feel the pull of heritage…
• If you want to design with purpose…
• If you’re ready to help shape the identity of a modern Scottish Clan…

We welcome you.

Send us a message and take your place among the Lyonic Scots.

Your creativity. Our Clan. One legacy.

Join our team of befrienders! You will support us to reach some of the most isolated adults in your community to reduce their feelings of loneliness, build friendships and provide support for mental wellbeing. You will support people to relight a spark to continue a hobby, interest or encourage them to explore and participate in new social activities.

You will support individuals to rebuild their lives beyond crisis.

Loneliness and isolation can affect anyone in life, whatever their age or family situation. Official data from the Office for National Statistics shows that rates of depression doubled during the COVID pandemic, and one of the major causes of depression is isolation.

What you will be doing

• Agree a mutual time and frequency to meet in the local community
• To develop and promote a positive relationship with your befriendee
• To encourage your befriendee to engage in social activities and support them in doing so whilst building their confidence
• To support your befriendee in developing their goals and social skills
• Encourage your befriendee to make links with community services, based on their identified goals

The skills you need

• Good listening and communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere which motivates and inspires others
• Willingness to engage in activities in the community
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality and follow professional boundaries

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 - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

Are you a fluent Farsi speaker with a passion for helping others? We are seeking dedicated volunteers to assist women in improving their English language skills. Improving someone’s understanding and spoken English language, will allow individuals to communicate and connect with people in their local community, widen their network of friendships and relationships, and provide people opportunity to improve their employability skills. 

We are looking for a face-to-face volunteer for a minimum of 1 hour per week who is available between hours 11am – 2.30pm Monday-Friday!

What you will be doing

• To support individuals who are not confident with spoken English to develop their reading, writing and conversational skills through one-to-one sessions.
• Agree a mutual agreeable time and frequency that works for both parties
• Engage in conversation, allowing the person to feel supported and comfortable to practice speaking English Preparing and delivering sessions independently including setting work and assessing
• To keep records of conversations and update the support worker on progress of sessions.

The skills you need

• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive and inclusive atmosphere
• Fluent in Farsi and English

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 - Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards, outings, celebration, and social events for our volunteers to get together and have some fun; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering.

We are looking for a friendly and reliable, qualified volunteer to support a small fishing group. The aim of the group is to reduce social isolation and support wellbeing by creating a relaxed, welcoming space where people can enjoy being outdoors, learn basic fishing skills, and connect with others.

What you will be doing

• Supporting and engaging a small group during relaxed, beginner friendly fishing sessions
• Demonstrating basic coarse fishing techniques and helping clients build confidence
• Encouraging gentle conversation and positive social interaction in a calm, outdoor setting
• Provide a listening ear and friendly, non-judgmental support and encouragement
• Helping to create a safe, inclusive and supportive group environment
• Feedback any relevant observations after sessions
• Supporting with setting up and packing away shared equipment

The skills you need

• A friendly, patient and approachable manner
• Confidence engaging with people who may experience loneliness, low mood or mental health challenges

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.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER WANTED

SHAPE THE LOOK. BUILD THE BRAND. EMPOWER THE MOVEMENT.

URBAN YOUTH is a startup pop‑up youth work charity bringing raw energy, street culture (like a streetwear drop), and high‑impact experiences directly to young people. We’re building a movement that feels more like a streetwear brand than a traditional charity — bold, vibrant, youthful, and unapologetically positive.

Now we’re searching for a Graphic Designer who can help us craft the visual identity that ties it all together.

This Is Your Chance to Build a Brand From the Ground Up

Urban Youth is small, scrappy, and full of ambition. We don’t have big budgets or fancy studios — we have passion, creativity, and a mission to empower young people through culture.

We need someone who can take that energy and turn it into visuals that hit hard.

You’ll help us create a brand that feels alive:

• Streetwear‑inspired

• Youthful and vibrant

• Positive, empowering, and full of movement

• Instantly recognisable in the community

This is your canvas. Your playground. Your chance to build a visual identity that becomes part of the culture.

What You’ll Create

You’ll help us design:

• Logos, colour palettes, and brand identity

• Social media visuals that pop

• Posters, flyers, and promo graphics for our pop‑ups

• Streetwear‑style merch concepts

• Visual storytelling that captures the heartbeat of Urban Youth

Your work will be the face of our movement — the thing young people see, feel, and connect with.

Who You Are

1. You’re creative.
2. You’re bold.
3. You’re someone who sees design as a way to empower and inspire.
4. You love streetwear, youth culture, and visuals that make people stop and pay attention.
5. You don’t need a huge portfolio — just passion, imagination, and the drive to create something meaningful.
6. You’re comfortable working with limited resources and unlimited ambition.
7. You know how to make magic with what you’ve got.

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to design something that actually matters,” this is your moment.

Why Urban Youth?

1. Because we’re building something fresh. Something loud. Something that doesn’t look like anything else in youth work.
2. We’re a startup charity with big dreams — which means your creativity will shape our identity from day one.
3. You won’t just design graphics; you’ll help build a brand, a vibe, a culture.
4. Your visuals will empower young people, amplify their voices, and help us grow a movement that feels real and relevant.

Ready to design the future of Urban Youth?

1. If you want to create visuals that inspire…
2. If you want to help build a brand rooted in positivity and street culture…
3. If you want to be part of a squad that’s changing youth work from the ground up…

Urban Youth needs you.

Step up. Join the squad. Let’s create something unforgettable.

HR & VOLUNTEERING DIRECTOR WANTED

BUILD THE CULTURE. GROW THE SQUAD. SHAPE THE MOVEMENT.

URBAN YOUTH is a startup pop‑up youth work charity — raw, energetic, and built from pure passion. We’re creating high‑impact youth experiences that feel more like street culture and a street wear drop, than traditional youth work.

No red tape. No corporate vibes. Just community, creativity, and real opportunities for young people.

Now we need a HR & Volunteering Director who can help us build the backbone of this movement — the people, the systems, the culture, the squad.

This Role Is About People, Purpose, and Building Something From Scratch

Urban Youth is small but mighty. We’re a start-up, and we need someone who can help us turn our volunteer energy into a powerhouse team.

You’ll be the architect of our people strategy — designing how we recruit, onboard, support, and empower the passionate humans who make Urban Youth come alive.

This isn’t HR in a corporate office. This is HR in a startup youth movement. It’s messy, creative, exciting, and full of possibility.

What You’ll Build

You’ll help us create:

• A volunteer recruitment pipeline that attracts talent, passion, and drive

• Onboarding experiences that feel like joining a squad, not filling out forms

• Systems and processes that keep us organised without killing our vibe

• A culture where volunteers feel valued, connected, and part of something bigger

• A community of people who show up because they believe in what we’re doing

You’ll be the person who helps us turn “we need help” into “we’ve built a team.”

Who You Are

1. You’re entrepreneurial.
2. You’re resourceful.
3. You’re the kind of person who can build a structure out of thin air and make it feel solid.
4. You understand people — what motivates them, what inspires them, what keeps them committed.
5. You know how to spot talent, nurture passion, and bring out the best in a team.
6. You’re not scared of starting from zero.
7. You thrive in environments where you get to create the blueprint, not follow one.

If you’ve ever said, “Give me a mission and I’ll build the team to deliver it,” this is your moment.

Why Urban Youth?

1. Because we’re building something bold. Something fresh. Something that doesn’t look like anything else in youth work.
2. We’re a startup charity with big dreams and tiny resources — which means your impact will be huge.
3. You won’t just manage people; you’ll shape the culture, the community, and the future of Urban Youth.
4. You’ll help build the squad that builds the movement.

Ready to shape the team that shapes the future?

1. If you want to lead with heart…
2. If you want to build systems that empower people, not restrict them…
3. If you want to help create a youth movement from the ground up…

Urban Youth needs you.

Step up. Join the squad. Let’s build a community of passionate people who make magic happen.

MANAGING DIRECTOR WANTED

BUILD THE MOVEMENT. LEAD THE SQUAD. CHANGE THE GAME.

URBAN YOUTH isn’t just a charity — it’s a startup youth movement built from raw energy, street culture, and the belief that young people deserve experiences that hit different. We’re small, scrappy, and unapologetically ambitious.

And now we’re searching for a Managing Director who’s ready to help us turn this spark into a wildfire.

This Is Not Your Typical MD Role

• No big budgets.
• No endless staff teams.
• No corporate safety nets.

Just vision, hustle, and the drive to build something powerful from almost nothing.

Urban Youth is a pop‑up youth work charity (like a streetwear drop), creative jams, community takeovers, and high‑impact experiences that feel more like culture than “services.” We’re building a youth movement that’s loud, urban, and real.

We need someone who can help us take this raw potential and scale it into something unforgettable.

What You’ll Lead

You’ll be the strategic force behind Urban Youth — shaping our direction, building our foundations, and helping us grow from a startup idea into a city‑wide movement.

You’ll help us:

• Build partnerships from scratch

• Create opportunities with minimal resources

• Turn creative chaos into sustainable impact

• Grow our squad, our reach, and our influence

• Make sure our pop‑ups hit hard and keep evolving

This is leadership in its purest form — no red tape, no grey areas, just vision, grit, and action.

Who You Are

1. You’re entrepreneurial.
2. You’re resourceful.
3. You’re the kind of person who sees a blank space and imagines a whole community event happening there.
4. You thrive in startup energy — fast decisions, big ideas, and making things happen with whatever you’ve got.
5. You don’t wait for permission.
6. You don’t need perfect conditions.
7. You build anyway.

If you’ve ever said, “Give me a mission and I’ll make it real,” you’re exactly who we want.

Why Urban Youth?

• Because we’re creating something new. Something bold. Something that doesn’t look like traditional youth work.
• We’re building a movement that feels like culture — not charity. A squad. A vibe. A community.

As Managing Director, you won’t just run an organisation. You’ll help create one.

You’ll shape the identity, the energy, and the future of Urban Youth from the ground up.

Ready to build something huge?

1. If you want to lead with purpose…
2. If you want to create impact without waiting for permission…
3. If you want to help build a youth movement that’s raw, urban, and unforgettable…

Urban Youth needs you.

Step up. Join the squad. Let’s build something massive.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR WANTED

JOIN THE SQUAD. CHANGE THE CULTURE. IGNITE THE STREETS.

URBAN YOUTH isn’t your typical youth charity. We don’t do clipboards, corporate jargon or endless meetings.

1. We do impact.
2. We do energy.
3. We do urban culture brought to life.

And right now, we’re calling out for a Creative Director who’s ready to step into the heart of it.

Step Into a Role That Actually Means Something

This isn’t a desk job. This is a movement. Urban Youth will run high‑energy pop‑up youth work (like a streetwear drop), creative takeovers, community jams, and raw, real opportunities for young people who deserve more than the system usually gives them.

We’re building a community. A vibe. A family. And we need someone who can shape the look, feel and soul of it.

What You’ll Do

1. You’ll be the creative engine behind everything we do — the visuals, the storytelling, the experiences, the culture.
2. You’ll help us design moments that young people feel in their chest. Moments that make them say, “Yo, Urban Youth is different.”
3. You’ll bring ideas that hit hard.
4. You’ll help us build a brand that’s loud, bold and unapologetically urban.
5. You’ll make creativity accessible to young people who’ve been told they don’t belong in those spaces.

Who You Are

• You’re a creator. A visionary. A culture‑builder.
• Someone who sees potential everywhere — in a blank wall, a beat‑up basketball court, a group of young people hanging out after school.
• You don’t need a fancy title or a portfolio full of agency work.
• You just need passion, imagination, and the guts to try things that haven’t been done before.

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to do something real. Something that matters.” This is it.

Why Join Urban Youth?

• Because we’re not waiting for permission.
• We’re not drowning in red tape.
• We’re not ticking boxes.
• We’re out here to create real experiences, real connections, real change — one pop‑up at a time.
• You’ll be part of a squad that backs each other, pushes boundaries, and builds community with raw authenticity.

Ready to roll?

1. If your creativity is itching for a purpose…
2. If you want to be part of something that feels alive…
3. If you want to help shape a youth movement that’s loud, proud and rooted in the streets…

Urban Youth wants you.

Step up. Join the squad. Let’s build something unforgettable.

The Position

We are looking for a Grants Officer who can support us with diverse tasks that include looking for grants opportunities, project development, proposals writing, and liaising with potential partners and donors. In this role you’ll be a key contributor to the continued existence of Second Tree, which is dependent on grants to survive, and to the creation of new projects and partnerships. To do this successfully, you'll need to employ meticulous time-management and organisation skills, as juggling multiple tasks with competing deadlines is common in this role.

The role will include:

• Researching and identifying new grant opportunities on a weekly basis

• Summarising relevant grant opportunities and suggesting how to best respond and comply with them

• Researching information and data necessary for grants and grant reporting

• Supporting the design of new projects

• Supporting with proposal writing

• Maintaining necessary records, files, reports, databases, and resource materials for the Grants team

• Working with the wider Second Tree team to ensure that all project proposals align with organisational, and programme strategies

• Establishing and maintaining connections with funding bodies

You should be able to:

• Professionally communicate in English (verbally and in writing)

• Read, comprehend, interpret, summarise and follow proposal guidelines

• Work to tight deadlines with flexibility and a problem-solving attitude;

• Conduct thorough, high-quality, independent research

• Work both independently and as part of a team

• Manage and prioritise projects effectively to meet team and proposal deadlines

The ideal candidate will have:

• Working knowledge of project management techniques such as LFA

• Knowledge of and experience with grant-giving bodies and other external funding sources (e.g. European Commission)

• A strong sense of logic while building an argument

What We Offer:

• A nurturing and collaborative working environment. We work hard to help our team members grow, investing in personal and professional development.

• Accommodation in a shared house

• Transportation to/from work

• After completion of a three-month trial, if you commit long-term, a small monthly expenses refund

In certain periods of the year, demand is extremely high, and the shared houses might be full. If you have the means to pay for your own accommodation, please let us know. We would still be happy to host you if space is available. However, in a situation where the shared houses are full, this would allow us to offer an opportunity to someone that cannot afford to pay rent.

Have experience leading a team of this type?

Consider applying to become a Grants Coordinator. Whether your experience lies in the humanitarian sector or elsewhere, we are looking for people with expertise that can drive us forward as an organisation.

Looking for an internship?

If, because of your degree or for any other reason, you would like to have your period at Second Tree credited as an internship, just apply to the vacancy that you’re interested in and mention this. We have agreements with several universities across Europe, and in many other cases, these agreements can be developed on an ad hoc basis.

NOTE: If you require a visa to stay in Greece for the minimum ten-week commitment, please know that as a Greek NGO, we are unable to sponsor your visa.

About The Ootsider CIC

Hi, I’m John, the founder of The Ootsider. We are an West Lothian -based social enterprise on a mission to provide warmth, dignity, and comfort to those experiencing rough sleeping. Using a "buy one, give one" model, the profits from our premium, hand-made in Scotland outdoor robes directly fund the production of our bespoke, weather-proof, sleeping coats which we donate free to rough sleepers across the UK.

To help us scale our impact and protect more people from the harsh elements, we are looking for a superstar Volunteer Grant Writer & Fundraiser to join the team and help us secure vital funding.

Why You’ll Love Volunteering With Us

·Ultimate Flexibility: This role is 100% remote. Work from wherever you are comfortable, whenever suits you best.

·Low Time, High Impact: We’re looking for just 8 hours a month (approx. 2 hours a week). It easily fits around a full-time job, studies, or retirement.

·Direct, Tangible Impact: Every successful grant you write translates directly into more sleeping systems manufactured right here in Scotland and delivered to people who need them most. You will see the direct result of your hard work.

What You’ll Be Doing

Working directly with me, you will:

·Research Opportunities: Scout out trusts, foundations, and corporate grants that support homelessness, social enterprise growth, and Scottish community manufacturing.

·Craft Compelling Bids: Take The Ootsider’s proven impact story and weave it into persuasive, professional funding applications.

·Manage the Pipeline: Help keep a simple calendar of upcoming deadlines so we can plan our applications effectively.

What We’re Looking For

·A Passion for the Cause: You care about tackling homelessness and believe in the power of social enterprise.

·Strong Writing Skills: You can write clearly, persuasively, and concisely to meet strict word counts.

·Independence: You are comfortable working on your own initiative, managing your 8 hours a month effectively.

If this sounds like you, then please get in touch.

"Together we can achieve so much more". John