Volunteer Roles

Alex, The Leukodystrophy Charity (Alex TLC) is a small, independent rare disease charity competing for essential resources within an extremely competitive arena.

Like many other small charities, we have grown organically from an informal support group to the recognised voice for leukodystrophy patients and their families. In order to fulfil our charitable objectives we need to increase and sustain our corporate income levels.

Could you spare a few hours a week to help us?

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for volunteers, preferably with corporate fundraising experience to:

• research the corporate giving landscape and the interests of potential donors

• identify potential corporate donors and partners whose corporate social responsibility (CSR) goals align with our mission and values

• approach local and national businesses in person and over the telephone to inform them of the work of Alex TLC

• keep a record of all approaches

Time Commitment

• This role is flexible and can easily fit round your other commitments. 

Location of Volunteering

• Homebased

ABOUT YOU

• an interest in Alex TLC and the work that we do

• access to a computer/laptop with an internet connection, and a printer

• basic understanding of the complexities of leukodystrophy

• excellent written skills

• excellent organisational and administrative skills

Benefits to you:

• Meeting and working with new people

• The ability to volunteer around your own commitments

• Learning new skills whilst having fun!

• Adding to your CV

• Helping those affected by leukodystrophies

We're looking for a creative social media volunteer to build our audience across social media, keep all platforms up to date with original content and promote our initiatives with on brand messages on a weekly basis. 

The Mental Health Community are a registered charity created out of a passion to improve mental health services and the belief that community is crucial to delivering the means for sustainable recovery for everyone with mental ill-health. 

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

-Ensuring all social media is up to date and has original content on it.

-Maintaining the baseline number of posts through scheduling.

-Supporting the team to be interactive to what is going on in social media and responding in real time when possible

-Keeping up-to-date with the team, staying in regular contact through email/whatsapp/phone and meetings.

-Create varied and original content using the marketing strategy as a guide

-Working with others in the team to grow our networks.

-Analysing the effects of social media and creating a quarterly report on what has worked well and what has not.

-Being creative and developing new ways of communicating with customers/supporters.

-General promotion of our ethos and advocacy of the issues throughout the duration of the role.

Salary: Voluntary position.

Location: Working from home, remotely

Hours: Approximately 3 hours per week fully flexible, however a baseline of posts must be delivered each week.

Skills/attributes/knowledge/experience

Essential:

Some experience in using Instagram and LinkedIn to support cause/charity/events.

Committed to providing the minimum output of posts as agreed with the team.

Creative and imaginative thinking.

Interested in our causes and ethos around mental health

Lived experience of mental ill health

Proven written communication skills

Proven IT skills and an internet connection

Competent with social media and digital communication tools.

Confident to work on own initiative with minimum supervision but knowing when to consult with and inform others

Organised, able to set and meet own targets and goals

Ability to work to fixed timelines

Desirable:

Experience of coordinating others to contribute to projects.

Experience of working in the third sector.

Verbal communication skills.

Equal Opportunities

The Mental Health Community (registered charity number 1184442) are committed to achieving an inclusive environment which provides equality of opportunity and freedom from unlawful discrimination for everyone who works within and accesses our organisation and services. 

IT Assistant

Role Description

Who We are

Kobu Smart Ltd was found it by covid period, focus on Computer Repair Services in a friendly way and the commodity from your house or business local. Now we can mention it as an IT-managed services provider. We compromised of professional IT specialists responsible for providing guidance and sharing relevant information with personal or business persons.

At KOBU SMART, we always look for improvements in all aspects of the business environment, or perhaps any particular Home User needs to improve the network at home.

We are a small and fresh team that has been working in the IT industry for years. In 2020, we decided to launch our business idea and share our knowledge and experience with those customers who need help understanding the meaning of Information Technology nowadays.

Our mission is to globally assist business to be more efficient in a daily basis in business operation, such as communication, finance, relationship between colleagues and employers and ways of communication.

What you’ll be doing

To ensure that their company’s computer network is running smoothly and efficiently, IT assistants perform an array of tasks. We analysed several online job postings to identify these core duties and responsibilities.

• Installing and configuring equipment belong to KOBU SMART.

• Setting Up Peripherals or any kind of configuration KOBU SMART has to be maintained

• Maintaining and repairing, even if a computer network and all its peripherals are set up flawlessly, issues will still arise on a week-to-week basis.

• Helping customers/employees/volunteers in our Help-desk page. Assisting as 1st/2nd Line Support.

• Manage of Remote Desktop to assist customers.

What skills and experience you’ll bring us

We’re all about learning and development here at Kobu Smart, so we don’t expect you to know everything to apply to us! Whether you’re an undergraduate looking to gain real world experience, a graduate looking for their first opportunity, or a seasoned professional wanting to change careers or step into management, we will support you in your journey.

Be aware, this job is unpaid, but has annual compensations for the great job performance maintenance for the company, or promotional to another internal jobs in the organization. We aim to pay £100 per annual as minimum if you release a good performance activities in the company.

Numberfit is a social enterprise that makes learning maths fun and engaging for children across age groups and attainment levels. 

We are looking for a gameplay designer to help us improve our educational games. This role involves enhancing gameplay mechanics and designing innovative games that can be enjoyed by children and families. These games are often games that have both a physical and digital component (working alongside our software developer)

You will also be working alongside our founder as part of our small team.

Your responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Providing constructive feedback and innovative suggestions for improving the design and user experience of the game.

• Designing and prototyping new gameplay mechanics, features, and challenges.

• Helping test the game to identify areas for improvement.

• Working closely with artists and developers to implement design elements into the game.

Key qualifications include:

• Excellent writing and communication skills.

• Great attention to detail.

• Strong research abilities to identify potential improvements to a game.

• An interest in games, including board games, location based games, pervasive games, computer games etc. Previous experience in game design, preferred but not mandatory.

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.

• A passion for games, children’s education and wellbeing.

What difference will you make?

As a Gameplay Designer, your contributions will directly impact the improvement of our Scavenger Hunt, creating an engaging and enjoyable learning experience for children. Your creative input will shape the design and enhance the overall educational impact of our games, contributing to our mission of making mathematics and learning enjoyable for children.

What’s in it for the volunteer?

You’ll get to do what you love, develop new skills and build strong experience in hard to break through industries. If we’re able to assist in your personal development, we will endeavour to do so. Your contribution to help us achieve our vision of ‘a world full of healthy children loving learning' will be greatly appreciated. 

What skills should you have? 

Educated or experienced in game design and creative storytelling.

What skills will you gain?

Teamwork, Strategy, Communication Skills, Game Design, Marketing & Advertising

Do you want to be inspired by the impact of education? Do you have the skills to lead an established board of governors? A school in Mottingham, South East London is looking for a skilled volunteer to drive school improvement by becoming a chair of governors.

What will you be doing?

Governing bodies are responsible for the strategic management of a school and will make decisions about a wide range of issues

The core responsibilities involved are:

· Ensuring accountability

· Providing support and challenge to the schools senior leadership team

· Monitoring and evaluating the school’s progress

· Budgetary allocation and control

· Shaping plans for school improvement and overseeing their implementation

· Setting the school’s aims and values

· Appointing senior members of staff including the Head Teacher

A school governing body is made up of representatives from the school, the parents, and the local community.

What are we looking for?

This vacancy is for an Academy Primary School (ages 4-11).  The school would ideally like to find someone who has previous chairing experience, although this can be in any industry.  A range of skills honed from your professional life will be very welcome.

You must be over 18, but you don’t need to be a parent or have children of school age. Often, it’s the outside perspective you can bring that a school needs. Professional experience in areas such as safe guarding, change management, and leadership skills are all useful to a school. Soft skills such as communication and problem solving are also great additions.

What difference will you make?

Governors make decisions that affect schools for years to come. Chair of Governors work in partnership with Head Teachers and the Senior Management Team to help deliver the best possible education, and help children realise their expectations and aspirations.

Our recent impact survey found that our volunteers bring £9.9 million worth of value to schools each year, and 9/10 volunteers would recommend being a governor to a friend.

As a chair of governors, you will be encouraged to visit the school to gain an understanding of the culture and ethos and to get the most out of the role. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet children, parents, and teachers, and see the impact of your work first-hand.

What's in it for the volunteer?

Volunteering as a chair of governors is a challenging but rewarding role. As part of the governing board, you’ll:

· Have support from the vice chair(s) and the clerk, to ensure the effective functioning of the board by keeping it focused on its core functions. You will also encourage the board to work together as an effective team, building its skills, knowledge and experience.

· help schools overcome challenges to ensure a bright future for children in your community

· work collaboratively with people from different backgrounds, challenging your own perspective and broadening your network

· gain experience outside of your job description and skills you can bring back to work

Before you apply

You will need to complete an application form and will have an interview with the school. DBS checks will be taken up.

About Governors for Schools

Objectives

Governors for Schools exists to improve educational standards so that 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 help to drive systematic change in how schools operate. We have been connecting schools across England for over 20 years, and expanded our service into Wales in 2020, with skilled and committed volunteers, supported by our business and university partnerships.

Opportunity to make a positive difference to children, young people, and families in need as an Eikon Trustee

As a charity we support a diverse community of children, young people, and families in and around Surrey.  We know that diverse teams not only better reflect the communities we serve, but they also perform better.  We are committed to achieving greater diversity at every level of our organisation, including the Board, and we encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

For 30 years now Eikon has been committed to ensuring that children and young people have someone to turn to when life gets tough.  Our work changes lives, and our staff and volunteers are dedicated to helping children and young people to be safe, and to feel heard, empowered, and to thrive. 

We have grown significantly over recent years and are now working to support thousands of children, young people, and families across Surrey.  Part of this growth is due to the incredible support of our highly skilled and dedicated Board of Trustees.

Eikon is seeking two new trustees to join our board.  Our trustees bring a range of skills and experience and use their expertise to oversee the strategic direction, governance, core policies, financial oversight, legal compliance, and general performance of the charity to meet its charitable purposes.

Trustees also empower the senior leadership team who take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the charity. 

We would love to discuss this opportunity to serve as a trustee if you have:

·A passion and commitment to Eikon’s beliefs and values.

·Experience of the development and implementation of strategies (business, commercial, and/or charity/volunteer). 

·Experience in charity and/or business processes and procedures.  

· Skills in representing a charity or voluntary organisation and engaging with external stakeholders, and/or building external relationships in a business environment.  

· Awareness of business, commercial and/or charity management accounts and reporting.  

· A practical understanding of the importance of safeguarding for young people and for employees/volunteers/carers who   work with them.

Wildlife and Nature Conservation Opportunity

We're looking for a few individuals to join our team who want to make a genuine difference. Wildlife for All is refreshingly different, embracing a deeper approach to nature conservation.

We train our team members to understand how psychological attitude has a huge impact on project effectiveness. Previous conservation experience isn't needed because of our very different, pioneering way of working. We provide all the necessary training to be part of our highly successful work, starting at our nature reserve in Sussex, England. We also run a massive nature reserve in South Africa.

You need to be willing to challenge yourself, learn to work hard, and want to be the best you can be. This is a unique opportunity.

Please see the "Interviews" page of the Wildlife For All website for details of how to apply.

British Registered Charity 1006174

Opportunity to Shape the Future: Join Abbey Multi Academy Trust as a Trustee

Are you passionate about education and committed to making a difference in the lives of young people? Abbey Multi Academy Trust is seeking dedicated individuals to join our board of Trustees and work with us to inspire learners and change their lives as a result of our educational provision.

About Abbey Multi Academy Trust: Abbey MAT is a Church of England Trust within the Anglican Diocese of Leeds that currently consists of eight schools. We are committed to our Trust vision to work in partnership to educate, nurture and empower our students and our employees so that everyone can flourish and live ‘life in all its fullness’ (John 10:10). We strive to create an environment that is welcoming, caring, disciplined, and purposeful, ensuring every student has the opportunity to achieve their highest potential.

What We're Looking For: We are seeking individuals who can offer positive challenge to our leadership team, helping us to achieve our strategic objectives. Whether you come from the private, charity, or public sector, if you have experience at a senior management level, we want to hear from you. We would be particularly interested to hear from individuals with a background in strategic educational leadership.

Key Responsibilities: As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in shaping the strategic direction of our Trust. Responsibilities include ensuring clarity of vision, holding executive leaders to account, and contributing to financial planning for sustainability and growth. Our board meets once every half term (6 times a year), with additional opportunities to serve on our specialised sub-committees.

Benefits of Being a Trustee: Being a Trustee is a rewarding form of voluntary work where you can make a tangible difference in your local community. You'll have the chance to bring new ideas and perspectives to the table, helping us to continuously improve and innovate.

Who Can Apply: Candidates will ideally have experience at a senior manager/director level and live within a reasonable distance of the Trust or have a strong link to the region. You must be willing to support the Trust’s Christian ethos as well as our shared mission and values. We value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Abbey MAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All Trustees are subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

If you are ready to contribute to the success of our academies and share our commitment to excellence in education, we encourage you to apply. 

Abbey Multi Academy Trust – In partnership to educate, nurture and empower.

Role Description:

The HR Admin Assistant will be assisting in responding to volunteer applications, updating volunteer policies and documentation, induction of new volunteers and organising interviews. The volunteer should have organisational and communication skills, but further guidance will be given by other volunteers if needed. The HR assistant will be working closely with the Admin Assistants. The volunteer will have further possibilities to develop their skill sets through tasks given. This will further help you to develop your professional development programme (PDP).

Main Tasks:

• Updating volunteer policies and documentation
• Assisting in recruitment
• Assisting in interviewing new volunteers
• Assisting in induction of new volunteers

Required Skills:

• Written and verbal communication skills
• Office based skills(Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Team Working skills
• Being structured and organised
• Working in adherence with the organisation's key objectives and business plan.
• Has the ability to create relationships with and show respect to different types of people.
• Professionalism & Confidentiality

Training and Support Available:

• Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Assistance will be given in writing documentation and policies.
• Recruitment
• Interviewing
• Inductions

The Professional Development Programme with Quilombo UK runs over a period of 16 weeks, is UNPAID and requires a minimum of 12 hours commitment per week across Monday, Wednesday and/or Friday.

Upon successful application, our HR team will contact you to arrange an interview. Following a successful interview, we'll initiate the onboarding process by sending you the necessary documents. Once your onboarding and identification documents are received and verified, you'll be invited to a 6-hour HR and System Induction. Subsequently, you'll meet with your Head of Department or Assistant Manager for your First Day.

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, staff and supporters.

A bit about this role

Across the UK, many cats are cared for by volunteer fosterers who provide a stable, safe and loving environment in their homes or in purpose-built pens in their gardens. They provide vital hands-on care and accommodation to stray or abandoned cats or cats whose owners could sadly no longer keep them, and are part of a dedicated team of volunteers committed to finding new homes for cats in need. Our fosterers carry out this role with support from their local branch or centre.

Most of our fosterers care for one or two cats at a time and enjoy providing lots of TLC to those cats, who have been pre-loved or have had a difficult start in life. Some of our fosterers look after new mums and kittens and provide round-the-clock care to newborns to give them the best start in life.

What can you expect to be doing?

• Meeting the needs of the cats and kittens in your care
• Cleaning and looking after the cats’ environment and equipment
• Feeding, grooming and administering medication
• Spending time enriching the cats’ experience in care including; play, exercise and stroking
• Maintaining high standards of animal welfare

A bit more information about this role and the team

must have access to a car to enable visits to the centre or the nominated veterinary clinic.

What are the benefits to you and the cats?

You will develop new skills, expand your knowledge and make a significant contribution to improving the lives of cats and kittens in need by caring for them before they find new, loving homes. You will also meet new people, make new friends and be part of a dedicated team of volunteers.

We’re looking for someone with

• A dedicated suitable spare room in your house or space in your garden for a purpose-built pen – you can read more about this here
• Basic knowledge of cats, cat care and understanding their needs
• An appreciation of cat welfare and hygiene standards
• Good interpersonal skills
• Patience, commitment and empathy
• Willingness to be part of a team

Time expectation

Our volunteer fosterers usually spend one and a half hours per day on average (around 10 to 13 hours per week) in this role, but this might vary depending on the number of cats or kittens in care. In order to help you feel confident in your fosterer role we ask that prior to looking after your first foster cat you complete some online cat welfare learning modules.

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 come into contact with as part of our activities.

Quilombo UK is a Social Enterprise working with the objective to promote and encourage an intercultural understanding between different communities and societies; To promote cultural awareness in the community and educate, regardless of nationality or origin, about race diversity and mutual respect; and run a community organisation with a strong focus on individuals, the community and society.

Roles and Responsibilties

The role is responsible for planning / implementing a content marketing strategies which increases brand awareness with our core target markets through the effective use of social media channels. This will include developing and implementing content marketing campaigns appropriate to the channel being used, monitoring social media channels to respond appropriately to posts / comments, and identifying issues that require escalation.

Digital and Social Media Assistant Job Duties:

· Research and create marketing and social media campaigns and strategies, including content ideation, and implementation schedules in order to raise brand awareness, secure media coverage, and increase visitor numbers.

· Manage and oversee social media content.

· Ensures brand consistency in marketing and social media messages by working with various company department members, including advertising, PR and brand management.

· Provides training and guidance to social media and marketing team members on social media implementation best practices and strategies if necessary.

· Analyses interactions and visits, plus uses this information to create comprehensive reports and improve future marketing strategies and campaigns.

· Write, schedule and post content on all social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube), own the social media calendar and be a brand guardian for the creative aesthetic of all social channels.

· Measure the success of every social media campaign

· Reports progress to senior marketing management on marketing communications across all channels.

· Creates and distributes engaging written or graphic content in the form of e-newsletters, web page and blog content, or social media messages

· Stay up to date with latest social media best practices and technologies

· Communicate with industry professionals and influencers via social media to create a strong network

· Adhere to rules and regulations

· Undertake any other duties relevant to the role that may be allocated by the Head of Department or member of the Senior Management Team.

Essential

· In-depth knowledge of social media platforms and how best to use and develop them.

· Experience of developing social media strategies to support organisational influencing and communications objectives.

· Experience of developing creative user focused digital content using knowledge of the latest trends and developments.

· In-depth knowledge of developing effective, engaging digital content. Knowledge of key analytics tools

· Excellent knowledge of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and other social media best practices

· Knowledge of Google Suite (Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets etc) and MS Office

· Excellent multitasking skills

· Ability to efficiently manage a large workload

· Critical thinker and problem-solving skills

· Team player

· Good time-management skills

· Great interpersonal, presentation and communication skills

Desirable

· Knowledge of graphic design software such as Canva

· Knowledge and understanding of social media scheduling tools such as Buffer

The Professional Development Programme with Quilombo UK runs over a period of 16 weeks, is UNPAID and requires a minimum of 12 hours commitment per week across Monday, Wednesday and/or Friday.

Upon successful application, our HR team will contact you to arrange an interview. Following a successful interview, we'll initiate the onboarding process by sending you the necessary documents. Once your onboarding and identification documents are received and verified, you'll be invited to a 6-hour HR and System Induction. Subsequently, you'll meet with your Head of Department or Assistant Manager for your First Day.

Benefits:

• Work from home

Schedule:

• Day shift

Work Location: Remote

Job Type: Volunteer

Benefits:

• Work from home

Schedule:

• 12 hour shift
• Monday to Friday
• No weekends

Education:

Bachelor's (preferred)
Work Location: Remote

Finance Volunteer

We’re the MS Society – a community of people living with MS, scientists, campaigners, listeners, organisers, ambassadors and fundraisers. Our volunteers are a key part of achieving our goals and their support is vital. Join us.

About this opportunity
We are looking to recruit a Finance Volunteer for our Telford and District Group. As a Finance Volunteer, you would be joining a coordinating team of volunteers to plan and deliver services and activities to support people locally.

You will maintain and approve income and expenditure records and explain financial information clearly to other group members. You would ensure our financial requirements and policies are followed, and that money is spent in a cost effective manner.

This is a great opportunity to gain experience with a large charity, develop your existing skills and learn new ones. We need you to get involved and help make positive changes to the lives of people affected by MS.

About you
You’ll have an interest in the MS Society and the work that we do, as well as the enthusiasm to represent both us and our values locally. You will understand the needs of people affected by MS in your area and be sympathetic to the needs and motivations of volunteers. You’ll be comfortable with figures, preferably with an accounting or business background.

Apply 

Read through the role description carefully

Please apply online

The MS Society is committed to promoting diversity. We can only offer roles to over 18s.

WHO WE ARE
We are a Kingston-based social enterprise using creative thinking to build community cohesion. Encouraging different cultures to unite enables us to share and celebrate essential lessons. Partnering with cultural, social and sports organisation's, we put on programmes of training, workshops and other events that promote unity and tolerance.

We conduct research to challenge preconceptions around race and stereotyping. Our findings are supported by educational opportunities designed to broaden perspectives.

Ready for an adventure? Dive into the heart of Quilombo UK by exploring our website and videos! Discover our mission, values and the impactful work we do to make a difference in our community.

Your journey with purpose begins here

Join us in creating positive change!

ROLE DESCRIPTION

Join our dynamic team as a Volunteer HR Recruiter and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our non-profit Organisation. As a key member of our Human Resources team, you will be responsible for managing the end-to-end recruitment process, ensuring the acquisition of talented individuals passionate about our mission. Your expertise will contribute to building a dedicated and skilled workforce, enabling us to impact the community positively. This role offers a unique opportunity to utilise your HR recruitment skills for a meaningful cause while gaining valuable experience in the non-profit sector.

Collaborate with hiring managers to identify hiring needs and implement effective sourcing strategies,
Interview and Selection
Build and maintain a strong talent pipeline.
Conduct initial screening interviews to effectively evaluate the candidates’ skill set and cultural fit while providing an engaging experience.
Foster positive relationships with candidates, keeping them informed about the status of their applications.
Ensure compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date candidate records and recruitment metrics.

 REQUIRED SKILLS:

Proven experience as an HR Recruiter or in a similar role
Familiarity with job boards and professional social platforms
Strong understanding of recruitment processes and employment laws
Good communication and interpersonal skills
Office based skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Excellent time management and organisational skills
Strong marketing and negotiation skills
Outstanding teamwork skills and ability to create relationships at all levels, showing respect to different types of people.
Professionalism and Confidentiality

WHAT WE OFFER:

Opportunity for professional growth and development in Recruitment and other HR departments depending on your knowledge and learning aptitude.
A collaborative and inclusive work environment that values diversity and innovation.
Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

The Professional Development Programme with Quilombo UK runs over a period of 16 weeks, is UNPAID and requires a minimum of 12 hours commitment per week across Monday, Wednesday and/or Friday.

Upon successful application, our HR team will contact you to arrange an interview. Following a successful interview, we'll initiate the onboarding process by sending you the necessary documents. Once your onboarding and identification documents are received and verified, you'll be invited to a 6-hour HR and System Induction. Subsequently, you'll meet with your Head of Department or Assistant Manager for your First Day.

Job Type: Volunteer

Benefits:

• Work from home

Schedule:

• 12hrs per week, Monday to Friday

Education:

• Bachelor's (preferred)

Experience:

• Recruiting: 1 year (preferred)
• Licence/Certification:

Work Location: Remote

Support U is a Reading based charity set up in 2010 to provide support to LGBTQ people in the Thames Valley.  Our small team runs social, emotional and wellbeing support and social groups and provides some counselling services.  We are looking to revitalise our Trustee Board and require a new Chair of Trustees.

This role description includes:

1. Your general statutory responsibilities as a Trustee

2. Specific Responsibilities for your role as a Chair of Trustees

1. Your general statutory responsibilities as a trustee:

· Ensuring that the organisation pursues its stated objects (purposes), as defined in its governing document, by developing and agreeing a long-term strategy

· Ensuring that the organisation complies with its governing document (ie its constitution), charity law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations

· Ensuring that the organisation applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its charitable objects (ie the charity must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects, however worthwhile or charitable those activities are) for the benefit of the public

· Ensuring that the organisation defines its goals and evaluates performance against agreed targets

· Safeguarding the good name and values of the organisation

· Ensuring the effective and efficient administration of the organisation, including having appropriate policies and procedures in place

· Ensuring the financial stability of the organisation

· Protecting and managing the property of the charity and ensuring the proper investment of the charity’s funds

In addition to the above statutory duties, each trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the board of trustees reach sound decisions.

This may involve:-

· scrutinising board papers,

· leading discussions,

· focusing on key issues,

· providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

2. Your specific responsibilities as Chair of Trustees, including person specification

Your responsibilities as Chair of Trustees include:

· Providing leadership to the organisation and the board by ensuring that everyone remains focused on the delivery of the organisation’s charitable purposes in order to provide greater public benefit

· Chairing and facilitating board meetings

· Giving direction to board policy-making

· Checking that decisions taken at meetings are implemented

· Representing the organisation at functions and meetings, and acting as a spokesperson as appropriate

· Bringing impartiality and objectivity to decision-making

· Planning the annual cycle of board meetings and other general meetings where required, for example annual general meeting

· Setting agendas for board and other general meetings

· Developing the board of trustees including induction, training, appraisal and succession planning

· Addressing conflict within the board and within the organisation, and liaising with the chief executive (if staff are employed) to achieve this.

Person specification for the Chair

· Leadership skills

· Experience of committee work

· Tact and diplomacy

· Good communication and interpersonal skills

· Impartiality, fairness and the ability to respect confidences.

In most circumstances, it would also be desirable for the chair/vice-chair to have knowledge of the type of work undertaken by the organisation and a wider involvement with the voluntary sector and other networks.

Your role also includes the following person specifications, which are universal for all trustees:

· A commitment to the organisation

· A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort

· Strategic vision

· Good, independent judgement

· An ability to think creatively

· A willingness to speak their mind

· An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship

· An ability to work effectively as a member of a team

· A commitment to Nolan’s seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.