Volunteer officer jobs in london
Drive the next chapter of the Surrey Hills Society - a thriving countryside charity in the Surrey Hills.
Are you an entrepreneurial leader with a passion for nature, community engagement, and sustainable development? Do you want to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a much-loved environmental charity?
The Surrey Hills Society is seeking its first Chief Executive Officer to lead our dedicated team and volunteers, sustain and grow our vibrant membership, and develop long-term funding to support our work across one of England’s most treasured National Landscapes.
About Us
The Surrey Hills Society is a well-established independent charity with a 15-year track record of engaging communities in environmental, cultural, and educational activities. We run 40+ events each year and are closely partnered with the Surrey Hills National Landscape and other local organisations. Our reach and impact have grown significantly in recent years through funded projects like the National Lottery Heritage Fund's Growing Together and the South East Surrey Care Farm Pilot, alongside a strong and active membership.
This is an exciting time to join us as we transition from a volunteer-led model to a more professional and sustainable structure—with the CEO at the helm.
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About the Role
As CEO, you will lead the strategic and operational development of the Society, with a particular focus on:
• Fundraising & income generation – developing and securing grants, donations, and earned income
• Team leadership – line managing a small staff team and supporting a wide network of volunteers
• Stakeholder engagement – acting as the public face of the Society and deepening key partnerships
• Strategic planning – creating a 3-year vision and business plan for long-term sustainability
• Programme oversight – ensuring delivery of existing and new conservation and community projects
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About You
We’re looking for a resourceful, proactive leader who combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery. You’ll need:
• Proven fundraising experience (grants, trusts, individuals, corporates)
• Leadership skills with experience managing staff and/or volunteers
• Confidence in managing budgets and business planning
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• A genuine passion for the countryside, community engagement, and conservation
Experience with membership models, event programming, or working in a similar community/landscape context would be an advantage.
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What We Offer
• Flexible, home-based working (3 days/week)
• A supportive, purpose-driven team environment
• The chance to shape a unique, growing charity at a critical point in its evolution
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) is seeking to appoint an outstanding Executive Assistant (Governance Officer).
The post holder will work closely with elected Officers, the board and CEO to support delivery of BASHH core membership services and ensure the highest standards of governance and oversight. The first port of call for many BASHH members, this person will have a key role in supporting excellent member services and communications. Their support will enable the President, CEO and Officers to lead effectively in their respective areas.
Joining at an exciting time for BASHH, with the organisation transitioning to an in-house model of operating some of its core functions, the post-holder will join a new, small staff team. A strong collaborator, they will work with a wide network of stakeholders, including highly committed clinicians and other health care providers on the BASHH board and membership.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Role
The Head of Partnerships and Fundraising is responsible for the majority of income generation for our charity. The Switch raises income from corporate volunteering partnerships and through grant applications to other trusts and charities, which together contribute circa £800,000 per year. This is a role that requires strategic thinking, relationship and negotiation skills, and the ability to meet income targets.
This role will manage and grow our current key corporate partners, ensuring sustainability and longevity in our partnerships. The person will be responsible for communicating effectively with corporate partners on a strategic level, to understand how we can improve our volunteering offer and communicate impact to their business.
The job-holder will seek new partnerships in diverse industries where we have fewer stakeholders, to ensure our young people work with companies and volunteers from wide-ranging sectors.
In this position you will scope fundraising opportunities from grant and trusts, and be adept at assessing our viability so that applications we submit have a higher rate of success than average.
As Head of Partnerships and Fundraising, you will create new income streams which The Switch has not considered before, for example legacy funding, individual giving, corporate match funding. This will improve our financial stability.
In addition to income generation, this role will lead the Partnerships team and manage two to three staff as follows :
1. Our Corporate Partnerships and Volunteer Manager - oversees all volunteer logistics, including maintaining volunteer records and distributing relevant briefing materials to ensure volunteers are well-prepared for their role. Some time dedicated to fundraising too.
2. Our Communication Coordinator – leads on our regular comms including our digital newsletter, social media pages, and bespoke comms for projects or funders.
3. Coordinator TBC.
Details
· The Head of Partnerships and Fundraising leads the Partnerships Team and reports to the CEO.
· Working hours are typically 9am – 5pm Monday – Thursday, and 9am – 4pm Fridays.
· Working from home (WFH) is typically 2 days a week, with Wednesdays mandatory in the office.
· Flexibility will be required to cover meetings or events outside of these hours and WFH days.
· Start date: autumn 2025
We are proud to offer a number of enhanced benefits to our staff, including:
· 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays, additional “Switch Off” Day and Christmas closure
· Health cash-back package, including discounts on gym memberships, retail and leisure.
· Hybrid working
· Pension
· Learning and Development opportunities including Learning at Work Week activities
· Volunteering days to spend on an activity close to your own heart.
By providing our local young people with essential skills and experiences of the working world, we ensure that they can reach their best future.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The Stuart Low Trust (SLT) is a well-respected and award-winning mental health charity based in Islington, supporting people who are isolated through a varied programme of art, nature and wellbeing group activities. SLT was founded to be radically different from other charities – uniquely accessible, inclusive, and community-embedded.
If you enjoy developing a highly valued volunteer team to support our activity programmes, this is the job for you!
What the job offers
This is an exciting new post at our charity to take forward our Strategy to expand our service support and reach more people in need. You’ll be responsible for recruiting and on-boarding a diverse team of volunteers who contribute to SLT’s programmes. You won’t be managing volunteers at activities – that’s handled by other team members – but you will make sure that all volunteers feel welcomed, trained, supported and valued. You will provide regular supervision outside activities and work with staff to develop inclusive, consistent volunteering practices across the charity.
Who we are seeking
We’re looking for someone with a passion for the value of volunteering, who can bring energy and initiative to develop our volunteer workforce. You will have a proven track record of supporting volunteers in a community/social care setting. You will have ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues across teams. You will have confidence in delivering inductions and facilitating small group supervision sessions. You will demonstrate good organisational and communication skills, including the ability to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. You will be willing to undertake occasional evening work for volunteer availability.
Job benefits:
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Hybrid, flexible, supportive working arrangements with a small and friendly team.
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25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
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Occupational pension scheme
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Line-managed by the Chief Executive, who has 30 years' experience in the charity sector and developed volunteer programmes
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The opportunity to make a real impact in people’s lives by shaping a welcoming, inclusive and supportive volunteer culture.
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The chance to lead on volunteer recruitment, induction, training and supervision – and see volunteers flourish and grow.
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A collaborative work environment where your work directly supports SLT’s frontline services.
This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and two satisfactory references.
We are offering an initial 18 months’ contract for this post with intention to make permanent.
We are embrace diversity, equality of opportunity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that represents are variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the more we can achieve.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Family Services Manager
Home-Start Lambeth is seeking a passionate and experienced Family Services Manager to lead our dedicated team in delivering vital support to families with young children in Lambeth. If you're a proactive leader with a heart for helping families thrive, this could be the perfect role for you!
About Home-Start Lambeth:
Our mission is to empower Lambeth families, helping them to develop their resources and connections. We walk alongside families, providing emotional and practical support so that they can overcome the challenges they face and provide a brilliant early years foundation for their children. With our incredible network of volunteers we support 100-150 families every year across Lambeth. We do this through our home-visiting service and our Freedom programme for domestic abuse survivors. To learn more about our work, please see our impact report on our website.
“Volunteer support was life changing. It was seriously so good - I feel like my life is really different today, than when I first started with you guys. I never felt judged or ashamed of where I was at. Every issue I brought up, or area I struggled with, [my volunteer] listened but also helped me to come up with potential solutions.”
The Role: Family Services Manager
As our Family Services Manager, you will provide operational and strategic oversight of all service delivery at Home-Start Lambeth. You will be instrumental in ensuring our services deliver real value to the families we support.
Key Responsibilities:
- Service Leadership: Oversee and develop service delivery, ensuring strategic and operational priorities are met.
- Team Management: Line manage and support our dedicated Family Coordinators and Volunteering Officer, fostering a culture of learning and development.
- Project and Performance Management: Lead on project management, performance management, and ensure compliance with policies and legal requirements, including safeguarding.
- Safeguarding and Compliance: Promote children's welfare and ensure compliance with safeguarding best practice.
- Volunteer Engagement: Work closely with our Volunteering Officer to maximise the effectiveness of our brilliant volunteers.
- Partnership Working: Develop and maintain strategic relationships with external partners to enhance awareness and reach of Home-Start Lambeth's services
- Reporting and Evaluation: Contribute to developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks to demonstrate the impact of our work.
What we are looking for:
- A high standard of education (BA/BSC, degree apprenticeship, level 6 qualification)
- Direct experience working with children and families from diverse backgrounds.
- Proven project management, staff line management (including performance management), and service management experience.
- A strong working knowledge of the needs of families with children under five, and current legislation and policies relating to children and families.
- A deep commitment to good safeguarding practice and professional confidentiality.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- A positive, creative, and organised approach to your work.
Desirable, but not essential:
- Relevant professional training (e.g., health visitor, teacher, social worker).
- Experience working with survivors of domestic abuse.
- Experience of developing and delivering training.
- Knowledge of Lambeth and local children's support services.
Salary: £37,000 FTE pro rata (actual salary £22,200 p.a.)
Hours: 21 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Benefits: 3% employer pension contribution, employee assistance programme including a 24hr Health & Counselling helpline, flexible working arrangements (carer/family-friendly working)
Join us and help make a real difference to families in Lambeth!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Do you enjoy connecting people with opportunities? Do you believe in the power of volunteering and the joy of service? If so, we want to hear from you.
As our new Administration Support Officer, reporting to our new Volunteers and Committees Coordinator, you will be a central link with the volunteers who are integral to our projects and events and the committee members who provide vital leadership for our Quaker community.
You will make a key contribution to our work with Quaker nominations committees, helping them deliver our ambition to reach a more diverse pool of talent for these roles and make sure that those who offer their time, energy, and expertise see the impact they make, fulfil their own potential for personal growth, and inspire others.
Hours: 35 hours per week.
Location: Based at our offices in Leeds (LS2) or London (NW1), or at home if you do not live within reasonable commuting distance. London based staff can work at home some of the time by agreement.
Alongside the opportunity to transform the experience of Quakers across Britain, we offer a generous benefits package.
For details of how to apply, please visit our website.
Closing date: 1.00pm on Friday 25 July 2025.
Interviews: 12 or 13 August 2025, in person at Friends House.
Quakers are committed to equality and welcome applicants from all identities and backgrounds. Selection is based solely on skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. Sex, sexual orientation, age, race, religion, belief, ethnicity, nationality, disability, marital status, or class will not be a barrier to employment. We aim for an equitable, user-friendly application process, and reasonable adjustments can be made if needed. Quiet Company is a Quaker organisation, and we expect all applicants and employees to uphold our values.
We are committed to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and all candidates will undergo pre-employment checks in line with our Safer Recruitment guidelines.
Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week
Area of work: Predominantly in the London area
Are you passionate about connecting people with nature and empowering communities to protect rivers? Do you have experience delivering engaging volunteering and citizen science programmes that inspire real environmental action? Join us and play a pivotal role in restoring London’s rare urban chalk streams.
About the Role
SERT’s ambition is to reach as many people as possible in the South East, to teach and show them the importance of rivers in the environment, and how everyone can play a part in restoring them. We also want to be more reflective of the diverse communities who live in the South East, and build partnerships within these communities to reach a broader audience.
This role will lead the development and delivery of volunteering and community outreach activities that connect people with their local rivers. Activities will include practical volunteering such as river clean-ups, planting days, and invasive species control, as well as citizen science, guided walks, and community workshops.
A key focus of the role is supporting the Chalk Streams in the City project - a major initiative to restore London’s rare urban chalk streams through community involvement. The postholder will help shape and deliver a programme of inclusive and engaging opportunities that inspire people to care for these unique and threatened habitats.
This project is made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.
Working at the South East Rivers Trust is rewarding, fulfilling and fast-paced. We collaborate with energy and professionalism, guided by our values of delivering high-quality work, using expertise and science, building strong relationships, and bringing positivity and integrity to everything we do. If this sounds like the right environment for you - we’d love to hear from you.
Please see the full Volunteering and Engagement Officer job descriptions for more information.
How to apply:
Please send us the following documents, more information can befound on our website.
- Your CV
- a completed application form
- Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form (optional)
The deadline for application is 11:59pm on Sunday 20th July 2025. We reserve the right to close the recruitment early.
Interviews will be potentially w.c. 28th July 2025.
We help rivers thrive again for communities and nature.




The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
About the park
Southern Park is a popular community greenspace next to Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park at the heart of the Greenwich Millennium Village development. The site comprises wide open grassland, native tree and shrub areas and wildflower meadows and is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). The park is also an important space for local people to relax and enjoy recreational activities, with several well-loved play features.
About the role
This is a great opportunity for someone looking to establish their career in the parks and conservation field, working with the support of experienced staff within the Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park team. The Project Officer role oversees the site's landscape maintenance contract to ensure the park remains attractive, safe, and well-managed. The role also adds community value by supporting engagement with local residents and enhances ecological value by facilitating volunteer involvement in habitat management.
About you
We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated Project Officer with good administrative skills. You will be able to foster a strong working relationship with the Southern Park landscape maintenance contractors. You will have a passion for engaging people with wildlife and nature in an urban environment, along with experience working with volunteers and/or community groups from diverse backgrounds. You will have the capability to relay information effectively to a broad audience, both verbally and written. Being flexible and able to juggle priorities in a busy, ever-changing environment is key to this role
To fulfil the role, you must be resident in the UK and have the right to work in the UK.
Connecting people and green spaces to deliver lasting outcomes for both.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join Samaritans as a Caller Support Officer
Do you have experience working with vulnerable callers within a helpline setting? Are you passionate about supporting vulnerable individuals and making a real difference?
Samaritans is looking for a dedicated Caller Support Officer to join our dynamic Caller Support Team. This is a unique opportunity to play a vital role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our most complex and vulnerable callers.
- £30,000 - £33,000 per annum
- 12-month fixed term contract, covering maternity leave
- Full time (35 hours per week) with flexible working
- Hybrid working: Linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office
- You will need to be able to work flexibly to support volunteers which may involve occasional travel or evening/weekend meetings.
About the Role
As a Caller Support Officer, you will:
- Provide expert advice and guidance on caller support policies and procedures to volunteers and staff.
- Work closely with branches, the Caller Support & Safeguarding Hub, and Central Office to ensure consistent, high-quality support.
- Help manage support for callers with complex mental health needs, ensuring appropriate boundaries and reducing dependency on the service.
- Be a key point of contact for police, coroners, court officials, and other external agencies.
- Support the triaging of caller concern forms and work closely with callers to create safe effective support plans that meet their needs within the boundaries of the service.
- Uphold Samaritans’ zero-tolerance approach to any abuse of threatening behaviours towards volunteers and staff
What We’re Looking For
We’re seeking someone who:
- Has experience with working in a helpline setting, to support volunteers to deliver safe and effective emotional support to individuals in distress or with complex emotional/mental health needs, ideally in a helpline setting.
- Understands safeguarding legislation and has experience applying it in practice.
- Is confident managing sensitive and sometimes confrontational situations.
- Can work independently and manage a varied workload effectively.
- Has experience working with external agencies such as police and court officials.
- Is emotionally resilient and able to handle distressing information with professionalism and care.
Criminal record check (DBS):
We take safeguarding seriously at Samaritans and follow safe recruitment practices. As this role has direct contact with children and adults at risk, this role will require an Enhanced DBS check with Adults and Children’s Barred Lists.
At offer stage, as part of the conditional job offer, we will require the candidate to disclose in full, spent and unspent convictions by completing a declaration form. The declaration form will only be seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process.
Why Join Us?
At Samaritans, we believe fewer lives should be lost to suicide. You'll be part of a supportive and inclusive workplace that values innovation, resilience, and collaboration. Enjoy a hybrid working environment, professional development opportunities, and the chance to make a real difference.
Working at Samaritans:
For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure on our careers page.
Being Inclusive:
We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.
Application:
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please upload your CV and a cover letter (one page), outlining your motivations for applying and why you think you would be a great fit for the role. Applications close at 9 am on Monday 28th July. Video interviews taking place on the 12th, 13th, and 14th of August.
Whilst we appreciate that the use of generative AI functions like ChatGPT is quickly becoming part of working life for many people, through our recruitment process we want to see your own unique ideas and writing skills. We want your application to stand out from the rest and showcase your own strengths. Therefore, we kindly ask that you don’t rely on AI tools for your application answers, cover letter or to generate interview answers.
Do you enjoy connecting people with opportunities? Do you believe in the power of volunteering and the joy of service? If so, we want to hear from you.
As our new Volunteers and Committees Coordinator, you will be a central link with the volunteers who are integral to our projects and events and the committee members who provide vital leadership for our Quaker community.
Supported by a new Administration Support Officer, you will work with Quaker nominations committees to help them deliver our ambition to reach a more diverse pool of talent for these roles and make sure that those who offer their time, energy, and expertise see the impact they make, fulfil their own potential for personal growth, and inspire others.
Hours: 35 hours per week.
Location: Based at our offices in Leeds (LS2) or London (NW1), or at home if you do not live within reasonable commuting distance. London based staff can work at home some of the time by agreement.
Alongside the opportunity to transform the experience of Quakers across Britain, we offer a generous benefits package.
For details of how to apply, please visit our website.
Closing date: 1.00pm on Friday 25 July 2025.
Interviews: 5 or 6 August 2025, in-person at Friends House.
Quakers are committed to equality and welcome applicants from all identities and backgrounds. Selection is based solely on skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. Sex, sexual orientation, age, race, religion, belief, ethnicity, nationality, disability, marital status, or class will not be a barrier to employment. We aim for an equitable, user-friendly application process, and reasonable adjustments can be made if needed. Quiet Company is a Quaker organisation, and we expect all applicants and employees to uphold our values.
We are committed to safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and all candidates will undergo pre-employment checks in line with our Safer Recruitment guidelines.
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 Childhood Trust is London's child poverty charity. We are dedicated to creating opportunities and brighter futures for the 700,000 children growing up in poverty in London. While we work to alleviate today’s impact of poverty, we support children and families to build pathways to become happier, healthier, safer and more resilient, breaking the cycles of inequity. Listening to and engaging with young people who have experience of living in poverty, is critical to ensuring our efforts truly reflect their needs and aspirations.
As a grant-making charity, we award funding to charities actively supporting children in poverty across the capital. This funding is made possible thanks to the partnerships we build with corporate organisations, other trusts and foundations, philanthropic individuals and families, and public donations.
Volunteers are a vital part of The Childhood Trust’s work. Through our Transforming Spaces programme, they deliver direct support to children affected by poverty and the communities that support them across London. They also have the potential to grow our internal capacity so that we can reach our ambitious vision to scale our work and ensure that every child in London is well prepared for life.
As The Childhood Trust’s Volunteer Manager, you’ll be responsible for volunteers across the organisation. Your role will include oversight of the corporate and community volunteers who take part in our Transforming Spaces programme. You will work closely with colleagues in the fundraising team to create a positive and inspiring experience for corporate volunteers.
Key to this role will be working with the Head of Volunteering and Community Programmes to embed volunteering across The Childhood Trust. You will lead on developing a diverse and inclusive volunteer base of skilled and specialist individual volunteers, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where they feel valued and connected to the mission.
Our organisation takes pride in offering key benefits such as flexible working arrangements, 25 days annual leave per year and enhanced maternity provisions. We are also deeply committed to the development and growth of our staff, providing opportunities to enhance skills and achieve career goals. Plus, you’ll be joining a dedicated and passionate team that truly makes a difference.
We will be holding interviews on 28th July 2025.
Day Care Officer – Day Care Centres
Age UK Camden Day Care Centres are looking to recruit a Day Care Officer to cover 20 hours a week in shifts (4 x 5 hours) across our two Day Care Centres.
There is a need to be flexible to be able to cover all days Monday to Friday and days are subject to change based on the rota.
We are also looking to recruit a Day Care Officer on a 25 hour week for maternity cover on a fixed term contract starting on the 1st September 2025 for 39 weeks.
Our Centres provide a wide range of activities as well as being a specialist Day Care Centres caring for older people with complex needs. The Day Care Centres also provide a hot lunch and a range of special events. We have a dedicated, specialist team supporting people with care needs, including those living with mild - moderate dementia and complex needs.
The successful candidates will:
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Have shared responsibility in the team for the implementation of a comprehensive service of care and support for service users
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Act as a key worker for individual clients
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Deliver holistic and person centred wellbeing services which provide service users with social interaction and support to maintain their personal interests.
Salary: Starting at SCP 4 £25,209.19 pa incl. London Weighting for 35 hpw - pro rata for part time which is £14,405.25 for 20 hours per week and £18,006.56 pa for a 25 hour week)
(Staff work across both centres so need to be able to travel to Kings Cross and Hampstead. Shifts range in times across the day and you must be able to work all the various shifts)
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing date: Monday 21st July 2025 - 5pm
Interview date: TBC
To Apply and for more information please click on the link below:
Job Openings
Please state on your application which role/s you are interested in.
As part of the application process you will be asked to submit a completed application form demonstrating how you meet the shortlisting criteria in the Person Specification. Please also complete and return the criminal convictions declaration form.
Age UK Camden is an Equal Opportunities and London Living Wage Employer. Registered Charity No. 293446
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Volunteer Coordinator and Project Support Officer
Position Type: Paid/Part time
Reports to: Senior Partnerships and Programmes Officer
Based at:School Food Matters, The Bridge, 7b Parkshot, London TW9 2RD
Working Hours: 24 hours per week worked across five days in the office (flexible)
Salary £30,500 FTE equating to £18,300
Holiday:19 days including bank holidays that fall on working days
Pension: School Food Matters pays pension contributions at 7% of qualifying earnings
Contract: Permanent
Job Purpose
• To support the Food Education team with the organisation and delivery of all food education programmes
• To recruit and manage volunteers and placement students
Key Tasks
• Recruit, manage and brief volunteers to pursue the aims of School Food Matters. This includes matching volunteers to sessions to make best use of their talents
• Manage university placement students and continue to develop our relationship with their respective universities
• Provide project support to the Senior Partnerships and Programmes Officer in both the office and on-site to deliver SFM’s food education programmes
• Deliver marketing workshops, assemblies and other programme-related sessions as needed
• Manage the We Can Cook programme in London, and oversee the Food Teacher’s calendar
• Ensure Airtable is kept up to date with volunteer data and session information
• Book and manage coaches for school trips, liaising with the coach company and the SFM team on the ground
• Keep up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures
• The Volunteer Coordinator will also undertake any other tasks relevant to the affairs of SFM that may arise from time to time. Therefore, being flexible and approaching the job with an open and positive mindset is essential!
Person Specification
Essential
• Strong people management and interpersonal skills
• Confident and competent IT skills across the Office suite of programmes
• Confident on the phone and able to write clear instructions
• Strong organisational and administrative skills and able to prioritise
• Excellent attention to detail
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively to agreed deadlines
Desirable
• Experience of working in a small charity environment
• Experience of working with Airtable Database
• Experience of working in a busy office
• An interest and enthusiasm in all things relating to food education and sustainable living!
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Action for Refugees in Lewisham (AFRIL) is seeking our next Executive Director to lead our small, dynamic charity. You will be joining an impactful local organisation at a crucial time in our development. Since 2021 we have grown significantly and sustainably, developing new services based on client needs. You will be leading a highly competent and passionate team who are community minded and experts in their fields.
The Executive Director has overall responsibility for the day-to-day management of the charity, including finance and fundraising, as well as supporting the development and delivery of services. They will work with four experienced project leads to deliver and develop our core services: Casework and Advocacy Service, Rainbow Club Supplementary School, Destitution Service and Food Bank, and our Allotment of Refuge, as well as our Policy and external influencing work led by our Deputy Director for Casework and Policy.
We are seeking to appoint an exceptional candidate who can balance the demands of strategic leadership with the operational execution and development of our services and policy work. We are seeking someone with a high level of operational skill and accountability in operational management and governance. You will be responsible for the central services of the charity including finance, fundraising, legal, HR and communications. We are looking for a thoughtful leader who is passionate about staff and volunteer support. You should have experience and understanding of small charities and the external context within which we operate.
About us:
Founded in 2004, AFRIL supports refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants to lift themselves out of poverty, assert their rights, and rebuild their lives in the heart of our community. We provide both crisis support to meet immediate need, and longer-term, flexible programmes to tackle the underlying issues that result in poverty. We engage in policy and legal interventions to affect change. Our work is grounded in the values of professionalism, inclusivity, and solidarity, and our approach to service delivery is one of co-production and empowerment. We work with partners locally and nationally to deliver high quality services and advocacy.
Our Services:
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Casework and Advocacy – AQS and IAA accredited advice, casework and legal interventions in housing and homelessness, complex welfare rights, community care, asylum support, immigration, access to education and employment, healthcare and related matters.
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Destitution Project - supporting families to overcome extreme food poverty through regular food vouchers, fresh culturally appropriate food, toiletries, and essential household items plus small grants and a free café.
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Rainbow Club Saturday School - improving educational attainment, wellbeing, confidence and self-esteem, and raising the aspirations of disadvantaged primary age children.
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Allotment of Refuge - a welcoming and integrated community of food growers improving the health, wellbeing and healthy food access of children and adults seeking sanctuary in Lewisham.
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Immigration Project in partnership with Southwark Law Centre - free legal advice and representation to support families to regularise their UK immigration status in the UK.
In addition, we hold a monthly Members Forum, and use the evidence from our frontline work together with the testimony of our members to influence improved policy and practice.
AFRIL is currently in a good position, with the several long-term grants and statutory funding secured, and good relationships with community and individual donors. The Executive Director position represents an exciting opportunity to work with a passionate and highly competent team and the wider community to bring about real, positive change for vulnerable migrants, asylum seekers, and refugees in South East London.
AFRIL is an equal opportunities employer. We are a diverse staff team and particularly encourage applications from BAME candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and those with lived experience of asylum/irregular migration. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support our staff to flourish.
We are proud to be a member of the Experts by Experience Employment Network which aims to increase representation of people with lived experience in the charitable sector. Please feel free to use their information and resources which may help in preparing your job application.
Please read full Job Description and Person Specification. Applications will only be accepted through CharityJob - please submit a CV and cover letter (no more than 2 sides of A4) detailing how you meet the person specification.
We support asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants to lift themselves out of poverty and rebuild their lives in the heart of our community.




The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join Samaritans as a Volunteer Experience Advisor
Are you passionate about creating meaningful volunteer experiences? Do you have experience of volunteer management and are available to start soon?
Samaritans is looking for a dedicated Volunteer Experience Advisor with experience managing volunteers to join our dynamic team and help shape the future of volunteering across our network.
About the Role
Our Volunteer Experience Team support over 20,000 volunteers and no two days are the same. You’ll be responsible for supporting our network of volunteer leaders in recruiting, engaging and managing volunteers, as well as involved in a variety of creative new projects helping us to provide a positive and rewarding experience for anyone that gives their time to Samaritans.
Key Responsibilities:
- Alongside a team of Volunteer Experience Advisors, act as the first point of contact for branch, region and nation queries to the team
- Lead the in provision of expert advice and support to branches and regions in response to matters relating to the recruitment, engagement, management, and support of volunteers.
- Oversee Samaritans complaints, concerns and mediation processes, ensuring a supportive, robust and fair system for managing issues across the volunteer network, including timely resolution.
Skills and Experience
- Excellent knowledge and experience of volunteering management and good practice.
- Experience of providing advice, training or support on volunteering matters.
- Experience and understanding of organisational risk and safeguarding relating to the involvement of volunteers.
- Knowledge of principles of natural justice and complaints management good practice.
- Ability to digest complex information, producing analysis and meaningful conclusions.
- Project support experience.
- Report writing and presentation skills.
- Experience in prioritising workloads and working to deadlines with speed and accuracy.
Why Join Us?
At Samaritans, we believe fewer lives should be lost to suicide. You'll be part of a supportive and inclusive workplace that values innovation, resilience, and collaboration. Enjoy a hybrid working environment, professional development opportunities, and the chance to make a real difference.
Working at Samaritans:
For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please visit our careers page.
Being Inclusive:
We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from disabled, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.
Application:
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, please upload your CV and a one-page cover letter, outlining your motivations for applying and why you think you would be a great fit for the role. Applications close at 9 am on Monday 28th July.