Mental health volunteer roles
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
The D D McPhail Charitable Settlement CIO (DDMCS), charity number 1197598, is an active grant making
Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It has succeeded the D.D. McPhail Charitable Settlement, charity
number 267588, which was founded in 1973 and operational till 2023.
DDMCS aims to support 2 or 3 major multi-year grant projects each year, which are actively sought by the
Trustees to enable small / medium sized charities to make a significant or step change in their activities. The
original trust deed and now the CIO constitution specifies three key areas of preference in the UK around:
• Furtherance of medical research,
• Care of the disabled particularly disabled children, and
• Care of the aged and infirm
The Trustees have wide discretion to support other charitable activities in the UK. There is more detail in
the annual report available via the Charity Commission website and the charity’s own website that outlines
the activities of the charity. Within these broad areas the Trustees recently agreed, following a strategic
review, to focus for the next grant making cycle on charities supporting care for the physical and mental
wellbeing of children living in poverty.
Further information can be found in the recruitment pack (attached).
We are seeking a Chair Designate to join our board, with a view to taking over as Chair in 2027. The Chair provides inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring effective governance and strategic direction for the charity. They act as an ambassador for the organisation, working closely with the Director and fellow Trustees to maximise impact for beneficiaries.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
• Lead the Board in setting and reviewing the charity’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives.
• Ensure decisions align with charitable objectives and long-term sustainability.
• Promote diversity and inclusion within the Board and wider organisation.
Governance
• Ensure compliance with the charity’s governing document, Charity Commission guidance, and relevant
legislation.
• Maintain high standards of governance, risk management, and financial oversight.
• Facilitate annual Board and Trustee performance reviews
Board Management
• Chair Board meetings effectively, ensuring impartiality and open debate.
• Provide guidance and constructive challenge to trustees.
• Foster strong relationships among Trustees and between the Board and Executive Director.
• Drive Trustee recruitment and succession planning.
External Representation
• Act as an ambassador and spokesperson for the charity.
• Represent the organisation at external events and with grantees and key stakeholders
• Support advocacy through personal networks where appropriate.
Support to Director
• Maintain a clear distinction between governance and management roles.
• Ensure regular communication and a strong, collaborative working relationship.
• Provide guidance and support to the Director.
Person Specification:
Essential Skills and Experience
• Proven leadership experience at Board or senior executive level.
• Strong understanding of charity governance and the legal duties of Trustees.
• Strategic thinker with ability to balance long-term vision and short-term priorities.
• Financial literacy and ability to oversee budgets and risk management.
• Excellent communication, with ability to build consensus
• Experience in grant-making or philanthropic sector
Desirable
• Knowledge of charity law and regulatory frameworks.
• Established networks within relevant sectors (e.g., philanthropy, corporate, public).
Personal Attributes
• Commitment to the charity’s mission and values.
• Integrity, impartiality, and sound judgment.
• Ability to dedicate sufficient time and energy to the role.
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• Innovative thinker with ability to bring forward fresh ideas.
If, after reading the applicant pack, you feel you have the skills and experience we are looking for then please apply through CharityJobs, providing a CV and cover letter (2 pages max) detailing why you are interested in this role and your relevant experience.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for preliminary interviews in March (dates to be confirmed). Initial interviews will take place via Teams.
The Trustees of DD McPhail Charitable Settlement CIO are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences, particularly those underrepresented in leadership roles within the charity sector.
Please use the following contact details for any questions or queries you may have about the role or the charity:
info at ddmcphail dot org
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Pets As Therapy is a national charity with a simple but powerful mission: to share the joy of pets with people who need it most. Each week, more than 6,000 volunteers and their pets visit schools, hospitals, hospices, care homes and community settings across the UK.
What will you be doing?
Responsibilities of the Chair:
- Provide strategic leadership to the charity and the Board, ensuring that PAT achieves its mission.
- Work in partnership with the CEO and Executive team to achieve its mission.
- Lead the Board in ensuring that it fulfils its responsibilities for the governance of the organisation.
- Optimise the relationship between the Board and PAT’s staff and volunteers.
- Plan and chair the Board meetings and the AGM, with others as appropriate.
- Act as an ambassador and spokesperson for PAT.
The Chair provides oversight and guidance while also carrying out the general responsibilities of a Trustee.
Time Commitment:
- Estimated at one to two days per month.
- The Board meets formally at least four times a year for between a half day and a day, depending on business. Two meetings are in-person and are held in central London. Two are virtual.
- All trustees are asked to serve on one or more Board sub-committees and working groups. This adds 3-4 shorter meetings a year, for which preparation can be significant or relatively light. Trustees may be asked to chair sub committees on a rotating basis.
- Ad hoc and occasional support through working groups and / or support to the Executive team.
- Monthly scheduled conversation with the CEO with flexibility to respond to the occasional ad hoc issue.
What are we looking for?
Personal skills / experience / values
- Willingness and ability to understand and accept responsibilities and liabilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.
- Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a Board member.
- Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussion.
- A strong personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Essential skills / experience / values
- A strategic thinker.
- Proven leadership skills with the ability to inspire and engage trustees, staff, funders, partners and volunteers.
- A clear understanding of the charity landscape and the challenges faced by a charity of PAT’s size.
- Trustee experience with a clear understanding of charity governance.
- Willingness to act as an ambassador.
- An animal lover with a firm commitment to PAT’s mission and values.
Desirable skills / experience
- Familiarity with membership and/or volunteer-based organisations.
- Sector expertise - animal welfare, health or education.
- Experience of encouraging more inclusive processes to extend our charity’s impact across a more diverse range of communities.
What difference will you make?
As Chair of Trustees at PAT, you will provide leadership that enables the charity to grow, innovate, and reach more people with the joy of animal companionship. Your guidance will directly influence:
- Wellbeing of vulnerable people: PAT visits lift spirits in care homes, hospitals, hospices, and day centres.
- Children’s literacy and confidence: Read2Dogs helps over 2,000 schools support reluctant or anxious readers.
- Growth and sustainability: Guide a charity with 6,000+ volunteers, ensuring it thrives and meets demand.
- Expansion of PAT’s reach: Bring the joy and comfort of pets to more people, including underserved communities.
How to Apply
The Reach Volunteering TrusteeWorks Team are supporting Pets As Therapy with this recruitment and all applications and enquiries should be sent to TrusteeWorks via the Reach Volunteering Platform. Please see application instructions on the redirect link.
Inclusive Boards is delighted to be supporting The Girls’ Network in the search to appoint their next Chair and two Trustees.
About The Girls’ Network
At The Girls’ Network, we believe that no girl should have her future limited by her gender, ethnicity, background or parental income.
Young people from lower-income families are significantly less likely to go on to higher education than their wealthier peers, which can have a lifelong impact on opportunity and earning potential. Recent years have also seen inequalities deepen and young people’s wellbeing adversely affected, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic. These structural and social barriers disproportionately affect girls and young women from communities of least advantage.
We exist to challenge this inequality. Our mission is to inspire and empower girls and young women from underrepresented backgrounds to realise their ambitions, discover their self-worth, and develop the confidence and capacity to shape their own futures.
We work in communities of least advantage across England to deliver programmes that provide long-term, meaningful support.
About the Opportunities
The Girls’ Network is seeking a new Chair of Trustees to lead and support The Girls’ Network through their exciting next phase of growth, supporting an exceptional, values-driven team and ensuring they remain ambitious, accountable and true to their founding mission.
We are particularly interested to hear from candidates with:
- Experience of strategic leadership and governance within a complex organisation.
- Experience or understanding of the education / schools landscape.
- Good understanding of voluntary sector governance, funding and finance management.
- Thorough understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities, and liabilities of trusteeship.
- Demonstrable financial and commercial acumen, including experience in financial planning, oversight, risk management, and the establishment and monitoring of systems of control and accountability.
- A track record of driving innovation and organisational change, with the ability to apply insight to support the charity’s achievement of its strategic objectives.
- Experience of working across sectoral boundaries, leveraging partnerships and opportunities.
The Girls’ Networks is also seeking two talented and committed Trustees to join their Board. We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Fundraising
- IT and digital
We are also seeking Trustees from the North East, Merseyside, West Midlands who can bring their lived experience to add value to the Board. We also encourage applications from young Trustees and will support first-time Trustees to bring their valuable perspectives to the Board.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
If you are over 18 and have been impacted by suicide loss, you could help make a difference.
- Have you been impacted by suicide?
- Do you have a desire to help others?
- Are you comfortable with listening to and supporting people with similar experiences to your own?
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) is the leading charity providing peer-to-peer support for adults who have been bereaved or impacted by suicide. We believe that no one should face their loss alone, so we create safe spaces across the UK for people to share and process their grief.
We are seeking compassionate volunteers looking to start up a new peer support group in Aberystwyth.
Who are we looking for?
- Over the age of 18.
- Bereaved by suicide over 18 months ago and confident in your own progress. The impacts of a death by suicide are far-reaching - this could have been a family member, friend, colleague, client, or even a stranger.
- Passionate about supporting others in your community.
- Friendly, trustworthy, and approachable, with good active listening skills.
- Respectful, sensitive, and non-judgmental approach to survivors.
- Comfortable in supporting conversations and managing group dynamics.
- Good communication skills – both spoken & written English.
- A commitment to support the group, your team, and the surrounding community.
How do groups work?
Each group is facilitated by a team of three volunteers who have all been bereaved by suicide themselves. Their role is facilitating meetings, group administration, fundraising and communication for the group as a team. All volunteers are provided with full training before they begin the role and receive support from head office throughout their volunteering journey.
SoBS groups usually meet once a month for around 2 hours, and provide people with an opportunity to listen, share, ask questions, and connect with others in a safe and non-judgemental space.
There is no set structure to a meeting – people are free to talk and listen as much or as little as they want. Topics discussed vary from month to month but often include people sharing their story, how they are feeling, what has happened since their last group visit, questions about coroners and discussions about common challenges such as flashbacks, supporting children or facing neighbours. Established groups may occasionally organise guest speakers, go on walks, or arrange craft workshops.
What will you do?
- Facilitate group sessions – meeting survivors, starting off conversations, allowing space for people to talk (if they want to), and looking out for others.
- Administration & communication – managing enquiries from survivors, providing information and signposting where needed, submitting information to the national office.
- Provide signposting to head office, as well as other local charities and services.
What do we provide?
- Robust training and a commitment to development.
- Annual volunteer assembly: talks, forums, guest speakers, celebrations, and socials.
- Peer support from over 500 other volunteers with regular opportunities to meet and share ideas.
- Regular check-ins & catch-up sessions with a dedicated Volunteer Coordinator for your region, and our team in the national office.
- Travel & group expenses for your volunteering role.
- Coverage by SoBS’ Public Liability Insurance whilst you’re carrying out the role.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide welcomes people of all backgrounds, abilities, and identities. We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments that enable volunteers with disabilities to access our opportunities.
As a group facilitator, you will play a vital role in supporting others bereaved by suicide. If you are passionate about supporting others through their grief journey, please do apply.
Our mission is simple - that no one has to go through losing someone to suicide alone. We work to break the isolation and stigmas around suicide loss.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Become a Fundraising Volunteer!
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
Cats are at the centre of everything we do, and our objectives are homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care.
We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, employees and supporters.
A bit about this role...
Please note - Due to the nature of fundraising roles, our volunteers must be over the age of 18.
As a charity we can help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations from our supporters. Raising funds is a key role in our charity, helping to raise the vital funds needed to help more cats and kittens in need.
As a fundraising volunteer, we will support you every step of the way to ensure your time at Cats Protection is a positive and rewarding one. Whatever time you can give really does make a big difference We have lots of exciting activities to choose from for example attending a fundraising event, fundraising online, promoting fundraising activities on social media, handling administrative tasks, or contributing to the development of new fundraising ideas. Whatever your skill set, this role could be perfect for you!
What can I expect to be doing?
As a flexible role, you have the choice to be involved in the following:
-
Face-to-face fundraising – organising or helping with our fundraising events, attending supermarket collections or local markets.
-
Distributing collection tins – popping collection tins into local shops and pubs and collecting them when they’re full.
-
Bringing new ideas! - We always love to come up with new ideas to raise funds for cats and we’d love to help bring yours to life.
-
Engaging with your local branches and Fundraising Hub and feeling like an integral part of the team!
What are the benefits to you and the cats?
You will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge though Cats Protection’s learn online system, providing you with the skills to thrive as a fundraiser. You’ll also have the chance to meet new people and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.
Money raised by our volunteers enables us to put cats first. Cats are at the centre of all we do. We care for them, ensure their welfare, and help others to understand and better support them.
We're looking for someone with:
-
Sympathy to cats and our values
-
Happy to be part of a team of dedicated volunteers and employees.
-
Flexible and adaptable to different events/activities
-
Open to new ideas and ways of fundraising
How much time is expected of me?
Our Fundraising Volunteer roles are very flexible, often certain times of the year are busier than others. You can choose your level of involvement to suit your schedule!
Support, guidance and keeping you safe
At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.
The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we encounter as part of our activities.
Thank you for your support and sharing in this commitment and for everything you will do during your time with Cats Protection!
Making a better life for cats, because life is better with cats
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Become a Fundraising Volunteer!
Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, and our vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.
Cats are at the centre of everything we do, and our objectives are homing, neutering and educating people about cats and their care.
We help thousands of cats across the UK each year thanks to our network of dedicated volunteers, employees and supporters.
A bit about this role...
Please note - Due to the nature of fundraising roles, our volunteers must be over the age of 18.
As a charity we can help thousands of cats each year thanks to the generous donations from our supporters. Raising funds is a key role in our charity, helping to raise the vital funds needed to help more cats and kittens in need.
As a fundraising volunteer, we will support you every step of the way to ensure your time at Cats Protection is a positive and rewarding one. Whatever time you can give really does make a big difference We have lots of exciting activities to choose from for example attending a fundraising event, fundraising online, promoting fundraising activities on social media, handling administrative tasks, or contributing to the development of new fundraising ideas. Whatever your skill set, this role could be perfect for you!
What can I expect to be doing?
As a flexible role, you have the choice to be involved in the following:
-
Face-to-face fundraising – organising or helping with our fundraising events, attending supermarket collections or local markets.
-
Distributing collection tins – popping collection tins into local shops and pubs and collecting them when they’re full.
-
Bringing new ideas! - We always love to come up with new ideas to raise funds for cats and we’d love to help bring yours to life.
-
Engaging with your local branches and Fundraising Hub and feeling like an integral part of the team!
What are the benefits to you and the cats?
You will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge though Cats Protection’s learn online system, providing you with the skills to thrive as a fundraiser. You’ll also have the chance to meet new people and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.
Money raised by our volunteers enables us to put cats first. Cats are at the centre of all we do. We care for them, ensure their welfare, and help others to understand and better support them.
We're looking for someone with:
-
Sympathy to cats and our values
-
Happy to be part of a team of dedicated volunteers and employees.
-
Flexible and adaptable to different events/activities
-
Open to new ideas and ways of fundraising
How much time is expected of me?
Our Fundraising Volunteer roles are very flexible, often certain times of the year are busier than others. You can choose your level of involvement to suit your schedule!
Support, guidance and keeping you safe
At Cats Protection we believe our volunteers should be happy and confident in their roles. We provide support and guidance from our National Cat Centre and through our regional and local volunteer groups and teams. We offer engaging online and face-to-face training, expenses and have policies and processes to help volunteers get the most out of their time with us.
The wellbeing of our people is important and at Cats Protection we are committed to safeguarding children, adults at risk and all those that we encounter as part of our activities.
Thank you for your support and sharing in this commitment and for everything you will do during your time with Cats Protection!
Making a better life for cats, because life is better with cats
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
No Panic has hundreds of members, and dozens of volunteers. We aim to create a sense of community among our members and volunteers.
The Community Engagement Team Co-ordinator volunteer will be responsible for running activities that will bring this about.
These include holding social events on Zoom and maintaining WhatsApp groups.
The engagement team can use their imagination and interests – events/groups could be anything from book groups to craft sessions. The co-ordinator organises and maintains the activities and can participate in them if desired.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Overview
No Panic is a national charity, supporting people with a variety of anxiety issues, providing self-help advice over our helpline and additional support services.
We are building a team of volunteers to produce and distribute introduction material about No Panic to service users, members, students and volunteers.
We are looking for a volunteer to co-ordinate this team.
Activities
Activities will include reviewing the introduction material; assigning editing tasks to team members; monitoring progress; reviewing content and overseeing distribution.
The Co-ordinator might also do the editing, if no volunteers are available.
We anticipate this volunteering will take up about 3-4 hours per week and ask our volunteers to commit to at least a year.
Desired Skills
Successful applicants will be committed and motivated.
They will be confident, and have the skills to run a team.
They will be able to produce and edit documents of varying lengths to a high standard and be able to write and communicate with clarity.
A reference will be required.
Support
The Introductions Team Co-ordinator will be supported by a Trustee.
(Please note: there is currently no induction - this is one of the things being worked on by the team.)
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Our Second Home (OSH) is the UK’s youth movement of people with refugee backgrounds. We have welcomed over 600 young people from 50 countries to our activities in London, Essex and Bristol.
Mission
For young people with refugee experience to build community, become leaders and flourish into adulthood in the place they call home. Through transformative activities, our members take control of their lives and create meaningful change for themselves and their wider community.
About This Role
OSH is at a pivotal point in its development.
Over the past few years, OSH has grown from a small, founder-led organisation into a national movement with increasing reach, complexity, and ambition. Our income has risen from £250,000 to £500,000, our staff and volunteer base is expanding, and our programmes are reaching more young people than ever before.
OSH now needs confident, experienced, and future-focused governance that can support scaling while protecting the culture, values, and relational way of working that make the organisation distinctive.
Your role will involve 4 main areas:
- Board Leadership and Governance
- Strategy and Organisational Leadership
- CEO Support, Appraisal, and Accountability
- External Representation and Engagement
More information is in the recruitment pack attached.
About You
Essential
- Significant experience in organisational and strategic leadership, ideally including guiding a charity or mission-driven organisation from small to medium scale
- A proactive and forward-thinking mindset, demonstrating the ability to anticipate potential issues and risks while identifying opportunities.
- Strong understanding of good governance, with the confidence to lead a board and hold senior executives to account
- Experience of or exposure to fundraising, financial sustainability, and organisational development
- The ability to balance support and challenge, particularly in a Chair - CEO relationship
- Commitment to OSH’s mission and values, including a genuine willingness to engage with and be guided by those with lived experience of the asylum system
- Highly organised and dynamic, with the ability to prioritise the effective use of Board time, facilitate the timely and focused distribution of information, and ensure appropriate follow-up to Board decisions.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, with the emotional intelligence to lead inclusively, collaboratively, and sensitively
Desirable
- Lived experience of asylum or forced migration
- Previous experience as a Chair or Vice-Chair of a charity or similar organisation
- Experience working with youth-led or lived-experience-led organisations
- Familiarity with safeguarding in youth or community settings
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.