Volunteer researcher volunteer volunteer roles in Chessington, greater london

Obuyisi bw’Omu Initiative empowers underserved communities in Uganda—particularly women, youth, and children—through grassroots action, advocacy, and partnerships. It addresses key challenges including limited mental health support, poor water and sanitation, barriers to quality education, and the impacts of climate change. Programs create safe spaces for mental health awareness, improve clean water access and hygiene, and provide educational resources and mentorship to promote inclusive learning. Climate action efforts involve tree planting, conservation, and sustainable practices. By fostering community ownership and engaging volunteers, Obuyisi bw’Omu drives practical, sustainable solutions that enhance well-being and resilience for lasting positive change.

As a Fundraising Specialist you will be in charge of the following tasks :

Fundraising Strategy Development:
· Collaborate with the team to understand our core programs, budget needs, and funding gaps.
· Research and help develop a comprehensive fundraising plan that identifies the most promising income streams (grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, online campaigns).

Grant Research & Writing:
· Proactively research and identify grant opportunities from foundations, trusts, and bilateral/multilateral agencies whose priorities align with our mission in mental health, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), climate action, and girls' education in Uganda.
· Draft compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and concept notes, working with the team to gather necessary data and impact stories.
· Help manage a grants calendar to track deadlines and reporting requirements.

Individual Giving & Crowdfunding:
· Support the development and launch of online crowdfunding campaigns.
· Help brainstorm and implement creative ways to engage and grow a base of individual monthly donors.
· Assist in drafting compelling fundraising appeals (e.g., for email newsletters, social media) in collaboration with the Communications and Digital Marketing volunteers.

Partnership Development:
· Research and help build a pipeline of potential corporate partners, foundations, and philanthropic networks.
· Assist in drafting sponsorship packages and partnership proposals that offer clear value to potential supporters.

Donor Communication & Stewardship:
· Help create materials to thank and update donors on the impact of their contributions (e.g., impact reports, thank-you emails).
· Support efforts to create and maintain strong, long-term relationships with funders.

Minimum Hours per Week:

10+ hours per week

Duration:

3-5 months

About the Role 

We are Buttons & Bubbles C.I.C. We aim to increase inclusion and representation for disabled families across society. We have several different services including bespoke characters, workshops, free resources, events, sensory trails and more. 

As we continue to grow, we are on a mission to make finding and accessing information around everything to do with disability easier. Hence, we're putting together a brand-new team of volunteers who are passionate about content and using the power of social media for good

Who Are We Looking For?

·Someone who is passionate about our mission of inclusion, representation, and belonging.

·Having social media skills is helpful, but enthusiasm for creating and editing content, building online communities, and supporting our digital presence is essential.

·You should enjoy research, taking on challenges, and bringing a creative mindset to your work.

·Be willing to learn or have knowledge of editing and posting videos.

·Be able to support our online initiatives while collaborating with our team.

What Do We Expect?

·Must be willing to undertake our training programme, which will be completed virtually at a time that suits you.

·Have a DBS check (preferably be on the update service) or be willing to complete one with us.

·Sign our volunteer contract. (If you disagree with anything in it, please discuss it with us; we’re happy to make small changes where appropriate.)

·Have a positive attitude toward disability and illness.

Benefits of Volunteering with Buttons & Bubbles C.I.C 

·Make a difference in your community. 

·Have a positive impact on people’s lives. 

· Develop your current skills and gain new ones. 

· Demonstrate your commitment and reliability to future employers. 

· Show your ability to balance and manage your time effectively. 

· Build your confidence. 

· Explore new areas of interest by taking on additional tasks if you wish. 

This position is open to anyone with a keen interest in Friends of the Earth and our local campaigns in the borough of Camden. We are looking for people interested in environmental and sustainability issues and environmental justice who enjoy writing and becoming part of a community. 

Duties:

The content writer will help with:

• Researching potential article ideas

• Writing and proofreading blog posts

• Collaborating with social media managers to plan and write social media posts

• Attending events and be part of our community. For example, we are organising a film screening with speakers in Camden in May. 

Desired attributes: 

• Interest in writing and some writing skills. Interest in being part of a group for a good cause. 

• Passion for the campaigning group’s mission and a commitment to communicating the impact of the charity's work 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

Please send us a message stating clearly why you are interested in volunteering in our group.

Social Friday

We transform Fridays into scalable social-impact days by connecting companies, nonprofits and volunteers.

Student Lead

Join Us as Student Lead and ignite the Social Friday spirit on campuses worldwide

Location: Global (remote-friendly)
Role Type: Leadership 
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer (with dotted line to CEO)
Department: Community & Academia Outreach

About Social Friday Social Friday is a global lifestyle movement that inspires people to connect, collaborate, and create impact every Friday. We’re now looking for a dynamic Student Lead to champion Social Friday across universities worldwide—making it both a campus tradition and a subject of academic debate and research.

Role Purpose The Student Lead sparks energy among students and academia, positioning Social Friday as a lived experience and an academic subject. You’ll mobilize student communities, build bridges with professors, and create visibility and credibility that drive long-term impact.

Key Accountabilities

• Inspire and mobilize students to host and join Social Friday events on campuses.
• Advocate for Social Friday in seminars, lectures, and conferences.
• Build relationships with professors and faculties to encourage research and publications.
• Promote Social Friday as a subject for theses, master’s work, and PhD studies.
• Create and guide a global student ambassador network.
• Document and share student-led experiences to increase visibility and recognition.

Core Competencies

• Inspiration – Sparks belonging and energy among students. Leadership – Mobilizes and empowers student communities.
• Advocacy – Positions Social Friday as lifestyle and academic subject.
• Networking – Builds bridges between students, professors, and universities.
• Cultural Awareness – Connects across diverse academic settings with openness.

Skills & Experience
Essential:

• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Experience in student initiatives or leadership roles.
• Ability to motivate and engage diverse student groups.
• Understanding of university structures and academic environments.
  Desirable: 
• Experience building youth networks or movements.
• Familiarity with academic research processes.
• International or cross-cultural exposure.

Success Indicators 

• Growth in universities actively involved with Social Friday.
• Student-led theses or research projects initiated.
• Expansion of the student ambassador network.
• Positive feedback from students and academic partners. 
• Mentions of Social Friday in academic discussions or publications.

Ready to inspire the next generation of changemakers? Apply now and help make Social Friday a global campus lifestyle and academic movement.

Minimum Hours per Week:

2-3 hours per week

Duration:

3-5 months

Sports Social Work Network

We help low-SES and BIPOC college athletes leverage athletic identity into careers, mentorship, and wellbeing.

Career Development Program Designer

Role Description

SSWN is seeking a Career Development Program Designer to help translate research on athlete identity into engaging career exploration programming.
The volunteer will help shape interactive experiences that introduce traditoonal and non-traditiional athletes to career pathways beyond professional sport.
This includes developing scenario-based career exploration activities and professional career exposure experiences for athletes from low-SES backgrounds.

Key Contributions

• Help design career exploration workshops and activities
• Provide input on interactive career pathway experiences
• Help structure learning outcomes for career development programming
• Contribute ideas for scalable program delivery

Essential Skills

• Career development, education, or learning design
• Workshop or curriculum development
• Experience creating engaging learning experiences

Desirable Skills

• Experience working with student athletes or youth development programs
• Experience in higher education, coaching, or workforce development

Impact

Your work will help young athletes expand their identity and awareness of career possibilities beyond the game.

What You’ll Gain

• Opportunity to co-create a research-informed program model
• Experience contributing to an innovative social impact initiative
• Professional recognition and recommendation

Minimum Hours per Week:

4-6 hours per week

Duration:

3-5 months

Single Parents Support and Advice Services, we are a Charitable Incorporated

Company with over 35000 members UK wide

Our charity founder and director Nicola Booth in 2012 took the initiative to set up

SPSAS with the purpose to reduce isolation, loneliness, and to promote equal and

fair treatment among Single Parents and their Children. We also aim to help, advise

and support Single / Lone Parents by giving them access to support and services

that normally they would not have access for varied reasons. We also aim to

eliminate the stigma attached with being a single parent in society and across all

ethnicities across the UK. 

Our charity runs solely on donations and all members of our charity including the

director are currently working on a non-paid voluntary basis. Despite these hurdles

We feel we have made a positive impact with our services.

We are seeking Legal advisors to work remotely to conduct research and provide

advice on various areas on law via email to members seeking advice.

Legal Advisor Responsibilities:

 Conducting legal analysis and researching legal matters.

 Providing advice on legal matters.

 Drafting legal opinions, memoranda, and briefing documents.

 Reviewing legal material.

To be considered we require the individual to meet the criteria below

Legal Advisor Requirements:

 Bachelors degree in Law/ currently studying/completed LPC/BPTC

 Strong analytical and research skills.

 Effective interpersonal and communication skills.

 Ability to work well within a team and individually.

 Ability to work long hours when needed.

 Commit to one day a week for a minimum 3-month period

We hope we have caught your interest and very much appreciate you volunteering

for SPSAS

What will you be doing?

Candela is a volunteer-run nonprofit. We're growing our funding base in 2026, and this role is about making that happen. Working alongside our directors, you will have the opportunity to:

Sponsorship and funding:

• Identify and approach potential sponsors, starting with companies whose values or sector align with our mission: we teach physics through VR experiences including solar energy and fusion, so there's a natural fit with energy, renewables, and sustainability companies
• Research and apply for relevant grants, particularly in education, STEM access, and social impact
• Help develop and refine our sponsorship packages and pitches for different audiences
• Develop and manage a funding pipeline

Partnerships and relationships:

• Develop relationships with companies who could support us through funding, equipment donations, or employee volunteering
• Explore partnerships with organisations in the energy and sustainability sector who may have CSR budgets or outreach programmes aligned with what we do
• Help us build credibility and visibility with potential supporters

Note: As we're a small team, you'll have real ownership over this area. You can shape the approach based on your own experience and networks.

What are we looking for?

• Experience in fundraising, business development, partnerships, sponsorship, or grant writing - whether professional or through voluntary/community work
• Confidence approaching organisations and building relationships, particularly at a corporate or institutional level
• Strong written communication since you'll be drafting proposals, emails, and applications
• Someone who can commit roughly 3–7 hours per week, with flexibility around your schedule
• Passion for education, equity in STEM, or making technology accessible to young people

Nice to have: a background in energy, renewables, or sustainability, but this isn't essential. What matters most is your ability to build relationships and secure support.

What difference will you make?

By leading on this, you'll be directly contributing to our goals to:

• Educate students aged 14–18 on the real-world applications of physics using VR
• Increase equitable access to super-curricular STEM activities in disadvantaged communities
• Show young people that physics can lead to exciting careers beyond academia

About WakeUpGB

WakeUpGB is a new, independent UK not‑for‑profit movement built around one simple idea:
A country works better when people trust the system that runs it.

Right now, public trust in politics is at crisis levels — not because people don’t care, but because they feel shut out, misled, and ignored. We’re here to change that.

WakeUpGB is:

• A public movement focused on rebuilding trust in politics
• A policy project with 60 practical ideas to improve the UK
• A platform for fairness, transparency and accountability
• A call to action for people who believe things can be better
• A growing community of people tired of waiting for “someone else” to fix things

We’re not a party.
We’re not a campaign machine.
We’re a movement of ordinary people who believe the next generation deserves a country that hasn’t given up on itself.

One message captures why WakeUpGB exists:
“To my kids — I’m sorry I didn’t do more to stop what happened to this country. I thought someone else would. I thought it wouldn’t get this bad. I was wrong.”

We’re here so none of us ever have to say that again.

The Role

We’re looking for a Social Media Lead who can turn our mission into momentum. Someone creative, clear‑thinking and strategic — who knows how to make important issues accessible, engaging, and real.

This isn’t about posting for the sake of posting. It’s about:

• Educating the public
• Growing a movement
• Inspiring action
• Rebuilding trust

You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading WakeUpGB’s social media strategy across major platforms
• Creating bold, clear, shareable content
• Turning complex issues into simple, motivating messages
• Producing short‑form video and visual content
• Growing engagement and awareness of our 60 ideas
• Mobilising supporters and volunteers
• Using analytics to refine and strengthen our impact

Who You Are

You don’t need to be a political expert — you just need to communicate well and care about making things better.

You bring:

• Experience running or creating impactful social media content
• Strong writing and storytelling skills
• Confidence with short‑form video and visual formats
• The ability to simplify complex topics
• Creative energy and strategic thinking
• A belief in fairness, transparency and positive change

If you’ve ever felt that the UK deserves better — and that doing nothing isn’t an option — you’ll fit in here.

What We Offer

• Flexible remote work
• A chance to shape the online voice of a growing movement
• Creative freedom to experiment and try bold ideas
• A role with genuine social purpose and impact

How to Apply

Send the following t:

• Your CV
• A short note explaining why the role interests you and your ideas for promoting WakeUpGB

A Final Thought

Many of us at WakeUpGB started because of one feeling:
“I can’t keep waiting for someone else to fix this.”

If that resonates with you — whether you want to apply for the role or volunteer your time — this might be exactly where you’re meant to be.

Role Summary:

The Marketing Lead will lead Australia's marketing strategy, driving brand growth and
customer engagement. This role is responsible for overseeing all aspects of marketing,
including brand development, digital marketing, campaign management, market research,
and customer experience. As a key member of the team, the Marketing Lead will work
closely with cross-functional teams to position Roots as a leader in the Islamic Education
industry while ensuring all marketing efforts align with our mission and objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Marketing Leadership:
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive marketing strategy to achieve organisational goals, including brand awareness, lead generation, and customer retention.
  • Monitor market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities and risks.
• Brand Management & Positioning:
  • Strengthen the organisation’s brand identity and ensure consistent messaging across all channels.
  • Lead efforts to position the brand as an industry leader, driving differentiation and competitive advantage
• Campaign Planning & Execution:
  • Oversee the creation and execution of marketing campaigns across digital, print, and traditional channels
  • Measure campaign effectiveness, optimising performance and ROI.
• Team Development:
  • Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing marketing team.
  • Foster a collaborative, creative, and results-driven environment.
• Content Development:
  • Develop a media strategy that includes high-quality photography and videography to enhance brand storytelling.
  • Oversee the production of visual content for social media, advertisements, websites, and events.
  • Ensure all media content aligns with brand identity and marketing goals.

Preferred Experience:

• Marketing & Branding
  • Some experience in digital marketing, social media, or event promotion.
  • Basic knowledge of social media management, and content creation.
• Involvement with MSAs or ISOCs
  • Experience with Muslim Student Associations (MSAs) as a member, volunteer, or organizer.
  • Comfortable engaging with Muslim communities and student networks.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Marketing Skills: Proven expertise in brand strategy, digital marketing, and campaign management.
• Innovative: Demonstrated ability to drive growth through innovative and data-driven marketing strategies
• Community-Oriented: A deep understanding of the Muslim community in Australia, especially in relation to university students and local mosques.
• Relationship Building: Proven experience in building and maintaining meaningful relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Project Management: Strong organisational skills with the ability to support program delivery efficiently.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences, from students to community leaders.
• Commitment to Ihsaan: This role requires someone who strives to deliver their responsibilities with ihsaan.
• Dedication to Service: A heart for khidma (service), and a desire to make a positive impact on the lives of young Muslims through education.

What We Offer:

• Be part of a team of 100+ dedicated volunteers from across the globe.
• Receive continuous rewards for those that seek Islamic knowledge from the Roots platform.
• Be a part of a growing organisation that aims to revive and educate Muslims from a grassroots perspective.
• Receive in-house Tarbiyah sessions to develop your deen.

Please Note: This is an unpaid volunteer position. Volunteers can claim expenses for food,
travel, and equipment in line with the Expenses Policy.

We are looking for passionate Animal Advocates to join our Events Team and help raise vital funds for animals in need in their local community. This role is ideal for someone who loves animals, enjoys connecting with people in their community, and wants to make a meaningful difference.

Animal Advocates organise and host small fundraising stalls within their local area, helping to raise awareness and funds to support animals who need our help.

Key Responsibilities

As an Animal Advocate, you will:

• Identify opportunities to hold a fundraising stall in your community at least once a month (for example at markets, fairs, community events or outside local businesses).
• Research and approach local businesses who may wish to donate items that can be sold to raise funds to support our work.
• Encourage people in your community to donate good-quality second-hand items that can be sold on the stall.
• Set up and run fundraising stalls to engage with the public and promote the charity’s work.
• Help raise awareness about the animals we support and the difference donations make.
• Be a vital part of our Events Team.

Support and Resources

As part of our team, volunteers will receive:

• A welcome pack containing everything you need to get started.
• Ongoing support from advice on organising stalls, collecting donations and growing your impact.
• Encouragement to build a small local team of volunteers, if you prefer working as part of a team, to support your activities.

Essential Experience / Skills:

• Passionate about helping animals.
• Friendly and confident speaking to people in their community.
• Organised and motivated to plan local fundraising opportunities.
• Happy to approach local businesses and community members.
• Enthusiastic about making a difference.

What You’ll Gain

This is a fantastic opportunity to:

• Help animals in need
• Meet like-minded people
• Become a positive voice for animals in your community
• Develop fundraising, community engagement and leadership skills.

Every stall you organise helps us provide care, safety and a brighter future for animals who need it most.

Closing Date: The job advert will close as soon as suitable candidates have been found. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible!

What will you be doing?

As our Technical VR Advisor you'll act as a senior technical voice for the team, providing strategic technical guidance and sharing your experience rather than day-to-day management. Working alongside our Lead Developer and a motivated team of four software developers, you will have the opportunity to:

This role has two sides, and you might lean more towards one than the other:

Product and strategy guidance:

• Advise on hardware decisions, particularly our upcoming transition to standalone VR headsets
• Share knowledge of the VR landscape: tools, platforms, what's working in the industry to help us make smart choices with limited resources
• Help us think about user experience design for an educational audience aged 14–18

Technical and development guidance:

• Advise on software architecture, tooling, and development practices for our Unity/C# VR application
• Mentor volunteer developers, helping them think through technical problems and grow their skills
• Guide the team on performance optimisation and best practices
• Help flag technical risks or opportunities as our product evolves

Note: Strength in either area is valuable (both together is ideal). This is a flexible advisory role and you can shape your involvement around where your experience has the most impact.

What are we looking for?

• Solid knowledge of the VR/XR space
• Familiarity with the VR hardware landscape, particularly standalone headsets (e.g. Meta Quest)
• We'd ideally love someone with professional or substantial hands-on experience in VR, but if you've built that depth through research, teaching, or personal projects, we'd still love to hear from you
• Experience with Unity and/or C# is a bonus but not essential - product and strategic experience in VR is equally valuable
• An interest in mentoring or teaching
• Someone who can commit roughly 1–3 hours per week, with the flexibility to scale up occasionally
• Passion for education, equity in STEM, or making technology accessible to young people

Nice to have: experience with educational software, interactive design, or working with non-profit / volunteer teams.

What difference will you make?

By lending your experience you'll be directly contributing to our goals to:

• Educate students aged 14–18 on the real-world applications of physics using VR
• Increase equitable access to super-curricular STEM activities in disadvantaged communities
• Show young people that physics can lead to exciting careers beyond academia

betterSoil is a sustainable start-up and a movement that is passionately committed to the health of our earth's soil.

We are currently losing around 10 million hectares of fertile soil worldwide. That's about 14 million football pitches. However, good soils are the source of more than 90% of our food. At the same time, the world's population will grow to 10 billion people by 2050. Food will therefore become scarce, especially high-quality food, as this depends on the quality of the soil. The effects of climate change are worsening the situation of soils because droughts and extreme rainfall are becoming more severe and more frequent. Current farming methods lead to high CO2 emissions, diseased soils produce low-quality food and biodiversity is rapidly declining, as around half of biodiversity lives in the soil.

Since 2020, betterSoil has been involved at European level, e.g. with an event with the EU Parliament and prominent supporters such as Prof. Dr Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker, Dr Franz Fischler (Former EU Commissioner for Agriculture) and Dr Peter Johnston (European Policy Centre) in a national and international context to improve soil quality for climate resilience and climate protection as well as the promotion of biodiversity and sustainable food production. Our way of working goes far beyond soil consulting. We combine local, indigenous knowledge with the latest science and offer practice-orientated betterSoil recipes for farmers. We also offer individual consultations for companies and organisations of all kinds. In this way, we create a comprehensive awareness of soil health that helps to position

As Newsletter & Blog Content Manager, you’ll shape how betterSoil communicates with its community and partners. Your work will help us reach more people, strengthen our impact, and showcase how soil can change the world.

Key tasks:
• Write and edit engaging blog posts on soil, climate, and sustainable agriculture.
• Create and manage our monthly newsletter (Mailchimp or similar).
• Translate project updates, research, and events into accessible stories.
• Coordinate a content calendar aligned with campaigns and events.
• Coordination with the social media team
• Assist with press releases or media outreach.

What We’re Looking For
• Strong writing and communication skills.
• Passion for sustainability, agriculture, or climate action (no need to be a soil expert, but a basic understanding of the topic and a genuine interest in learning more are essential.
• Experience with newsletters, blogging, or content management
• Creativity, reliability, and the ability to work independently in a remote team.

What You’ll Gain
• Be part of an international, mission-driven team reimagining soil as the foundation of a sustainable future.
• Build a portfolio of published content on climate and agriculture.
• Learn about soil, regenerative agriculture, and sustainability strategies.
• Contribute flexibly from anywhere in the world .
• Make a tangible difference in a growing social impact initiative.
• Get recognized for your impact – we’ll provide a written confirmation of your volunteer work in climate action.

Commitment: Flexible, part-time volunteer (approx. 7-9 hrs/week ).

Duration: Minimum 1 year (longer preferred with potential for future paid collaboration as the organization grows).

Compensation: Volunteer (impact-driven role).

Minimum Hours per Week:

7-9 hours per week

Duration:

6+ months

Do you want to take part in vegan volunteering around your local area?

You can do that – right here at The Vegan Society. 

We have an ever-growing Community Network of vegans just like you, who have a passion to volunteer and promote veganism where they live. 

Every month, our Network choose from a range of outreach tasks. These could include town centre stalls, writing to a councillor or MP, sharing our campaigns on social media or contacting local businesses. You're in control of how much or how little you do. 

As an Advocate, you will have a network of other Advocates and an Organiser in your area. Your Organiser will be your main point of contact. They will send you tasks every month and ask you to feed back on what you've completed and any positive outcomes. 

Why do we need you to volunteer?

As the vegan community grows, veganism itself becomes better understood. We're finding that more people are looking to The Vegan Society to find out what being vegan is all about.

Local communities are starting to see the vegan movement as something real and something that’s happening in their area. More people are embracing a vegan lifestyle, which we welcome. From new businesses, to families, to councillors, many people need support. This could be with a range of topics: going vegan, finding correct information around a vegan diet, providing vegan options in their business, MPs listening to vegan constituents, and learning about our work.

Local issues are often unique and more varied than national issues. Our volunteers from local areas are vital! They enable us to share our messages and campaigns in an effective way. Research tells us that people are far more likely to trust information from a peer rather than an outside expert, so community volunteering vastly increases the impact of our campaigns.

Our network of committed local vegans across the country is growing! The Vegan Society organises various outreach activities to influence change in every level of society. There are a range of activities going on all the time, from general educational stalls at events to meeting with local policy influencers.

Advocates are a crucial voice in their own community. They ensure that our campaign messages are spread far and wide. They provide a strong vegan presence in local communities.

What does the Advocate role involve?

Being an Advocate for veganism with The Vegan Society will mean communicating with people in your local community. You'll share the benefits of a vegan lifestyle. You will form part of a local group, headed up by a local Organiser. The Organiser will feed back your collective efforts to staff. You will also be invited to our private Facebook group, for vegan socialising and ideas sharing.

You’ll stay in touch with the Organiser and bring your passion to tasks. Activities can range from staffing a stall to giving a talk at an employee event. It could also mean writing to a local newspaper or lobbying an MP.

Messaging can differ every month. Part of our mission statement is to ensure people can remain vegan, so you might focus on getting more vegan options available in local businesses. Or within our Live Vegan for Less campaign, you may share cheap vegan recipes to help people with the cost of living.

When acting as an Advocate, you will use The Vegan Society’s branding and messaging guidelines. Your local Organiser will guide you in doing this, as they hold physical resources and handbooks. You can report any issues and feedback you have to your Organiser. You can also contact staff if your Organiser isn't available or you have any problems.

What training and support is available?

You will be provided with a big welcome and full induction from your local Organiser. They will introduce you to the group and any actions that are ongoing. Any training and development will be provided via your Organiser, and you can also ask for specific training on any areas that you need some development in.

What skills would be useful in doing this role?

• The ability to stay motivated in order to achieve the best possible outcomes
• Good email etiquette, responding in a timely manner
• Committed to veganism and the mission of The Vegan Society
• Ability to stay calm if confronted with differing opinions or challenges
• A good communicator, with the ability to be persuasive
• Confident in communicating with people from a range of backgrounds
• Experience of campaigning
• Any experience in talking with members of the public through customer/public service would be helpful
• Awareness of current affairs, especially those that relate to veganism
• Regular availability and a willingness to stay committed to actions
• Good team player

How much time do I need to invest? 

For Advocates, we ask for people to engage in a minimum of four to six actions per year. An example of an action could be writing to an MP or holding a stall. But the more you can do, the better! On occasion, there may also be online meetings to plan for actions or provide training.

The D D McPhail Charitable Settlement CIO (DDMCS), charity number 1197598, is an active grant making
Charitable Incorporated Organisation. It has succeeded the D.D. McPhail Charitable Settlement, charity
number 267588, which was founded in 1973 and operational till 2023.

DDMCS aims to support 2 or 3 major multi-year grant projects each year, which are actively sought by the
Trustees to enable small / medium sized charities to make a significant or step change in their activities. The
original trust deed and now the CIO constitution specifies three key areas of preference in the UK around:

• Furtherance of medical research,
• Care of the disabled particularly disabled children, and
• Care of the aged and infirm

The Trustees have wide discretion to support other charitable activities in the UK. There is more detail in
the annual report available via the Charity Commission website and the charity’s own website that outlines
the activities of the charity. Within these broad areas the Trustees recently agreed, following a strategic
review, to focus for the next grant making cycle on charities supporting care for the physical and mental
wellbeing of children living in poverty.

Recent grant support has enabled a number of significant multi-year projects, including:

• British Dyslexia Association - supporting the creation of Local Outreach Hubs to increase access to dyslexia advice, assessment and early intervention within communities.

• Candlelighters - funding a Family Wellbeing Practitioner to improve emotional and practical support for families affected by childhood cancer.

• IPSEA - funding a SEND Policy Manager to strengthen national policy influencing for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.

• The Myton Hospices - supporting the development of the Volunteer Service, enhancing capacity and patient experience across hospice services.

Further information can be found in the recruitment pack (attached). 

We are seeking a Chair Designate to join our board, with a view to taking over as Chair in 2027. The Chair provides inclusive leadership to the Board of Trustees, ensuring effective governance and strategic direction for the charity. They act as an ambassador for the organisation, working closely with the Director and fellow Trustees to maximise impact for beneficiaries. DDMCS does not undertake any fundraising activity, as all grant making is supported through the charity’s long-established investment portfolio. As a result, there is no requirement for the Chair to have fundraising experience.

Key Responsibilities: 

Strategic Leadership
• Lead the Board in setting and reviewing the charity’s vision, mission, and strategic objectives.
• Ensure decisions align with charitable objectives and long-term sustainability.
• Promote diversity and inclusion within the Board and wider organisation.

Governance
• Ensure compliance with the charity’s governing document, Charity Commission guidance, and relevant
legislation.
• Maintain high standards of governance, risk management, and financial oversight.
• Facilitate annual Board and Trustee performance reviews

Board Management
• Chair Board meetings effectively, ensuring impartiality and open debate.
• Provide guidance and constructive challenge to trustees.
• Foster strong relationships among Trustees and between the Board and Executive Director.
• Drive Trustee recruitment and succession planning.

External Representation
• Act as an ambassador and spokesperson for the charity.
• Represent the organisation at external events and with grantees and key stakeholders
• Support advocacy through personal networks where appropriate.

Support to Director
• Maintain a clear distinction between governance and management roles.
• Ensure regular communication and a strong, collaborative working relationship.
• Provide guidance and support to the Director.

Person Specification:

Essential Skills and Experience
• Proven leadership experience at Board or senior executive level.
• Strong understanding of charity governance and the legal duties of Trustees.
• Strategic thinker with ability to balance long-term vision and short-term priorities.
• Financial literacy and ability to oversee budgets and risk management.
• Excellent communication, with ability to build consensus
• Experience in grant-making or philanthropic sector

Desirable
• Knowledge of charity law and regulatory frameworks.
• Established networks within relevant sectors (e.g., philanthropy, corporate, public).

Personal Attributes
• Commitment to the charity’s mission and values.
• Integrity, impartiality, and sound judgment.
• Ability to dedicate sufficient time and energy to the role.
• Collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
• Innovative thinker with ability to bring forward fresh ideas.

If, after reading the applicant pack, you feel you have the skills and experience we are looking for then please apply through CharityJobs, providing a CV and cover letter (2 pages max) detailing why you are interested in this role and your relevant experience. 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for preliminary interviews in April (dates to be confirmed). Initial interviews will take place via Teams. 

The Trustees of DD McPhail Charitable Settlement CIO are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences, particularly those underrepresented in leadership roles within the charity sector.

There will be an online Q&A session on Wednesday 1 April at 5pm where you will be able to find out more about DD McPhail and hear from our current Chair of Trustees. If you would like to attend that session, please drop us a line using the following details and we will forward an invitation 

info at ddmcphail dot org