Youth/Children Volunteer Roles
Do you have a passion to make a difference to the lives of children and families? Spurgeons Family Charity is seeking three or four new trustees to join our current Board in bringing prayerful wisdom and strategic guidance over the coming years.
Spurgeons is one of the UK’s leading children’s charities, supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their families for 150 years. Inspired by Christian faith and our founder Charles Spurgeon, we’re here for all families. Together, we create Family Hubs in communities where we’re needed most, with counselling, early years and family support. We partner with local councils and churches to care for every family, putting children and young people first in everything we do. Our services also include helping young carers, providing parenting advice and working with families affected by domestic abuse, and imprisonment.
These services are needed more than ever, particularly as local authorities with tight budgets make difficult choices on where to spend their limited resources. As we prepare for the launch of our new five-year plan in 2025, we are ambitious and hopeful about how we can use our strong financial position and robust level of assets to make a significant impact on many more children’s lives in the future.
To support Board succession planning, we are seeking to appoint new trustees with experience and skills such as:
· Lived experience: we are particularly looking to hear the voice of young people on our Board and especially those with lived experience of children and young people’s support services. We will provide the necessary training, mentoring and support to fulfil the role.
· Fundraising/marketing: this trustee will bring a clear understanding of best practice in fundraising and/or marketing.
· Children’s services: we are looking for someone with senior management or leadership experience in the children’s services sector e.g. within social services/ the care sector, health, education, local authorities or charitable contexts.
· Counselling: this trustee will have understanding and/or experience in counselling, bringing wisdom and insight at a governance level.
· Digital: we seek a leader with experience of digital transformations and entrepreneurship, to provide a strategic view of how Spurgeons can thrive in a digital, audience-focused context.
Given an occupational requirement for these roles to be filled by Christians, we are seeking candidates with a personal and active Christian faith who are comfortable and aligned with the statement of faith outlined on our website.
Spurgeons values diversity, promotes inclusion, and encourages applications from a diverse range of candidates, including those with lived experience of children’s support services. We recognise the need to increase the diversity of the Board, for example in terms of age, ethnicity, disability, gender and LGBTQ+ representation. Our goal, and a key priority in this recruitment process, is for the Board to become more closely representative of our service user community.
The time commitment required of a trustee is likely to equate to approximately 12 days per year.
This is a hybrid role: at present, Board meetings take place in London and committee meetings take place virtually via Teams.
For further information, including full details of how to apply, please see our Appointment Details Pack which can be downloaded in the Application Resources section of this advert.
Application is by submission of CV and cover letter to Laura Bagley at Macaulay Search by the closing date of Friday 24th May 2024. Please contact Laura if you have any questions about this opportunity (please see appointment details pack for contact details).
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Our partner works on the front line with families in need, with a vision of a world where children everywhere have access to the support they need to survive and thrive, achieved through research, campaigning and humanitarian responses.
They are seeking a Treasurer with experience of working with not for profits in setting strategic financial direction. You would be joining the board at an exciting time, as they implement their new strategy, build on their campaigns and broaden their advocacy to mobilise greater support and achieve change.
In addition to the general responsibilities of a trustee, the responsibility of the Treasurer is to maintain an overview of the organisation's affairs, ensuring its financial viability and that the organisation has policies and systems in place to ensure robust financial planning, implementation and reporting.
This is a substantial and responsible role, and would suit someone able to commit about 18-20 hours three times a year. Board and committee meetings are held three times a year (on Zoom), and there may be ad hoc meetings between these as well as an expectation that support and guidance will be provided to the CEO and other staff on an ongoing basis.
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For more Trustee and Treasurer roles please visit the AfID website
Change young lives: Join Speech and Language UK's Education Committee
Do you have a passion for education and a heart for children facing challenges?
Speech and Language UK, a leading charity supporting the 1.9 million children with speech and language challenges, seeks dedicated volunteers for its Education Committee. This committee acts as the governing body for our two special schools.
Make a real difference:
- Strategic impact: Contribute to shaping the educational future of children with complex speech and language challenges.
- Direct influence: Provide guidance and support, acting as a critical friend, to ensure our schools deliver the highest quality education.
- Flexible commitment: Meetings are held online, 5-6 times a year for 2 hours each, allowing you to volunteer around your schedule.
We value diversity:
We actively encourage applications from individuals from all backgrounds, particularly those, disabled, working class, LGBTQ+, or from the Midlands, North, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
We especially welcome those with personal or family experience of speech and language challenges.
Your skills matter:
Prior experience in education leadership (schools/multi-academy trusts) is a plus.
Knowledge of Health & Safety or Facilities Management is also valuable.
Most importantly, we seek your passion, fresh perspective, and willingness to learn.
Leave a lasting legacy:
Join a dedicated team shaping the lives of children with speech and language challenges.
Contact:
For more information, please contact Neil Maslen, Director of Education.
Who are Speech and Language UK?
For at least 1.9 million children in the UK, learning to talk and understand words feels like an impossible hurdle. We work to give every child the skills they need to face the future with confidence. We design innovative tools and training for thousands of nursery assistants and teachers to use in their classrooms. We give families the confidence and skills to help their children. And we put pressure on politicians to prioritise help for speech and language challenges.
We demand a country in which every child with challenges in talking and understanding words has the skills they need to face the future with confidence. Together we can achieve it.
This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.
Role title: Volunteer Youth Support Assistant
Short description of role: Supporting our Connect! service for young people aged 9-18 with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. Activities range from a social board games & Lego group to kayaking, archery and bushcraft.
Long description of role: Involve’s Connect! service is funded by Kent County Council’s Short Breaks scheme. The purpose is for young people aged 9-18 with Autistic Spectrum Conditions to have a space to meet and build friendships with other young people in an autism friendly environment. The aims are for the young people to build their confidence, independence, and life skills in a safe space. As a volunteer, you would provide valuable support to the young people at activities which have previously included pizza making, arts and crafts, kayaking, archery and bushcraft as well as a regular group that meets and plays board games and Lego. It would not be necessary to join every activity but regularly enough for the young people to build relationships and trust with you at the group. Duties would involve supporting the Youth Programme Coordinator to get the young people settled at the beginning of the session and making drinks for parents and young people. You may also be encouraging young people who are feeling anxious to participate in activities by being a source of support to them and making them feel more comfortable. Most importantly, you will be supporting the group to stay safe and comfortable while trying new experiences.
Districts/areas the role is available in: Across Kent
Skills that the volunteer may need: Good listening and communication. Previous experience of working with young people is desirable but not essential.
What can the volunteer gain from this opportunity: Experience working with children and young people with additional needs. A sense of pride watching young people build their confidence and try new things. And of course, lots of fun!
Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.
Involve is fully committed to upholding the rights of all children, young people and adults to be protected from harm and abuse and to achieve the best outcomes.
This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.
Come and Mentor for Us!
What is Mentor Mums?
Mentor Mums exists in recognition of the fact that there is very little support for parents stepping back into the workplace after time away and it’s not always easy.
Whether parents step back reluctantly, or with huge ambition and drive, there’s no doubt that the first few months are full of bumps in the road, as they navigate everything from organizational or management changes to emergency calls from nursery requesting the collection of a sick baby!
People often feel that although their job stays largely the same, everything else about them, such as their priorities, sense of identity or capacity to work, has changed.
We help support parents through this, by providing them with a mentor who works in the same profession, but is a few steps ahead in their parenting journey and can give them advice and support as they return.
Who are you for?
We welcome parents of all kinds, inclusive of gender, sexuality, adoptive parents and those from all models of family, who have taken a period time out of work to care for their children and would like support in returning to work.
Some of our mentees are seeking emotional and pastoral support, while others are focused on career progression and getting back up to date with their professional skills or knowledge.
What do you do?
Our mentoring programme is totally free to access, and matches newly returning parents with mentors who work in a similar professional role and can help them navigate their journey as a working parent.
Mentorships usually take place virtually, or occasionally in person, and mentors offer 6 hours of their time over 6 months to help someone initially survive, but eventually to thrive.
What is the onboarding process?
All mentors and mentees book in for an initial chat with one of our team, so we can check your fit for our programme, understand your professional role, and get a sense of your own experience of becoming a parent.
In mentors, we’re looking for people who remember the challenges, are ready to support someone in a non-judgmental or prescriptive way, and who are willing to be open about the struggles they encountered in their own journey.
What is the time commitment for volunteers?
The initial onboarding call with our team takes around 20 minutes, and further to this we ask mentors to watch a short (15 minute) video and read our handbook.
We then ask for a commitment to a mentee of 6 hours across 6 months (roughly 1 hour per month), plus admin time pre-post sessions. The 6-session model is tried and tested. It helps people move from ‘survival mode’ to thinking about the longer-term future, whether that includes growing their family further and/or progressing in their career, leaving them in a position of strength when the mentoring comes to an end.
Why would you recommend volunteering as a mentor?
People generally mentor for us because they understand the challenges others are facing as they return, and often wish this service had existed when they returned themselves! This is a chance to be the lifeline that another parent needs, helping them to return to their job successfully whilst also embracing family life.
Previous participants have told us the programme has made a huge difference to their return.
Mentees have said:
“There was an opportunity for a promotion shortly after I returned. My mentor helped me remember what I was capable of doing, and taught me that I can do so much more than I thought. Friends will support you, but sometimes you need to hear from someone who can offer an impartial ear.”
“My experience with Mentor Mums has been amazing - it was exactly the support that I didn’t even realise I needed at the right time. My mentor provided me with planning strategies, and so many work-day framing exercises. She instilled confidence into me; empowering me to make the right decisions, question stakeholders and even helped me pluck up the courage to ask for a promotion and pay rise. Mentoring has benefited my life in so many ways.”
Mentors have said:
“Mentoring someone else has been a growth experience for me – through the conversations I notice more about my own approaches to certain situations, and the things I still need to work on. Mentoring also gives me the chance to consider the way I support those in my own company grappling with similar challenges.”
“Mentoring has been a really rewarding experience. My mentee and I still keep in touch and it’s become a more mutually beneficial relationship over time.”
What types of professionals/experience are you looking for?
We would welcome mentors from all areas of the business at all levels of seniority and we currently have a long waiting list for mentors! We try to match people with their professional peers, except when we feel that particular lived experience (e.g. bereavement during parenthood, life as an adoptive parent, etc) might provide better synergy between a mentee and their mentor.
Who is eligible to be a mentor?
Anyone with lived experience as a working parent or carer of a young child is eligible to mentor for us. We expect all our mentors to adopt an inclusive attitude, mentoring people regardless of any protected characteristic, offering support without judgement.
How can we can get involved?
You can apply to mentor via our website. You’ll be asked to create a login and sign up for a call. Then we’ll match you with a mentee as soon as we find one and you can get started straight away!
Where can we find out more?
You can find FAQs on our website here. If you have further questions, please email us.
This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.
3x Trustees - Breakout Youth
Breakout Youth is a registered charity that provides services and facilities for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Questioning (LGBTQ+) young people. Breakout Youth supports and advocates for LGBTQ+ young people by providing safe spaces, education, and promoting awareness as a visible, current, inclusive, and trusted LGBTQ+ charity.
Specifically, it is seeking Trustees with either fundraising or human resources experience to drive activity in these crucial areas. Although, it is also seeking general Trustees to join its growing team.
Man&Boy - Trustees and Treasurer
Man & Boy are seeking at least 3 new Trustees, including a Treasurer, who are passionate about family values and committed to its mission.
Man & Boy work to enhance family relationships, between boys who may be struggling with life and a significant male in their lives. This could be the biological father, but could be a stepfather, grandfather, uncle or even an older sibling. Its programming uses diverse activities where the man can be a role model to the boy, based on fun, encouragement, trust and open communication. It generally focuses on boys between the ages of 8 and 11 years of age, prior to them entering the challenges of adolescence and secondary school.
Willow, a charity that provides special days and experiences for seriously ill young people, seeks to appoint two new board members to help scrutinise and enhance its fundraising strategy.
Willow was founded in 1999 by former Arsenal goalkeeper and TV presenter, Bob Wilson and his wife, Megs, as a lasting memorial to their daughter, Anna, who died of cancer aged 31. Anna's 'special days', memorable times she spent with family and friends during this time, was the inspiration for this special charity.
We are keen to hear from candidates who have skills or expertise in the following or similar areas:
Worked as a senior fundraiser in a charity with a range of public fundraising methods, and are used to setting targets and reviewing the effectiveness of different streams of income.
Served on, or supported a range of charity boards and are familiar with charity regulation, including the Charity Commission, HMRC and the Fundraising Regulator. We anticipate that you will join Willow’s governance committee and perhaps serve as a future Chair or Deputy Chair
A Senior Leader (CEO, Executive Director, Fundraising Director) from the charity sector, with particular expertise in fundraising and the use of technology to engage supporters
Trustees will be able to:
Identify with, and be motivated by, the values and objectives of Willow
Think innovatively, critically, independently and strategically, with the ability and a proven track record of translating strategy into operational plans
Demonstrate a consultative, strategic and supportive style
Demonstrate Nolan’s seven principles of public life, namely: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Avon Scouts seeks voluntary Trustee
Almondsbury, South Glos Evening Meetings or remote
6 x Meetings Per year
Avon Scouts is an organisation that helps young people to do more, learn more, and be more. They provide adventurous activities and personal development opportunities for people aged 6-25 - helping develop life skills such as teamwork, communication and leadership. Avon Scouts help individuals achieve their full potential by improving their physical, intellectual, and social well-being. They abide by a ‘Learn by doing’ policy, on the basis that young people develop most when they are given responsibility, work in teams, and learn for themselves.
Avon Scout County is one of the largest Scout Counties in the UK, with over 12,000 members and over 4,000 volunteers. They are responsible for a large area, radiating from Bristol to North & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. They have ambitious plans for growth in the coming years, as they aim to enhance the services they provide and increase their reach to more communities. To assist in these developments, they’re seeking a Trustee to join their Board.
Trustees ensure that Avon Scouts operates at peak efficiency and delivers its full potential. The role is focused on strategy performance and assurance. Effective Trustee governance enables volunteers to deliver programmes that give young people skills for life. The Board of Trustees helps mould the vision of Avon Scouts while setting goals and objectives. They will approve operational strategies and evaluate their implementation and performance. Furthermore, Trustees oversee the financial plans and budgets and ensure key risks are identified, monitored and controlled.
The organisation is looking to broaden the diversity of thinking on the Board. They’re hoping to hear from candidates who will bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role. The successful candidate will be a creative thinker, able to work as part of a team and solve problems effectively. They will have strong communication skills and be able to participate in discussions with independent judgment. Ideally, the Trustee will bring an understanding of the different communities that Avon Scouts works in (Bristol, Bath, North & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire). A candidate who can provide insight into the socio-economic inequalities in one or more of these areas is highly desirable. Previous governance experience is not required, as training will be provided. It is far more important that the individual shows enthusiasm for the vision of Avon Scouts, alongside a personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
If you’re passionate about developing the skills young people need to succeed and improving local communities - we’d love to hear from you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Treasurer (trustee) for Home-Start Bracknell Forest
Do you have financial skills and enthusiasm to help an organisation that supports families of young children?
You could be the next Treasurer for Home-Start Bracknell Forest, and help drive our vision.
Set up in 1993, we support families with at least one child under five in Bracknell Forest. We are an independent charity, and although associated with the federation of Home-Start UK, our trustees independently govern our direction and manage our finances. As the cost of living crises impact on families, we’re needed more than ever; our trustees are planning our future, and need good financial governance in order to survive and grow.
Our income in 2024/25 will be ~£140k, so we’re a small charity, with a big impact.
The role and what we are looking for in a new Treasurer
Our Board includes people with experience and skills in support for Early Years; we’d expect our new Treasurer to have empathy with our cause and the families we support.
As someone with a professional background in accounting or finance, you’ll use your expertise to help ensure sound fiscal decision-making across all Home-Start Bracknell Forest projects. We’d strongly welcome your financial or bookkeeping qualifications, although our finances aren’t complex. An understanding of how charity finance works is important, of course, with the ability to communicate financial information clearly, especially to other trustees. Support from our employees is always available, as they will be dealing with the day-to-day finances.
You don’t necessarily need prior experience of charity trusteeship, as support from local charity-support organisations is always available. Full induction to our organisation will be provided, plus specialist support as a new trustee including access to external training.
We are a charity not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We are looking for fresh expertise and experience from a variety of backgrounds to our charity. We want to expand the diversity of our Board, and strongly welcome applications from people from less-represented groups.
The focus of a trustee role is strategic, and trustees will not be expected to get involved in the organisation’s operations on a day-to-day basis; however, contact and liaison with other trustees and employees is expected.
We ask for about eight hours per month, although that may vary throughout the year, increasing at Year End and AGM, reducing at other times; that includes preparation for and attendance at Board meetings.
You will need access to digital communications, as much of our charity’s business is run that way.
How to apply
A detailed Role Description and Skills Specification can be made available to you upon request.Trustee appointments are subject to satisfactory references, to completion of an online Safeguarding course and an Enhanced DBS check.
Your CV or similar will be read by our existing trustees, and an online interview offered as soon as mutually convenient.
I need to know more
Contact Mike Allen via Quick Apply, below, for more information and arrange to have a no-obligation initial informal discussion (Teams/Zoom/phone).
Trustee - Future Frontiers
Future Frontiers is an award winning charity that provides one-to-one careers guidance for pupils from low income backgrounds. The charity trains business professionals to deliver a programme of face-to-face coaching to children from schools in their community.
It is seeking a trustee with experience in a leadership position within a business who can help advise the charity on growing its network of business partnerships. The trustee would also leverage their network and experience to more generally support Future Frontiers through its next stage of impact and growth, including potential expansion to other parts of the country.
Daring Diadems is a charity that cares for children and young people, ensuring and supporting physical, educational, emotional and mental well being. We organise a variety of activities such as outdoor / indoor games, career events, community service, competitions and much more.
We need two vibrant Team Members to join us in planning and carrying out our mission. This will involve (but not limited to) attending team meetings, reaching out to young people and families, supervising weekly activities, mentoring (if you are able) a small group of young people and generally being a part of everything we do.
We are a lively bunch and you will be joining a family. We will look out for you, provide training in areas you need it and pay your expenses. Above all, you get to make a difference!
A DBS check and good references are a must for this role; your commitment can be flexible – we will discuss this in detail.
Please apply with a cv and cover letter stating why you want to do this and what kind of commitment you are able to make.
This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.
Role title: Volunteer Youth Support Assistant
Short description of role: Supporting our Connect! service for young people aged 9-18 with Autistic Spectrum Conditions. Activities range from a social board games & Lego group to kayaking, archery and bushcraft.
Long description of role: Involve’s Connect! service is funded by Kent County Council’s Short Breaks scheme. The purpose is for young people aged 9-18 with Autistic Spectrum Conditions to have a space to meet and build friendships with other young people in an autism friendly environment. The aims are for the young people to build their confidence, independence, and life skills in a safe space. As a volunteer, you would provide valuable support to the young people at activities which have previously included pizza making, arts and crafts, kayaking, archery and bushcraft as well as a regular group that meets and plays board games and Lego. It would not be necessary to join every activity but regularly enough for the young people to build relationships and trust with you at the group. Duties would involve supporting the Youth Programme Coordinator to get the young people settled at the beginning of the session and making drinks for parents and young people. You may also be encouraging young people who are feeling anxious to participate in activities by being a source of support to them and making them feel more comfortable. Most importantly, you will be supporting the group to stay safe and comfortable while trying new experiences.
Districts/areas the role is available in: Across Kent
Skills that the volunteer may need: Good listening and communication. Previous experience of working with young people is desirable but not essential.
What can the volunteer gain from this opportunity: Experience working with children and young people with additional needs. A sense of pride watching young people build their confidence and try new things. And of course, lots of fun!
Please note that this role is subject to an Enhanced DBS Check.
Involve is fully committed to upholding the rights of all children, young people and adults to be protected from harm and abuse and to achieve the best outcomes.
This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.