Volunteering projects volunteer volunteer roles in gravesend, kent

Could you help shape Mind in Kingston’s future and support more people with mental health needs?

We’re a passionate, independent local charity working across the Royal Borough of Kingston, affiliated with national Mind. Our vision? A world where everyone experiencing a mental health problem receives the support and respect they deserve — and we won’t stop until that happens.

We’re now looking for new Trustees to help lead us forward. We’re looking for people who can:

•  Think strategically and creatively
•  Lead the organisation towards fully achieving its commitment and ambition
•  Scrutinise the impact we’re having
•  Communicate clearly and sensitively in large group discussions
•  Use independent judgement to make decisions on behalf of the organisation
•  Be committed to our mission, vision and values.

Role Highlights:

•  Time Commitment: 4–8 hours per month (meetings held online)
•  Voluntary role with expenses paid
•  Trustees receive: Induction, training, expenses, and skill-building opportunities.

How to Apply:

To find out more about both roles and how to apply, please visit our website:
Mind in Kingston – Current Volunteer Opportunities

Many older people in our communities face significant challenges - from loneliness, isolation, and frailty to financial hardship and managing lifechanging conditions like Dementia. The work we do is vital in ensuring they have access to the support and care they deserve.

Our team is deeply passionate about this mission. Many of us have personal experience supporting older relatives through similar challenges, and these lived experiences fuel our commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate services.

Following our successful merger in August 2023, our organisation is now moving forward with greater ambition and a renewed focus on expanding our reach. As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in shaping that future - helping us to serve more people, strengthen our services, and advocate for the needs of older people across Maidstone, Sevenoaks, and Tonbridge. 

We are looking for people from a financial background to help with oversight of our budgeting, planning, forecasting, investments, governance, reporting and financial decision-making. This is a great opportunity to work closely with organisational leaders to ensure every penny makes a difference.

We believe in the power of holidays to transform lives. Time away matters. For many families facing tough times -whether through financial hardship, illness or other challenges - a short break can feel out of reach. Yet, these moments of escape and connection are vital for well-being, resilience, and hope.

Our mission is simple but powerful: to provide families who wouldn’t otherwise get a break with the chance to spend quality time together, make memories, and return home stronger. 

As a Trustee, you will play a crucial role in shaping our future. You’ll help guide our strategy, ensure we remain true to our values, and support us in reaching even more families who need our help. Your expertise, insight, and passion can help us grow and innovate, so that no family is left behind when it comes to the simple joy of time away together.

About our Trustee Team

Our Trustees are a team of volunteers who use their diverse skills, experiences, and perspectives to set the strategic direction of the charity and make sure it’s doing what it was set up to do in the best possible way.

Family Holiday Charity has an ambitious strategy over the next few years, which will see us expand our services to families, develop our influencing work within the travel and leisure industry and government, and evolve our ways of working so that we can accept and use gifted breaks, travel and other services at scale to give families who really need it a holiday.

To help us do all that we’ll need the guidance, challenge, connections, and support of all our Trustees.
Given our goals, we’re particularly looking to add the following professional skills and experiences to our team.

• Legal Expertise - Our Trustees have a duty to ensure the charity operates within the law and complies with regulatory responsibilities, including charity law, safeguarding and governance requirements. This may involve providing advice on legal risks and obligations, ensuring compliance with articles of association and relevant legislation, supporting decisions on contracts, partnerships, risk management and more.
• Family Charity leadership - the Charity's vision if that 'every family in the UK should have a holiday' and this bold statement reflects our belief that time away together is not a luxury but a lifeline. We're seeking experience from a family support base to help advocate for our beneficiaries needs and help us expand our reach.
• Influencing / Campaigning - We are seeking experience and ambition that will help us influence policy and industry practices through the development of relatinships with policymakers, travel and tourism industry and media etc. Also shape campaigns, raise awareness, drive systemic change and support advocacy strategies to remove barriers for families. 
• Digital Transformation - We wish to evolve and develop our digital strategy and technology adoption. A key priority is to ensure our digital growth is considered and aligns with accessibility and security.

Your Skills and Contribution

You'll need: 

• Strategic vision, independent judgement, and an ability to think creatively.
• A proactive attitude, willing to bring new ideas and perspectives to our Board, and confident about challenging decisions, where necessary, in the best interests of the charity.
• Willingness to understand and take on the duties and responsibilities of trusteeship.
• Commitment to the charity and our mission, and the ability to devote the necessary time and effort to do the role well.

The Commitment 

We’ll ask you to participate in four two-hour Board Meetings per year, typically in person at our office in London or remotely.We also get together for a Strategy Day in September/October, which is held on a weekday in London, and you’d need to attend that in person.

We can support with any access needs for in-person meetings.,

There are two Board sub-committees- one which focuses on our Finances and Risk, and one which considers our people (Trustees and Staff). Once you’ve settled into the role, most Trustees join one of them. They meet remotely around four  times a year.

Outside of formal meetings, you’ll be warmly encouraged to get to know the staff team, and attend fundraising events 
or other events to meet referrers, families, and supporters wherever possible.

Overall, you’ll need to be able to commit around 6 hours each month for a mix of meetings and events, contributing
your skills and perspective to projects, building your knowledge of the charity and developing as a Trustee.

See the trustee pack for more information and for the application and interview process - click apply to see this. Please note the deadline has been extended to midnight on Sunday 4th January 2026 to ensure the professionals skills and areas of experience (as listed above) are captured.

The Jawbone Collective seeks a Volunteer Bookkeeping / Financial Recordkeeping support person to join our thriving arts organisation. As we continue to expand activities and our reach across the Southwest of England, we need someone with financial expertise to help strengthen our operational foundation.

You will work remotely alongside our dedicated management team to develop robust financial processes that will support our journey toward becoming a self-sustaining arts organisation. Your expertise will be instrumental in supporting us in managing our diverse revenue streams, including workshop fees, journal and poetry publications, grants (hopefully we get some soon) and event income.

As part of our inclusive creative community, you'll contribute to an organisation that champions diverse voices, including neurodivergent, disabled, LGBTQIA+ and working-class writers. While a love for literature isn't required, you'll be supporting a mission that makes literary opportunities accessible to all through affordable programs and free submission opportunities.

Role Description

• Initially organising a transition to accounting software
• Train team members in maintain financial records and bookkeeping
• Assist with financial reporting and planning
• Support budget management for our various programmes and publications
• Help track expenses related to workshops, events, and publishing activities
• Contribute to funding applications and financial governance

What We're Looking For

• Experience in financial management and
• Governance required for a CIC (desirable, or be willing to learn) 
• An ability to train team members in necessary software for bookkeeping
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability to work with our creative community-focused team
• Understanding of arts organisation operations (desirable)

About Us

The Jawbone Collective is a dynamic arts organisation dedicated to nurturing creative voices across the Wessex Region. Founded in 2022, we've evolved from our initial mission of publishing the poetry collections of under represented groups to becoming a comprehensive creative hub offering multiple platforms for artistic expression. Our initiatives include the upcoming Jawbone Journal - May 2025; developing a Substack community, Jawbone Radio for spoken word performances; plus workshops - in person and online; and mentoring programs. Based in Dorset, we've established strong creative communities in Dorchester and Bridport as well as attracting attendees to real world activities coming from Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire and Somerset, whilst also maintaining an active online presence attracting people from the UK and across the world.

At our core, we're driven by a commitment to diversity and accessibility in the arts. Our community of 15 core creative members represents a rich tapestry of voices, including creatives from neurodivergent, disabled, LGBTQIA+, female and  working class creators from various age groups and backgrounds. We are actively challenging publishing industry 'norms' by offering affordable and free submission opportunities. We are bridging the gap between performance and page poetry, and creating inclusive spaces where every creative voice can flourish. Through our various platforms and initiatives, we're building a supportive environment where artists can develop their craft, share their work, and connect with a broader creative community.

Working remotely however we would love to meet up with you from time to time.

You are most welcome to attend any of our events and workshops at no cost to yourself.

Amount of hours approx 8 - 16 hours a month depending on projects.

We are looking for a finance professional to join our engaged and friendly board as Treasurer, with specific oversight of the charity’s financial management. While day-to-day financial administration is carried out by employees or external providers, the Treasurer works closely with them and the Board to ensure sound financial governance. The Treasurer provides financial leadership, helps trustees understand the organisation’s finances, and ensures that the charity meets its financial and statutory obligations.

You will have a qualification in Financial Management, Accounting, or Audit, and a strong understanding of financial management in the voluntary or business sectors. Previous charity experience is not necessary, but a willingness to undertake training is essential (usually one day).

You will have the ability to communicate financial information clearly to those without financial expertise and be a strategic thinker, with the ability to balance financial scrutiny with broader trustee responsibilities.

Our board meet once a month (either virtually or in person in London) for around 90 minutes. We aim to have strategy days twice a year. You will meet with the CEO and Finance Manager once a month, and be available for ad hoc emails, advice. Trustees are usually appointed for a three-year term, which can usually be extended. 

We will provide access to training (typically one day) if you do not have direct experience in charity finance.

You will also bring a commitment to the values, aims, and objectives of the charity, and a desire to help children and young people who have experienced grief.

Could you be our new Chair?  

Our fantastic Chair’s tenure will be coming to an end in 2026, so we are looking to appoint her successor to help Student Minds improve university communities so that every student gets the mental health support they need to reach their goals.

At Student Minds, we’re working to improve university communities so that no student is held back by their mental health. So it should come as no surprise that we are keen to reflect the communities we serve, maintain a diverse board and ensure student voices are represented. This is key to our mission and our continued impact. 

We are open-minded about the professional background of this individual and are mostly looking for someone with experience of leading effective, inclusive teams, of chairing complex organisations or meetings, and in building influential cross-sector partnerships.

Key responsibilities

Student Minds Chair is expected to commit to the following: 

• Preparation and attendance at four board meetings a year. Board meetings are held online and take place on weekdays from 5 - 7.30 pm. 

• Preparation and attendance at two in-person board away days each year, usually from 12.30 - 5 pm. These usually take place in Leeds and include a lunchtime or evening social.

• Monthly supervision calls with the Chief Executive

• Annual in-person appraisal of the Chief Executive 

• Support with board appraisals and recruitment 

• Ad-hoc meetings and conversations with the senior leadership team as required. This usually constitutes approximately a further five working days a year.

• Attendance at relevant task-group meetings and/or committees.

So, if you want to help shape the future of student mental health, download our recruitment pack to find out more!

How to apply?

1. For more information about the role responsibilities please download our recruitment pack that is linked

2. Download and complete our application form which is available via the link

3. Complete the Equality Monitoring Form. 

Application process

• Application closing deadline: Monday the 5th January at 11.59 pm - make sure you send your completed application form by this date

• Interviews: 27th January, with our Chair, Trustee and CEO

• Appointment: subject to approval by the Student Minds Board

Could you be one of our new trustees?

We currently have space on our Board for up to eight new Trustees who want to work with us to help improve university communities so that every student gets the mental health support they need to reach their goals.

At Student Minds, we’re working to improve university communities so that no student is held back by their mental health. So it should come as no surprise that we are keen to reflect the communities we serve, maintain a diverse board and ensure student voices are represented. This is key to our mission and our continued impact. 

You may be thinking that you don't have the experience because you haven't been a trustee before, or because charity governance isn't your field. Think again!

Here's what you DO NEED need: 

• Commitment to our vision - a world where no student is held back by their mental health

• Experience in 1 or 2 of the following areas: 

  • Current higher education students

  • Professional higher education sector expertise

  • Legal expertise 

  • Fundraising and income generation expertise

  • Equity, diversity, inclusion, belonging, intersectionality and anti racism expertise

  • AI and technology expertise 

  • Campaigning, advocacy, community organising and/or public affairs expertise 

  • Marketing and brand awareness expertise 

  • People and culture, HR, organisational development or leadership development expertise 

And what you DON'T need:

• Previous experience of trusteeship

• Experience in charity law or working with a charity

Both experienced and aspiring trustees have much to bring to our table: we are looking for fresh perspectives and seasoned knowledge alike.

Key responsibilities

Student Minds Trustees are expected to commit to the following: 

• Preparation and attendance at four board meetings a year. Board meetings are held online and take place on weekdays from 5 - 7.30 pm. 

• Preparation and attendance at two board away days each year, usually from 12.30 - 5 pm. Board away days are in person and usually take place in Leeds. Travel expenses can be claimed.

• Ad-hoc meetings and conversations with the senior management team as required. This usually constitutes approximately a further five working days a year.

If appointed, you will receive the training and onboarding you need to be a confident, contributing member of the board. We are also able to provide you with a board buddy to support you in your first few months. 

So, if you want to help shape the future of student mental health, download our recruitment pack to find out more!

How to apply?

1. For more information about the role responsibilities please follow the link

2. Download and complete our application form, which is available on the link

3. Complete the Equality Monitoring Form. 

Application process

• Application closing deadline: Monday the 5th January at 11.59 pm - make sure you send your completed application form by this date

• Interviews: 29th or 30th January (general Trustees) or 5th February (Student Trustees) with a Trustee and CEO

• Appointment: subject to approval by the Student Minds Board.