Become a Co-opted Trustee

About us

We were the first library service to be divested from a county council just over eight years ago and we have grown and flourished ever since. Our strategy focuses on making life better for the residents of Suffolk and we are committed to being the most impactful service available in communities across the county.

Could you

• Think strategically about the long-term interests of Suffolk Libraries?
• Listen to others’ views and contribute your own to help reach decisions collectively?
• Collaborate with and support our professional staff?
• Promote Suffolk Libraries and help find new members and supporters

If so, why not offer your time, energy and expertise to Suffolk Libraries as a Trustee?

As an Industrial and Provident Society with charitable status, Suffolk Libraries has a Board of Trustees who are responsible for the long-term wellbeing, effectiveness and impact of what we do. Besides leading and helping to shape our strategic direction, Trustees must ensure that the service safeguards its people, customers and assets, meets its financial obligations and functions within the legal framework required of an Industrial and Provident Society and within the terms of the contract from Suffolk County Council, our main funders.

Trustee recruitment

Expressions of interest for two co-opted trustees are now being invited and this year we are looking for individuals with the following areas of expertise:

• Advocacy: e.g. representing and shining a light on a cause or strategy to shift thinking
• Commercial: e.g. business development, profit generation and income diversification in a commercial environment
• Digital: e.g. content development, digital marketing and social media engagement
• Fundraising: e.g. developing donor marketing and asking for major contributions from individuals and organisations

However, Suffolk Libraries encourages applications from all backgrounds and looks forward to hearing how candidates feel they might be able to use their own skills and experiences to benefit the organisation.

Suffolk Libraries are keen to achieve greater diversity amongst our Board of Trustees so welcome applications regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation or age. While we are interested in some particular skills and experiences that are sometimes associated with professional qualifications, no specific educational or professional qualification is required in order to become a trustee.

Deadline for expressions of interest:  Friday 28th August 2020

Why me? are the only national charity fighting for victims of crime to have access to Restorative Justice. Restorative Justice empowers victims of crime to communicate with the offender, through a face to face meeting where appropriate. This gives them the chance to talk about the impact of the crime, seek answers about why it happened and have their voices heard. Many victims of crime feel excluded, confused and revictimized by the criminal justice process. Restorative Justice can change this.

Why me? are seeking a Communications Intern to support our work. We are looking for someone who is reliable, willing to learn, enthusiastic about Why me?’s mission and interested in how to communicate our key messages.

In return, the post-holder will get experience working in communications at an organisation working hard to transform the criminal justice system. We hope that this experience will help them to pursue a career in a related field.

Is this role for you?

• Are you interested in making a positive difference in Islington? 
• Can you help amplify the voice of those we work with through your personal or professional experience?
• Could you bring diversity to our board so that we better reflect the community in which we work? 
• Do you have charity or investment experience?

If any of the above apply to you, then becoming a governor (i.e. a trustee) of the Cripplegate Foundation may be a rewarding and enjoyable experience for you. 

About us

Cripplegate has grown from a local grant-making trust established over 500 years ago in Islington. We now have an endowment of some £40 million; together with Islington Giving, we give out grants of around £1.55 million a year in the local area. Our vision is of a society where everyone has the opportunity to live a rewarding and fulfilled life, free from poverty and inequality. We aim to bring about change to improve the lives of Islington’s most disadvantaged residents. We take an evidence-based, innovative and proactive approach and work in partnership with others to improve local support and resources, funding voluntary organisations and advocating positive change in policy and practice.

Being a Governor

As a Governor, you can expect to get involved in discussions around grants, strategy, planning and decision making; helping and supporting the organisation to grow and develop. Our governors come from a range of backgrounds and experiences and we are genuinely encouraging a wide range of people to come forward. We cannot emphasise enough that your background, life experience, approach and values are more important than any knowledge or experience of grant making, or of being a trustee elsewhere. 

About you

We will be looking for people who bring some of the following values and approaches: vision and creativity, exceptional listening skills, integrity and commitment, team players, emotional intelligence and a willingness to learn about being a trustee/governor. We would like one of the new governors to bring experience of charity finance and/or investments, but apart from this, we are not being specific about the skills and experience you might bring, as the right people can be supported and inducted in becoming a Governor. We hope to attract people who bring experience and knowledge of the local area, as well as people who come from a wide range of ages, backgrounds and ethnic groups, people who have experienced poverty and disadvantage first hand, and people who have a disability, or who have close experience of others with disabilities.

How to Express your Interest

If you’d like to find out more, please read the letter from the Chair of Governors and the new Governors information pack (see linked documents). 

If you would like an initial, informal conversation about these roles please contact Allyson Davies, who is working with Cripplegate Foundation to bring new governors on board. Contact details are in the pack.

The initial deadline is 29 June, but we are open to receiving expressions of interest until the end of September. There’s more information in the pack.

Kimiyaa is looking for a lead trustee

Kimiyaa is a young charity, registered as a non-profit in the UK and US. Our vision is to become a leading and sustainable platform supporting professional and longer-term integration for refugees in the UK, through professional mentorships. 

We are looking for an excellent candidate with charity background and experience, who shares Kimiyaa’s values and would like to take on a new project. Regrettably, due to the recent crisis, the charity’s founder (our current lead trustee) is no longer in a position to lead this charity to its next stage, despite its huge potential and the significant need for professional opportunities for refugees in the UK – particularly those facing the often-interminable wait for a decision on their status. We remain, however, committed to supporting the right individual(s) to continue this project and the fantastic work which has already been achieved. 

Yours would be an active role, giving you the chance to build a small team, initially of volunteers, and develop Kimiyaa’s model for professional mentoring, which has already demonstrated significant impact in the UK and Germany. This would be an ideal role for someone, who is able to commit several hours on a weekly basis, and is confident leading on this project. 

We believe this role would be most suited to someone with experience of: 

• The domestic or international charity sector 

• Seeking asylum, or a passionate interest in improving the opportunities and support for refugees 

• Project management and developing relationships with key stakeholders 

• Fundraising, either in a charity or corporate setting 

• Working in the community or voluntary sector, and familiarity with the issues facing disadvantaged people, including refugees 

We appreciate all expressions of interest in this role and will be happy to send you a full report on Kimiyaa’s history and impact to date. 

We look forward to hearing from you. 

Kind Regards, 

Andrew Walsh (Manager) 

Eytan Heller (Founder) 

Preston Greenpeace is looking for a passionate volunteer coordinator to join the small but active local group and play a key role in the wider coordination team of the local group. The local group runs Greenpeace global campaigns focusing on protecting the natural environments we depend on, advocating for solutions to the climate emergency and building a people power to achieve these things. In the Preston local community, this involves organising many events for both campaign impact and community engagement. As a co-coordinator you would be responsible for working with the local group volunteers to manage the campaigning and engagement activities, as well as to support the growth and development of the group. This may involve running monthly meetings, running and recruiting for campaigning days or supporting the rest of the leadership team to carry out their roles.

York Greenpeace is looking for a passionate co-coordinator to join a small but growing, newly set-up local group. The local group runs Greenpeace global campaigns focusing on protecting the natural environments we depend on, advocating for solutions to the climate emergency and building a people power to achieve these things. In the York local community, this involves organising many events for both campaign impact and community engagement. As a co-coordinator you would be responsible for working to build a coordination team of volunteers and to manage the campaigning and engagement activities, as well as to support the growth and development of the group. This may involve running monthly meetings, running and recruiting for campaigning days or supporting the rest of the leadership team to carry out their roles.

Open Door Taunton is a charity committed to helping those without homes in the Taunton and surrounding areas. We offer warmth, food and advice. We are looking for a new Treasurer with a sound financial background to maintain an overview of the organisation’s affairs, ensuring its financial viability and ensuring that proper financial records and procedures are maintained. The Treasurer may also take a greater role in the day-today finances of the organisation when appropriate.

About the role

The Treasurer will:

• Oversee the financial affairs of the organisation and ensure they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practice.
• Explore finance innovation and guide the implementation of positive change.
• Ensure proper records are kept and that effective financial procedures are in place.
• Monitor and report on the financial health of the Organisation.
• Oversee the production of necessary financial reports/returns, and management accounts.
• Act as a reference point for the other committee members: clarifying financial implications of proposals; confirming legal requirements; outlining the current financial status; and retrieving relevant documentation.
• Will be a member of the Finance Committee who monitor financial governance of the Charity
• Review and advise on the updating and improvement of written Financial Procedures

Main Responsibilities

General financial oversight:

• Oversee and present budgets, accounts and financial statements to the board of Trustees.
• Liaise with designated staff about financial matters.
• Ensure that appropriate financial systems and controls are in place.
• Ensure that record-keeping meet the conditions of funders or statutory bodies.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation
• Share information with other members of the Finance Committee.

Fundraising:

• Ensure use of funds complies with conditions set by funding bodies.
• Ensure fundraising and sales complies with relevant legislation and is bound by effective financial systems and controls.
• Ensure effective monitoring and reporting

Financial planning and budgeting:

• Prepare and present annual budgets.
• Advise on financial implications of strategic and operational plans.
• Prepare and present 3 monthly management accounts.
• Present revised financial forecasts based on actual spend.
• Liaison with the Centre Manager to facilitate the timely production of accurate cost information from the Centre.
• Provide all the necessary information to enable the Statutory Accounts to be formulated by an external Accountant and filed at Company House.
• Arrange for the Statutory Accounts to be independently examined.
• File reports with the Charity Commission
• Advise on the organisation's reserves and investment policy.
• Present accounts at the AGM.

Banking, Procurement and Payments

• Monitor the bank accounts and be a joint signatory
• Supervise the bookkeeping and payment systems
• Set-up and monitor direct debits
• Oversee the external system for payment of staff salaries 
• Ensure that proper records of financial activities are kept
• Monitor the bookkeeping and payment systems

Person specification

• Financial qualifications and experience.
• Qualified accountant would be desirable.
• Experience of charity finance specifically would be desirable.
• The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences.
• Proven ability to communicate and explain financial information to members of the Board
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.
• A team-oriented approach to problem solving and to management.
• Concern for people who are experiencing difficulties in life and a dedication to helping the homeless.

What difference will you make?

By becoming Treasurer for Open Door Taunton you will be helping to ensure that the organisation continues to provide an invaluable service to homeless people, especially those who are sleeping outdoors. Without our volunteers, and support from donors, we would not be able to make such a difference in people’s lives.

What’s in it for the volunteer?

You will be joining a fantastic team of over 40 volunteers who enable us to make positive changes in people’s lives. This is an opportunity to be part of a hands on team who are highly engaged and committed to ensuring  people have their basic needs met and are helped to move forward in their lives.

Time commitment

The board usually meets four times a year in the evening at the centre in Taunton. The finance committee also meet remotely four times a year. Additionally, the Treasurer spends approximately 2 days per month on Open Door business.

How to apply

Applications must be made via Reach in the first instance. Please provide your CV, along with a covering letter stating why you wish to work for the organisation, how your skills would add value to the board and any other relevant information.

Huddersfield Greenpeace is looking for a passionate co-coordinator to join our  other co-coordinator and play a key role in the wider coordination team of the local group. The local group runs Greenpeace global campaigns focusing on protecting the natural environments we depend on, advocating for solutions to the climate emergency and building a people power to achieve these things. In the Huddersfield local community, this involves organising many events for both campaign impact and community engagement. As a co-coordinator you would be responsible for working with the other coordinator to manage the campaigning and engagement activities, as well as to support the growth and development of the group. This may involve running monthly meetings, running and recruiting for campaigning days or supporting the rest of the leadership team to carry out their roles.

The project:

We are continuing to deliver vital English classes during the Covid-19 pandemic, through online platforms. We hope that online teachers will be able to teach in person once the pandemic is over. However, at the moment, we are very flexible and welcome applicants to apply even if they are unsure of how they will deliver English classes in the long run. Please feel free to ask any question or get more information by emailing us. 

Greenwich Sanctuary Project is a collaboration between Greenwich Islamic Centre, Royal Borough of Greenwich and Greenwich Inclusion Project to support the resettlement of Syrian families who have come to the UK through the UNHRC vulnerable persons programme. GrIP’s role in the project is to connect these families to the local community through a range of volunteering projects.

 Our volunteer roles offer the families, support, friendship and help to integrate into the community. Integrating into a new community can be difficult for anyone, especially when there are additional barriers such as language and culture. For these families, once the practical elements are dealt with, it can be a long challenging task to truly make the UK and Greenwich feel like home. Our volunteering programmes make people feel welcomed, supported and part of the community.

About the role:

The purpose of this role is to provide informal English lesson to members from our Syrian families, to supplement their college classes. It is essential that these families can learn and practice their English, so they are able to gain independence, find work and excel in education. The level of English these families have on arrival varies massively. Most members of the family will be enrolled in some form education, with many of the adults attending college ESOL classes. Even those with high levels of English benefit from practice and additional structured lessons. Each volunteer is matched with one or two members from a family to teach weekly. These volunteers teach their learners, for one or two hours a week, or every other week in the family’s home.

This role is fantastic for so many reasons, if you are looking to develop specific skills or simply want to make friends in the local community this role is for you. The lessons are invaluable to the families making the role rewarding and brining you into a new community.

Commitment required:

1 hour a week planning lessons and at least 1 hour a week delivering an English lesson.

We need volunteer teachers that can be with us for 3-6 months.

Applicant Requirements

We are looking for volunteers from a range of backgrounds, to create a diverse creative team of volunteers. If you have one or more of these skills or experiences, you may be eligible for the role:

• A background in teaching
• Experience in tutoring
• Experience facilitating/training groups/hosting workshops
• A TEFL or CELTA qualification
• Experience teaching English
• Any experience supporting young people or adults.

Do you have experience with building an engaging online community?

Powerbase is looking for an innovative and creative individual to join the team to help build Powerbase's strong online presence and ensure brand consistency. (This position supports remote working). If you're up for a challenge, apply today and let's schedule a call!

• Work with the CEO, COO and Marketing team on content creation in line with business goals
• Regularly monitor our social media accounts and engage with followers
• Stay up to date with trends to generate/develop exciting campaigns and provide monthly updates on the performance of all platforms
• Ensure branding is consistent across advertising and campaigns.

Powerbase is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering local change makers with the tools to tackle the effects of poverty. Our philosophy is centred on reaching the marginalised for inclusive integrated development for all.

We create and fund entrepreneurial initiatives for social good. We currently offer two initiatives: Naka Tech Academy which teaches coding and computing skills to young people in Malawi and AllBirths Africa which aims to educate marginalised women on all things childbirth

Could you be a Waterways Chaplain?

 Are you a Christian, a good listener and able to walk a mile of waterways a week?

Waterways Chaplains come alongside others to listen

The Christian ministry of a volunteer Waterways Chaplain is to be pastorally proactive and spiritually reactive in the boating community. We work to build up relationships and be part of the lives of all those we meet. Many value having  someone to listen and someone to talk issues through with to try to find a way forward.

Chaplains share in the good and bad times and are supportive and encouraging of all, regardless of religion, orientation or race. They support people of all faiths and none and are happy to discuss spiritual and practical matters if invited to do so.

“Act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

Our key values are to act justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with our God. A model Chaplain would be:

• Listener: Listen, listen and listen! This is a key attribute: being aware and seeking to understand how to use appropriate language, tone and volume according to the situation.
• Christian faith: a mature Christian faith and a strong commitment to the ethos and values of the Christian Church.
• Team player: being a team player and supportive of the people you work alongside.
• Teachable: willing to learn how best to respond to situations and individuals. It is expected that a volunteer Chaplain will attend two ministerial development days each year once their probationary training is complete.
• Empathy: an ability to understand the needs of an individual from the perspective of the person expressing the need.
• Commitment: walking the canal can be fun but it does require energy and commitment to cover at least one towpath mile per week. The timing can be flexible as does the readiness to adapt the kind of support offered to individuals according to needs being expressed.
• Self-awareness: an ability to understand one’s own emotional response to a situation and remain cool. Aware of one’s own non-verbal communication, in particular when approaching a vulnerable person.
• Caring: someone who cares about the local community and is willing  to make a contribution to a wider Christian care and concern.

So, are you a Christian, a good listener and able to walk a mile of waterways a week? Being a volunteer Chaplain is challenging, rewarding but never dull. It is  very humbling to be granted the opportunity to serve Christ in this way.

Is God talking to you about a ministry out of the four walls of the church, being his feet, hands and voice in a very special community?

If you would like more information, would like a speaker to come and visit or would like an opportunity to support us in another way, please email us and we will be happy to get back to you as soon as we can.

You can see further information on what we do as volunteers from our news stories Waterways Chaplain news.

Job Description

HoardingUK (HUK) is looking for a volunteer bookeeper to join our expanding charity which  provides support for adults, carers and family members across the UK who are impacted by hoarding behaviour. Often this is the first point of entry for people seeking advice.  This can be an initial step leading to ongoing engagement or an answer providing relevant information empowering informed actions.

 About the role:

You will be providing bookkeeping support for an organisation which has experienced year on year growth since it was established in 2008.

The role consists of:

· Volunteering at HUK a minimum of a half-day (4 hours) each week.  DURING COVID LOCKDOWN HOME WORKING WILL BE PERMITTED.

· Providing accurate and timely bookkeeping.

· Maintaining a steady workload

· Complying with HUK’s case-management procedures, training programme and other relevant policies andprocedures.

 We are looking for:

· Experienced or training bookkeepers

· Experience of Quickbooks-ESSENTIAL

· A commitment to volunteering with us for one year.

· A commitment to values and ethos of HUK.

HoardingUK is an Equal Opportunities Employer.​  Applicants will not be negatively assessed if they request support for the application process. HUK promotes equality of opportunity for all, through diversity, giving each individual the chance to achieve their potential, free from prejudice and discrimination.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this role is to support carers in accessing local activities and information, helping to improve their health and wellbeing and minimise risk of social isolation.

Core Tasks

• Accompanying carers to community activities/ events/ support services, enabling them to build up knowledge, confidence and a network of support.

• To assist carers in accessing information about local community activities, services and events.

• To befriend carers and be a ‘listener’.

• Develop action plans with carers and review progress monthly.

• Referring requests for additional or in- depth support to the Volunteer Coordinator.

Skills

• Ability to develop action plans and take a solution-focussed approach

• Communication and listening skills with the ability to record and report effectively

• Basic First Aid skills

Knowledge

• Knowledge of Safeguarding.

• Working knowledge of local services, community events and activities, and a willingness to support carers to access these services.

Understanding

• Understanding of appropriate boundaries, the need for confidentiality and the need to take a non-judgemental approach

• Understanding of the necessary limitations of the role

• Understanding of the challenges facing carers

• Understanding of when to ask for help

Qualities

• Flexible, reliable and patient

• Consistent, level-headed and resilient

• Empathetic, honest and trustworthy

• A good sense of humour is vital

Training

Mandatory training will be provided for all volunteers which will include an overview of the work of Carers Together, communication, safeguarding and equality & diversity.

AUKW is committed to tackling loneliness and isolation amongst older residents of Westminster.

Our pool of dedicated Telafriend Volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that some of our most vulnerable isolated older clients have someone to keep a check on them and enjoy having a telephone chat on a regular basis.

Telafriend Volunteers provides weekly 30 minutes phone chats with one or more older people who are at risk of becoming socially isolated or may feel lonely. It’s been proved that regular phone calls make a huge difference in helping to uplift the spirits of older people.

If you are aged 18 and over, enjoy talking on the phone and would like to build friendships with older people, then our Telafriend Volunteer role would be ideal for you.

Telafriend is a role that you can do from home or work. All you need is access to a telephone. We ask for a minimum commitment of up to a year where possible and the ability to make your call on the same day and time each week. Calls can be made any day of the week between 8am and 8pm or as agreed with the client.