Volunteer support officer volunteer roles in thamesmead, greater london

Reports to: Chief Development Officer

We are looking for a highly motivated and experienced Head of Governance & Legal Support to lead the governance and legal functions of Youth Advantage UK. The Head of Governance & Legal Support will oversee compliance, risk management, and legal operations to ensure the charity operates within all applicable regulations and ethical standards. Managing the Governance & Legal Support Manager, this role will also involve developing and implementing governance frameworks that support organisational growth and sustainability.

Key Responsibilities:

● Manage Governance & Legal Support Team: Provide leadership and guidance to the Governance & Legal Support Manager and ensure the team operates effectively.

● Develop Governance Frameworks: Create and implement policies, procedures, and systems to strengthen the charity’s governance structure.

● Ensure Regulatory Compliance: Monitor and ensure adherence to all relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards, including charity law, data protection, and safeguarding.

● Risk Management: Identify, assess, and mitigate risks, maintaining a comprehensive risk register and working with leadership to address potential challenges.

● Support the Board of Trustees: Act as a key liaison for the Board, preparing meeting agendas, maintaining minutes, and ensuring timely submission of governance reports.

● Legal Oversight: Manage contracts, agreements, and other legal documents, ensuring accuracy and compliance with legal requirements.

● Training & Development: Provide training and resources to staff and volunteers on governance and compliance matters, ensuring understanding and adherence to policies.

● Partnerships: Build and maintain relationships with legal advisors, regulators, and other stakeholders to support organisational compliance.

● Drive Organisational Values: Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and ethical practice across the organisation.

Ideal Candidate:

● Experience: At least six months in a senior governance, legal, or compliance-focused leadership role within the charity sector or a similar organisation.

● Leadership Skills: Proven ability to manage and develop teams, fostering a high-performance culture.

● Legal Knowledge: Strong understanding of charity law, governance best practices, and regulatory compliance.

● Risk Management Expertise: Experience in identifying and mitigating risks in a complex organisational environment.

● Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.

● Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with governance and compliance tools, systems, and processes.

● Commitment to Diversity: Understanding and experience in embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion within governance practices.

● Passion for Youth Development: Genuine enthusiasm for supporting young people and advancing the mission of Youth Advantage UK.

Day-to-day Tasks:

● Managing the Governance & Legal Support team, including sharing best practices and ensuring professional standards are met.

● Ensuring compliance with governance frameworks, legal regulations, and internal policies.

● Preparing and distributing materials for Board of Trustee meetings, including agendas and reports.

● Reviewing and negotiating contracts, agreements, and legal documents.

● Monitoring and updating the organisation’s risk register.

● Providing guidance on data protection, safeguarding, and ethical practices.

● Maintaining organisational policies and ensuring they are up-to-date and effectively implemented.

● Building relationships with external legal advisors and regulatory bodies.

Short-term Tasks:

● Conducting a review of current governance policies and frameworks to identify areas for improvement.

● Establishing a schedule for regular governance and legal compliance audits.

● Updating the organisation’s risk register and developing mitigation plans for high-priority risks.

● Developing training materials for staff and volunteers on governance and compliance topics.

● Creating a roadmap for aligning governance practices with the organisation’s strategic goals.

Why Join Youth Advantage UK?

Youth Advantage UK is a research led organization that aims to further the rights of young people between 11 and 25 years old across the UK through policy work and projects. As the Head of Governance & Legal Support, you will play a critical role in ensuring the charity operates with integrity, accountability, and transparency. You will work with a passionate and dedicated team, contribute to meaningful initiatives, and develop frameworks that ensure the long-term sustainability of our mission. Youth Advantage UK is committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where volunteers can grow both professionally and personally.

People consistently tell us that meeting others living with Parkinson's is the most important support they want locally. Volunteers run Parkinson's Cafes to provide an informal way of doing just that. This role will be co-ordinating our monthly Parkinson's Rochester Cafe and we'd love to hear from you if you can spare a few hours each month. 

What you will be doing:
-Ensure the cafe gathering takes place on the first Friday of the month from 1-3pm, and that those attending are warmly welcomed.
-Work with the chosen venue effectively, which would include reserving a table in the cafe (this has been organised so just needs monitoring) and having a space to layout relevent leaflets to support those with Parkinson's. 
-Provide updates and feedback to relevant Parkinson's UK staff members about how the cafe session are going
-With other volunteers, think of creative ways to add interest and value to the cafe sessions, such as arranging visits from relevant local health professionals
The skills you need:
-Warm and friendly; you'll be a good communicator, open to working and interacting with a range of people.
-Patient and empathetic, in order to deal with sensitive issues and topics.
What's in it for you

-You'll meet new people, forging friendships and connections in your area.
-You'll be supporting your community, knowing that thanks to you people affected by Parkinson's have vital support
-We'll support you to learn more about Parkinson's, and you'll be able to develop your organisational and communication skills.

Unify Giving is an innovative charitable technology platform that connects donors directly with verified individuals in need. Our mobile app enables anyone to donate directly to beneficiariesm ensuring 100% of donations reach recipients while preserving their dignity and choice. We partner with established charities who verify legitimate need.

Following our successful Newport pilot, we're expanding across the UK to help more individuals experiencing hidden homelessness and other forms of vulnerability.

Role Overview

As a Charity Liaison Officer volunteer, you'll be at the heart of our mission to bridge the gap between donors and those in need. This purpose-driven role focuses on establishing and nurturing partnerships with charitable organisations across the UK, enabling more vulnerable individuals to receive direct support through our platform.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference while gaining valuable experience in the charity tech sector. You'll represent Unify Giving to potential charity partners, help onboard new beneficiaries, and ensure our existing partners are up-to-date with platform developments that can enhance their work.

Key Responsibilities

• Relationship Building: Develop and maintain strong relationships with charity partners who can verify and support potential beneficiaries.
• Partnership Outreach: Identify and approach suitable charitable organisations working with homeless individuals and other vulnerable populations.
• Onboarding Support: Guide charity partners through the process of bringing verified beneficiaries onto the Unify Giving platform.
• Training & Education: Provide training to charity staff on how to use the Unify Giving platform effectively.
• Impact Communication: Gather and share success stories (while maintaining privacy) to demonstrate the effectiveness of our direct giving model.
• Platform Ambassador: Keep charity partners informed about new features and improvements to the Unify Giving platform.
• Feedback Collection: Gather insights from charity partners to help us continuously improve our service.

What We're Looking For

• Passion for addressing homelessness and supporting vulnerable individuals
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to explain technology in accessible, non-technical terms
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently
• Experience in the charity sector, social work, or community engagement (desirable but not essential)
• Understanding of homelessness issues and challenges in the UK (desirable)
• Reliable access to transportation for partner visits when needed
• Comfortable using digital platforms and mobile applications

Time Commitment

We're looking for volunteers who can commit to approximately 5-10 hours per week, with flexibility around your schedule. This can include:

• Virtual meetings with potential and existing charity partners
• Occasional in-person visits to charities in your region (dependent on distance/ travel expenses covered)
• Regular check-ins with the Unify Giving team

What You'll Gain

• Make a direct impact on addressing homelessness and supporting vulnerable individuals
• Develop professional skills in partnership building, communication, and the charity tech sector
• Gain insight into innovative solutions to social problems
• Be part of a passionate, mission-driven team
• Receive training and support from Unify Giving
• Opportunity to build your professional network across the charity sector
• Letter of recommendation upon successful completion of a 3-month volunteer period

Locations

We're particularly seeking volunteers in the following areas:

• London
• Newport
• Manchester
• Bristol
• Brighton & Hove
• Edinburgh
• Cardiff
• Other major UK cities (please specify your location when applying)

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly encourage applications from those with lived experience of homelessness or other forms of social exclusion.

Unify Giving connects those who want to help with those who need support, ensuring direct impact while preserving dignity and choice.

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About YAUK

Youth Advantage UK is a charitable organization that uses a research-led approach to inform policy work and projects that aim to promote and further the human rights of young people aged 11 to 25 across the United Kingdom.

Please note that this is a remote VOLUNTEER role.

We won't accept applications from individuals residing outside of the UK as we operate on the principle of bettering the lives of young people in the UK. Therefore, we require our volunteers to have an understanding of what it is like to live in the UK.

We are looking to recruit a Communications Manager who can provide strong and stable operational management of the communications teams, directly supervising Senior Officers, while working with the departmental head to develop the department.

Responsibilities

• To provide effective operational management of teams within the Communications Department 

• To directly provide guidance, support and direction to Senior Officers who oversee the teams within the department

• To welcome new volunteers to the department and work alongside the departmental heads to improve team culture

• To plan the work of the department and support with strategic decision making

• To provide support as required to ensure that the communications teams are achieving their goals and making progress

Requirements

• To have at least 2 years of communications and marketing experience

• To have demonstrated leadership skills in a previous professional setting

• To have held a management level position

• To have strong IT and digital working skills

• To be competent in the use of Canva, Wix and social media

Benefits

• This is a UK-based, 100% fully remote and flexible role.

• Supportive team and management to enhance your skills and build on your experience.

• Your work will help transform and empower many young people’s lives, rights, and interests and assist in promoting equality for all young people.

Why Volunteer with Us?

We are a supportive and friendly organization that takes pride in developing and nurturing our volunteers and providing them with excellent opportunities to thrive and further encourage their career growth and future aspirations.

We offer a fully remote working environment and a flexible and adaptable working schedule. This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing organization, enhance your skills, and gain valuable experience. If this sounds like you and you are interested in applying for this position, please submit your CV.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Grants & Bids Writing Volunteers Role Overview

The Africa Health Organisation (AHO) will be 25 years old on 14 August 2025. We seek Grants and Bids Writing Volunteers to join us celebrate our Silver Jubilee from across the world to help us apply for funding from major donors, development aid agencies and public sector tenders.

Duties and Responsibilities

 Grant writing

• Developing and writing grant proposals to foundations and other grant-making organisations.
• Assembling and submitting grant requests, including letters, proposals, and budgets.
• Track and create a calendar of grant opportunities - including deadline dates, required materials,
• Researches and identifies potential sources of funders and corporate and governmental funding.
• Complete and submit grant applications to secure funding

 Tender & Bid Writing

• Write and submit tenders to win contracts.
• Maintaining awareness of tenders, acquiring PQQ questionnaires and tender documentation.
• Responding to tender invitations from the UK and other governments, EU tenders, the public sector and local authorities from the UK in areas such as health and social care.
• Recruit partners for the EU grants & tenders and other tender projects.
• Collating the input of contributions to create a coherent and well-structured final tender and ensuring the timely submission of tenders and other proposals.

Funding and Finance

The role will involve seeking and securing funding and finance for the specific goals, objectives, targets, and outcomes. You will work with the AHO President, the Board and senior management to research and identify public, private, philanthropic, individual giving, and legacy funding and finance. Each volunteer will have the opportunity to choose their goal and set a fundraising target to achieve.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills Required

• Degree in any subject area that results in superb language writing skills, including grammar, clarity and style.
• Excellent writing, analytical, and research skills are essential. Candidates must be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and highly organised and have experience using online databases and other sources to locate biographical, financial, and philanthropic information.
• You MUST have at least 3 years of experience writing and delivering successful grants and tenders, especially for public health contracts such as health checks, smoking cessation, etc., from the UK government, NHS, DOHSC, Ministry of Justice, London authorities, and county councils.
• An understanding and passion for issues affecting Africa's political, social and economic development and health, social care, climate change and environmental development.

Languages requirements

The ability to speak one of Africa's widely spoken languages would be an added advantage e.g. Afrikaans, Amharic, Arabic, Bemba, Berber, Chewa, Chinese, Dinka, English, French, Fula, Fulani, German, Greek, Hausa, Hindi, Igbo, Italian, Japanese, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Kongo, Korean, Lingala, Malagasy, Mandinka, Nambia, Ndebele, Nyanja, Oromo, Portuguese, Russian, Sango, Sesotho, Shona, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Swati, Thai, Tigrinya, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Vietnamese, Xhosa, Yoruba, Zulu, etc. You are still welcome to apply if you don't speak any of the above languages.

VOLUNTEERING IS NOT A PAID JOB.

ALL our Volunteer Opportunities are not paid or salaried. Do not apply if you want a paid job or plan to negotiate a pay deal with us. Volunteering allows people to give their time for free to society while gaining the experience they need when applying for future paid jobs.

A Little About Us!
Youth Advantage UK is a research-led, un incorporated un registered charitable organisation. We use a research-led approach to protect the rights and interests of young people through positive action such as projects, policy work, research, services, events. We promote and empower change.

Why we need you!
Youth Advantage UK are in our early stages but are growing and looking for volunteers to help achieve our aims to become a registered charitable organisation. Your skills and expertise are what we need to continue to grow. Without our volunteers we cannot grow and appreciate those who apply with us!

Responsibilities:

Actively contribute to the development and implementation of HR strategy in collaboration with the Chief People Officer, ensuring alignment with the charity’s mission and organisational goals.

Design and implement people-centric solutions to address key HR challenges, driving both strategic initiatives and practical, operational results.

Lead the development and execution of HR policies, ensuring they are in line with the organisation's objectives and reflect best practices in a volunteer-driven environment.

Manage and mentor a team of HR Managers and HR Business Partners, fostering their growth and ensuring they meet key deliverables.

Provide both high-level strategic support and hands-on, operational assistance when required, including driving recruitment, retention, L&D and engagement initiatives.

Serve as a trusted advisor to the Chief People Officer, offering strategic insights and designing solutions to resolve HR challenges and enhance organisational effectiveness.

Act as a key liaison between management and volunteers, addressing inquiries, escalating issues, and resolving work-related concerns with a solution-focused approach.

Produce and present insightful reports, surveys, and analytics to C-level Executives, delivering key HR metrics and analysis to inform decision-making.

The Head of HR reports directly to the Chief People Officer, working closely to set HR strategies, design solutions, and ensure the effective delivery of people initiatives across the charity.

You will have:

• At least 3 years' experience in an HR managerial position.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Though we do not require you to be a native English speaker, you must be Fluent in English.
• Ability to work within organisational targets.
• IT Literacy, including Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• An understanding of HR-related processes and legislation.
• A CIPD qualification would be advantageous but is not essential depending on relevant experience.

Benefits:

• This is a UK based, 100% Fully remote and flexible role
• Supportive Team and Management to enhance your skills and build on your experience.
• Your work will help transform and empower many young people’s lives, rights and interests and assist in promoting equality for all young people.

What we offer!
Anybody who wishes to help and contribute to a good cause are welcome to apply for one of our volunteering positions. We will speak to you about what your aims are to ensure that the volunteering position you are applying for is suitable. By volunteering you have the chance to learn something new and contribute to a successful organisation who is looking to help young people in the UK.

Join Our Board of Trustees and Help Drive Positive Change!

Are you passionate about making a difference in people’s lives? Do you thrive in a team environment and want to give back to the community where you live, work, or study?

We are a local charity dedicated to providing social welfare advice, information, and support through our incredible team of staff and volunteers. We are now seeking two new Trustees to join our board and help guide our organisation forward.

Last year, we:

✅ Assisted over 15,000 clients in finding solutions to their challenges

✅ Addressed over 37,000 separate issues for those in need

✅ Secured nearly £2 million in additional income to support people during the cost-of-living crisis

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities across Cheshire West—your age, background, origins, or health conditions are not barriers. We actively seek diverse perspectives to better serve our community.

We are particularly interested in individuals with:

�� Experience in digital and AI solutions implementation
�� Expertise in volunteer engagement
�� A strong commitment to our mission, enthusiasm, and a supportive approach

However we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, skills and experience including lived experience.

What’s Involved?

As a Trustee, you will:

�� Attend at least five board meetings per year (in-person and remote, often in the evenings)

��Participate in one annual trustee development day

��Have opportunities for further involvement in shaping our work

This is a voluntary role, but all reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Volunteering does not affect state benefit entitlement.

If you’re ready to play a key role in shaping the future of our organisation, we’d love to hear from you! 

About TLC 

The Trans Legal Clinic is the first trans-led specialist gender identity legal practice and registered charity in the UK. The mission of the Trans Legal Clinic is simple; we provide free and accessible legal help to transgender and non-binary people in need. Our overarching vision is a society where all people have access to the legal resources required for gender self-determination and where gender diversity is not just accepted but embraced, with trans* people equipped with the necessary legal tools to navigate the world in their affirmed gender. 

Service Introduction 

The Social Media department is integral to our organisation. The social media team works together to create informative and entertaining content to build a community around the Trans Legal Clinic. We have assisted over 70 clients since October 2023.

Our Social Media department is made up of committed Social Media Content Officers, working under the Social Media Manager. 

Key tasks and responsibilities 

Design and Content Creation 

Be adept and comfortable using Canva, with an eye for design. 

Create engaging and eye-catching posts and content for Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn. 

Write engaging captions and copy for social media content to drive engagement across social media channels.  

Confident using video editing software and a willingness to learn new editing software as and when required. 

Write and edit scripts for video posts. 

Teamwork 

Engage with assigned tasks and support other volunteers in the social media team.

Keep your fellow volunteers and manager updated on your content creation and any issues you encounter throughout the process.   

Set out to reach team performance targets.

Attend team meetings and contribute to discussions.

Be respectful to colleagues and support good communication between all stakeholders. 

Work with caseworkers to create content for specific raised issues. 

Research and Outreach 

Create resources for the organisation and those seeking information on our website in a digestible way. 

Reach out to other organisations, especially those that work with trans* people, to collaborate and share knowledge and resources.   

Conduct research into relevant topics and how they affect trans* and gender diverse people. 

Review 

Review and evaluate own performance to identify strengths and areas for development. 

Undertake development and training opportunities. 

General 

Adhere to Trans Legal Clinic’s Policies and Procedures at all times. 

Cover for other members of the team and department as necessary. 

Be proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance and identifying upon areas for improvement and development. 

Undertake any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the role and/or reasonable duties required by more senior members of staff. 

Attend and participate in external meetings and briefings as required. 

Can you offer creative flair, compelling writing ability, and passion about the importance of our beautiful countryside and green spaces in London? If so, apply to join us, bringing your persuasive and descriptive writing skills to raise our profile, reach new audiences, attract support and promote saving these spaces for wider enjoyment.

You will play an essential role in spreading the word about our work and campaigns by developing engaging newsletters and social media content, inspiring others to embrace a greener London and its links to the countryside.

We are seeking to expand our current, small dedicated team, so if you can offer limited time during 'term time' or 'school holidays' we aim to accommodate flexible working patterns for the benefit of consistent content delivery.

Responsibilities / Duties may include but are not limited to: 

• Using your creativity to write compelling copy which raises the profile and work of CPRE London 
• Proofreading, restructuring and editing articles 
• Developing a balanced range of new content which may include current news, opinion pieces and campaign features for our communications to update the CPRE London website 
• Working with the social media volunteer to promote new content 
• Creating and sending our monthly newsletter  
• Maintaining and adding to the image library
• Using photos and images to good visual effect and to represent the full range of our work and the people involved  
• Overseeing overall content in line with brand guidelines, liaising with the national CPRE communications and website team 
• Optimising published pieces for SEO

 Our team will provide training and support to develop your role.

Skills and experience 

Preferably with 2 or more years’ experience in communications roles with excellent writing and editorial skills, good attention to detail, and familiar with managing messages in the media.​

BRANCH TRUSTEE – HR & EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

Branch Trustee – HR & Employee Relations (RSPCA Chatham)

This is an exciting opportunity to pass on your human resources and employee relations expertise whilst helping the RSPCA; promote kindness and prevent animal cruelty, reach out to more supporters, and influence how we do things.

Overview of the Branch Trustee - HR & Employee Relations

As a HR & Employee Relations expert you would be supporting the branch by helping them maintain and develop staff throughout the organisation. You would play a key role in advising Trustees on the long-term and strategic direction of human resources and contributing towards policy setting.

About the RSPCA

Founded in 1824 we have been saving animals for almost 200 years and are proud to be the oldest welfare charity around. It has always been our vision to live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion, so our volunteers and employees work tirelessly to ensure that all animals can live free from pain and suffering.

Through our numerous campaigns, we seek to raise standards of care, and awareness of issues, affecting animals today. We rely heavily on our volunteers who play a significant role in enabling us to carry out this important animal welfare work every day!

The RSPCA Medway West Branch

The RSPCA Medway West Branch is one of the branches of RSPCA, but we are also a separately registered charity looking after animals in our local area. Much of the animal welfare work of RSPCA is carried out through local branches, which is run by volunteers who have the support of the National Society of RSPCA, we are currently going through the process of changing our status to CIO.

The main activities of our Branch are:

•  Helping people on benefits and low-income to afford veterinary bill.
•  Providing support for people to neuter their animals.
•  Providing support to the inspectorate to help get animals treated.
• Access to a pet food bank, working alongside local human foodbanks.

Primary responsibilities of the Branch Trustee – HR & Employee Relations

•  Advise Trustees on the long-term vision and strategic direction for investment in human resources.
• Support the Branch grow, maintain, and develop staff throughout the organisation.
• Contribute to HR policy setting, strategic direction, goal and target setting, and evaluate performance against targets, budgets, plans and charitable objectives.
•  Ensure that HR activities and interventions are linked to the RSPCA Medway West Branches charitable objectives and complement the company culture.
•  Advise on and help improve management of HR.
•  Ensure the Board of Trustees properly remunerates staff, reviewing and rewarding performance and development opportunities.
• To work with the Branch Manager to review current HR management arrangements and provide guidance on HR strategy and short and long-term direction.
• Receive progress reports on HR and any recurring staffing issues.

Core Branch Trustee responsibilities

•  Appreciate and support the aims and policies of the RSPCA.
• Work in conjunction with fellow trustees and branch officers and jointly act in making decisions for the best interest of the branch and the RSPCA.
• Work with national RSPCA staff to ensure that the branch meets all minimum animal welfare standards (MAWS).
•  In conjunction with your fellow trustees and Branch Partnership Manager write, adopt, monitor, and review a development plan setting out the short and long term aims of your branch.
•  Actively participate in branch committee meetings and to attend the branch annual general meeting and regional conference.
•  Be aware of the outcome of regional board meetings and support regional initiatives.
• Actively promote and advertise the society in an ongoing programme to recruit new branch trustees and volunteers and welcome new members.
•  In conjunction with your fellow trustees, ensure the proper management and control of all activities and decisions relating to any premises held or staff employed by the branch if applicable.

What we are looking for in a volunteer:

We are committed to creating a Board which is representative of our society and in particular, our community and surrounding areas so encourage people from any background to apply for any of our opportunities.

Alongside Human Resources experience, including a CIPD membership, we are looking for someone who is committed to the RSPCA’s charitable objectives and shares our passion for animal welfare. You would be creative, innovative, bring a fresh perspective, and can put ideas into action.

You will need to be able to work with people and have good interpersonal skills. You do not need to be an expert although commitment, common sense, and the ability to be objective are vital.

What we can offer you as a volunteer Branch Trustee – HR & Employee Relations

•  We will provide you with a comprehensive trustee training course which will provide you will everything you need to carry out the role.
• Ongoing support is also provided by regional and national RSPCA staff in addition to any additional training provided by the relevant branch.
• The platform to utilise your skills and experience to oversee the charity and make decisions that have a direct impact on local animal welfare.
• The opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones, whilst making a real difference to the lives of animals.
•  A way to expand your professional and personal network through working with like-minded people.

Practical considerations

• Please also note that to become a Trustee, you will need to be aged 18 or over and a member of our branch for three months before you are eligible to be elected.
• Trustees are elected for a 12-month term each year.
• Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
• Trustees must sign a Trustee Declaration of Willingness to Act to clarify that they are not disqualified from being a trustee and read the Charity Commission’s guidance for individuals on who cannot be a trustee or senior manager of a charity.
• References will also be required.

We hope you are interested in volunteering for our branch!

Join us in making a real difference to the lives of animals in need.

Who they are

Citizens Advice Richmond is a local charity that has helped the people of Richmond since 1940. They offer generalist advice on any issue and specialist debt advice. Citizens Advice Richmond is a member of the national Citizens Advice service, a network of around 300 local advice centres.

The role What will you do?

● Complete an introduction for your role.

● Maintain an awareness of how the local Citizens Advice is operating.

● Read papers for board meetings and attend six board meetings per year.

● Work on specific projects with other trustees or staff within the local Citizens Advice to further the strategic objectives of the local Citizens Advice.

● Provide support and assistance to the Chair and the Chief Officer in carrying out their responsibilities, acting as a ‘critical friend’ and sounding board.

● Take on specific responsibilities delegated by the Chair, e.g., supporting new trustees with their induction.

● Carry out the Chair’s duties in their absence, with the acknowledgment of the board as being capable and suitable to do so.

● Be prepared to take over as Chair in the near future.

● Be open to approaches, where appropriate, from other trustees about the work or judgment of the Chair. The Vice Chair will then discuss any issues arising with the Chair or National Citizens Advice.

● Take an active role in discussions during board meetings and work with other trustees to:

● Set policy and strategy direction, set targets, and evaluate the performance of the local Citizens Advice.

● Seek the views of all sections of the community and monitor how well the service meets the needs of the local community.

● Ensure that the service plans for the recruitment and turnover of staff and volunteers.

● Review their own work and how effectively they operate, including action for improvement.

Become a Trustee at Sunrise Multicultural Project

Are you passionate about making a difference in your community?

We are looking for dedicated, enthusiastic individuals to join our Board of Trustees and help guide the future of Sunrise Multicultural Project.

As a trustee, you will play a vital role in shaping our strategy, ensuring we stay true to our mission, and supporting the development of initiatives that promote inclusivity and integration. We are seeking individuals with a range of skills, backgrounds, and experiences – whether in community work, finance, governance, fundraising, or marketing – who share our commitment to empowering minority groups and fostering a more connected, diverse community. 

If you are eager to contribute your time, expertise, and passion, we would love to hear from you!

Lead the Way: Become Our Volunteer Virtual Community Activities Coordinator at SUNSHINE!

Are you a tech-savvy community builder with a passion for connecting people online? SUNSHINE—a soon-to-be registered charity dedicated to combating loneliness and building stronger communities—is seeking a visionary Virtual Community Activities Coordinator to pioneer our digital engagement initiatives. In this role, you will work closely with our Founder and CEO to conceive, plan, and run interactive online events that spark genuine connections and brighten lives.

About SUNSHINE

At SUNSHINE, our mission is to illuminate lives by forging genuine connections and nurturing vibrant communities. As a grassroots initiative in its early days, we’re laying the groundwork to officially register as a charity. Our aim is to deliver moments of joy and fellowship through both face-to-face and digital platforms, ensuring that even those feeling isolated can experience belonging. Your expertise in curating engaging virtual events will be crucial in amplifying our impact and extending our reach.

Your Role as Virtual Community Activities Coordinator:

As our Volunteer Virtual Community Activities Coordinator, you will be the digital catalyst behind SUNSHINE’s online initiatives. Your mission is to design meaningful virtual events—from interactive meet-ups and creative workshops to conversational cafés—that bring isolated individuals together in the digital space.

Key Areas of Impact:

• Digital Engagement Strategy: Craft and implement a comprehensive plan to host regular at least monthly virtual events that resonate with diverse audiences, addressing themes such as creativity, storytelling, and community support.

• Online Event Planning & Execution: Organise and oversee the entire lifecycle of virtual activities—from conceptualisation and technical setup to facilitation and post-event evaluation—ensuring that every session offers value and connection.

• Volunteer Coordination & Mentoring: Recruit, train, and guide a team of digital volunteers who will assist with event moderation, technical support, and community engagement. Empower them with the tools and insights needed to foster a warm online environment.

• Resource & Technology Management: Leverage and manage digital platforms (like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or interactive web forums) to deliver seamless virtual experiences. Identify innovative tools and trends to elevate the quality of our online activities.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Constantly explore new formats—such as breakout sessions, digital creative workshops, or themed conversation circles—that enhance interactivity and keep our digital community vibrant and engaged.

What We’re Looking For

We’re searching for a proactive, forward-thinking leader who is enthusiastic about shaping digital connections. The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven Digital Engagement Experience: A background in organizing online events, community management, or digital content creation—experience in start-ups or non-profit environments is a plus.

• Creative & Strategic Thinking: The ability to design innovative virtual experiences that maintain engagement while addressing the challenges of digital isolation.

• Excellent Communication Skills: Clear, empathetic, and inspiring communication—both in writing and verbally—to ensure a smooth and inclusive virtual atmosphere.

• Tech-Savvy & Adaptive: Proficiency with current digital platforms and a willingness to experiment with emerging tools to enhance community participation.

• Passion for Community Impact: A genuine commitment to social change and the belief that digital initiatives can create real-world connections and drive transformative change.

Why Join SUNSHINE as Our Virtual Community Activities Coordinator?

Taking on the role of Volunteer Virtual Community Activities Coordinator is more than just managing digital events—it’s about helping shape a movement dedicated to inclusivity and well-being online. By joining our leadership team, you will:

• Shape Our Digital Future: Influence key decisions that build and strengthen our online community, ensuring that our digital initiatives are effective and accessible.

• Drive Innovation: Be at the forefront of pioneering creative virtual solutions that enhance engagement and extend our community’s reach.

• Grow Professionally: Expand your skills in digital community management and event facilitation while working in a collaborative, purpose-driven environment.

• Experience Deep Fulfillment: Enjoy the satisfaction of directly contributing to a cause that transforms lives and brings hope to those battling loneliness.

Ready to Connect the Digital World?

If you’re excited to craft and drive virtual initiatives that bring people together and use your digital leadership to combat loneliness, we want you on our team. Join SUNSHINE as our Volunteer Virtual Community Activities Coordinator and help us build a brighter, more connected future—one online event at a time.

Welcome to SUNSHINE—where every virtual connection lights up lives and communities.

Branch Trustees

RSPCA Stort Valley Branch – multiple opportunities

Help us make the world a better place for animals

RSPCA Branches rescue, rehabilitate and rehome those animals most at risk through clinics, animal centres, boarding and fostering facilities; offer advice and education on animal welfare; and support with microchipping, neutering and subsidised animal treatments for animals owned by people in financial difficulty.

Each RSPCA branch (of which there are approx. 150) is a separately registered charity, operating at a local level across England and Wales. Branches did 78% of the rehoming activity across the RSPCA network in 2020 and took more than 31,000 animals into their care. There are also over 300 RSPCA charity shops, all of which are run by RSPCA branches. The RSPCA has been at the forefront of animal welfare since 1824 when we were founded in a London coffee shop, and we’re proud to be the oldest animal welfare charity around.

What does RSPCA Stort Valley Branch do?

We cover an area either side of the M11 from Saffron Walden in the north to Harlow in the south and fundraise and offer welfare services within this area.

The animal welfare services that we offer are centred around our busy clinic in Harlow and include:

•  Subsidised routine veterinary treatment and microchipping for owned animals - in 2024, we made over 2,200 consultations at our Harlow clinic and administered more than 500 vaccinations and 250 microchips.
•  Advice and education
• Community outreach

We operate a charity shop in Bishops Stortford town centre, selling clothes, books, games and other items to help with our fundraising.

In addition to our Harlow clinic, we work closely with RSPCA animal centres and inspectors to support their work and to look after and re-home animals rescued in our branch area. We also support neighbouring branches by seeing some owned animals from their nearby towns at our clinic. We are working to improve our fostering network to help with rehoming, and are keen to step up our fundraising work to enable us to provide additional welfare support to the community.

What do RSPCA branch trustees do?

RSPCA branch trustees are volunteers who shape the work that the branch does, and are collectively responsible for governing and managing the affairs of the branch. “Trustees have overall control of a charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do.” “Trustees are the people who lead the charity and decide how it is run.” “They may be known by other titles, such as: directors, board members, governors, committee members” - Charity Commission. At Stort Valley, we have a lovely team of staff and volunteers with experienced, capable people managing our shop and clinic day-to-day. Trustees will set the strategy, make the big decisions and lead on new initiatives.

To find out more about being a Trustee, visit the Goverment Trustee - What's involved which explains what trustees do. There is some information on the RSPCA website about Branch Trustees, and we have an online session about becoming a Branch Trustee, which should hopefully give you more of an idea of what the RSPCA Branch Trustee role will involve.

Stort Valley Branch is presently in the process of converting to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (‘CIO’), the modern legal form for many charities - loosely equivalent to a Limited Company. We expect to complete the change in the second half of this year (2025).

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for applications from people from all social and cultural backgrounds, who are passionate about improving animal welfare. It doesn’t matter whether you are an experienced trustee or not, as trustee training and induction will be provided. If you can bring relevant skills and experience from other aspects of your life, that’s great, and we’re pretty sure you’ll learn some new ones here!

Right now, we would like to recruit several additional Trustees. We’ll define and re-balance the roles of all the Trustees once our new Trustees have settled in, so we’re not necessarily looking for you to select a specific role at this stage. The opportunities could include taking the lead on fundraising, overseeing our clinic or shop, increasing our local outreach and education activities, enhancing our online presence and recognition, and more. Ideally, for some of the roles, you’ll be relatively local to the branch area; others can be done remotely.

We hold monthly Trustees’ meetings, which last 1.5~2 hours. We ask for Trustees to join as many of these meetings as possible. You’ll also need to allow time to prepare for meetings - creating or reading through any relevant documents in advance – and of course, for the specific activities you take on. We normally meet in the evening, online (Google Meet), at times chosen to suit Trustees’ availability.

Trustees are elected or re-elected for a 12-month term at the branch’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). Between AGMs, branches have the ability to co-opt an additional three trustees who serve until the next AGM and can then be elected.

What’s in it for you?

There are lots of benefits to becoming an RSPCA Branch Trustee, including:

•  induction and trustee training
•  the chance to meet like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for animal welfare
•  the opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones
• the ability to use your skills to improve the wellbeing of animals in your local area, and make a real difference to the lives of animals
•  the capacity to shape innovative projects, and be part of the RSPCA’s ten-year strategy - “Together for animal welfare”
•  access to our learning hub, which contains training materials and courses on a variety of subjects
•  the chance to shape the services in your local area
•  volunteering is good for your wellbeing.

Join us in making a real difference to the lives of animals in need.

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependent on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.