Youth activity volunteer roles in epping forest, essex

Public Relation/Marketing Trustee- Join Us in Transforming Children’s Lives!

At School-Home Support, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to be in school and ready to learn – no matter the obstacles they face. Our mission is simple yet ambitious: to ensure that every child is in school, every day, by 2050. We are looking for a passionate individual with PR/Marketing knowledge to help us make this vision a reality and have a lasting impact on children and families across the country. 

We’re seeking an individual who shares our passion for improving children’s lives. If you have experience as a trustee and are ready to take the next step in your governance journey, we would love to hear from you. 

Who We're Looking For:

We are looking to recruit a PR/Marketing Trustee who is passionate about the work of School-Home Support and brings energy, commitment and leadership combined with a willingness to advocate for the work we do and the cause we serve. 

As a PR/Marketing Trustee, You Will: 

• Contribute to setting goals, targets, and overall policy for the organisation

• Share your expertise and networks to support the development and growth of the charity. 

• Help ensure compliance with our legal obligations and the organisation’s core purpose. 

• Provide oversight of the budget to guarantee School-Home Support’s financial sustainability. 

• Support the Safeguarding Lead to ensure measures are in place for safeguarding for the children and families we support and the staff team

• Act as a champion and ambassador for School-Home Support, enhancing our reputation, representing us at key events, and supporting fundraising efforts. 

What We Offer: 

• Impactful Role: By joining our Board of Trustees, you will play a key role in shaping our national impact and supporting our mission to transform the lives of children in need. 

• Training & Development: You will receive tailored training specific to your role and access to additional learning opportunities through our staff-led EDI networks. 

• Networking Opportunities: You’ll have the chance to expand your professional network and make valuable connections within the education and charity sectors.

• Support Throughout Your Journey: We will buddy you with a more experienced trustee or corporate volunteer to ensure you feel supported and confident throughout your time with us.

Expectations:

• Commitment: A commitment of three years to this voluntary role

• Meetings: Attend four half-day board meetings and one AGM each year, which are typically held in Stratford, London, or remotely. 

• Sub-Committees: Participate in one of our sub-committees to help guide specific areas of our work. 

• External Events: Attend 2-3 fundraising events each year (usually evenings) and make at least one school visit annually. 

• Inclusion & Diversity: A strong commitment to inclusion, equal opportunities, and the promotion of diversity in all aspects of your work.  

If you’re ready to make a difference and contribute to creating brighter futures for children and their families, we want to hear from you! 

To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please review the Trustee Pack and submit your application today!

borGO

borGO is a platform that promotes the authentic villages of Abruzzo through sustainable experiences, local culture, and community engagement.

borGO tackles the social and environmental problems facing small villages in Abruzzo, such as depopulation, loss of local culture, and lack of job opportunities. Many young people leave these areas, and traditional knowledge and ways of living risk disappearing. At the same time, mass tourism often damages the environment and doesn’t benefit local communities. borGO offers a different approach by promoting slow and sustainable tourism, supporting local businesses, and helping people discover the unique culture, nature, and stories of these villages.

borGO is a digital platform that connects travelers, volunteers, and locals to create authentic, sustainable experiences in the villages of Abruzzo. It offers curated activities—like local workshops, cultural events, and eco-tourism—that support small businesses, preserve traditions, and involve the community directly. By combining storytelling, design, and technology, borGO makes it easy to discover hidden places while generating real social and environmental impact for the people who live there.

By joining borGO as a volunteer, you’ll engage directly with one of the most pressing challenges facing small communities in Italy today: isolation, depopulation, and the loss of cultural identity.

Through your contribution, you’ll not only help us bring new life to these villages—you’ll also have the chance to develop your skills, apply your knowledge in a real-world setting, and be part of something meaningful.

borGO invites you to bring the world to places that have long been forgotten by it. Your ideas, creativity, and time can open doors, create connections, and make a real difference, just by choosing to volunteer with us.

Business Strategy & Development Volunteer

Volunteer Role Description (remote, unpaid)

What You’ll Do

We’re looking for a motivated and strategic-minded Business Strategy & Development Volunteer to help us shape the future of borGO. You’ll support us in defining and refining our business model, identifying growth opportunities (especially in B2B and B2C contexts), and improving how we present our value proposition. From analyzing the market to structuring our offers and pricing, your insights will help us build a more solid, scalable, and impactful social startup.

About borGO

borGO is a new social impact startup based in Italy with a clear purpose: to bring life back into small villages through community-based tourism, cultural heritage, and local empowerment. We’re creating a platform that connects people—travelers, locals, and volunteers—and we’re doing it from scratch, with passion and care. If you’re excited by the idea of using business as a tool for social and environmental change, this is the place for you.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience with market research and business model development
• Ability to support the definition of value propositions and impact narratives
• Confidence working on growth strategies, especially in B2B, B2C and public sector settings
• Ability to help structure offers and pricing models for different audiences
• Good written and spoken English; knowledge of Italian is a plus Strong analytical mindset, problem-solving skills, and a proactive attitude

Nice to Have

-Familiarity with the world of startups, social enterprises, or tourism -Interest in place-making, local development, or sustainability

• Desire to work closely with a small team and contribute to long-term impact
• A chance to shape the foundations of a growing project, with full creative input

Weekly Time Commitment

4-6 hours per week

Duration of Volunteer Role (remote)

1-2 months

AHO Head of Fundraising (unpaid, Volunteer role)

Responsibilities and Duties

The Volunteer Head of Fundraising assists the Director of Fundraising in developing and implementing a comprehensive multi-year funding strategy that encompasses diverse income streams, working collaboratively with senior leadership to coordinate efforts and maintain an up-to-date funding pipeline. 

The Volunteer Grants Head assists the Director of Fundraising to:

• Develop and drive a multi-year fundraising strategy to support the organisation's growth ambitions.  To include a mix of both existing and new income streams and the resources needed to reach the goals.
• Work with the CEO, Director of Fundraising, and Grant Managers to implement the strategy in a coordinated and effective way.
• Create and maintain the fundraising pipeline, keeping it up to date in the CRM, in collaboration with other Volunteers and staff members.
• Lead on fortnightly Business Development meetings to keep everyone aligned and updated.
• Lead the development of new income streams, including government procurement opportunities and individual donations.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure alignment between income generation and programme delivery.
• Work closely with the Board of Directors to establish and leverage networks and opportunities.

Essential Skills, knowledge, and behaviours:

• Proven track record of developing and delivering successful fundraising strategies at a senior level.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding income targets across multiple income streams.
• Experience managing multiple income streams, including statutory income, individual, corporate, and grant fundraising
• Strong leadership and people management skills with experience developing high-performing teams
• Excellent relationship-building skills with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders
• Financial acumen, including budgeting, reporting, and performance analysis
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including bid writing and donor presentations
• Strategic thinker with a proactive, innovative, and resilient approach
• Knowledge of fundraising regulation, GDPR, and best practice in supporter stewardship

Please note that this is an unpaid role. Don't apply if you plan to negotiate a pay or deal.  Volunteering allows people to give their time for free to society while gaining the experience they need when applying for future paid jobs.

For the full role description and other volunteer opportunities, please visit our website.

How to apply

Please apply by submitting your CV and cover letter using the Charity Job system.  If you use any method other than the one specified, we will not review your application.

Main purpose of role:

To support the Fundraising Manager with all aspects of fundraising, with a particular focus on donor stewardship, and small grants/trusts/community fundraising.

The role will be hands on and has the potential for you to learn and develop a variety of fundraising skills.

Responsibilities and key tasks:

• To research and draft applications to small grants and trust.

• Proactively use the fundraising database to develop and manage supporters and ensure all activities are recorded accurately and in line with GDPR

• To assist the Fundraising Manager/Treasurer with the reconciliation of our income and financial processes.

• To assist the Fundraising Manager with the planning and collation of the annual and biannual major funders monitoring reports requests.

• General fundraising/administration duties, as and when required

• This role is expected to meet the minimum financial target per year.

Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

Essential

Excellent written and oral communication skills.  Ability to work independently and a strong team player. Strong relationship building and interpersonal skills and the ability to deal with a diverse range of people. Ability to deal with information in a confidential manner. Highly organised with ability to prioritise a varied and demanding workload. Confident IT skills including Microsoft Office. Desirable. Project management skills. Experience working in a voluntary sector preferrable but not essential.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a charity at the very start and to make a difference in shaping how we move forward.

Living Reasons – What we are planning, who we are and where we are now:

What is the plan?

The person who is starting the charity up is autistic, has ADHD, CPTSD and also multiple physical conditions that effect daily life and is part of the LGBTQ+ community and has faced a lot of issues in life because of these things.

Living Reasons is being created to fix what we think is a challenging situation that is getting harder to achieve every week, month and year in the current economic, political, environmental and societal landscape. It is not easily defined but we hope the charity objects below will help put context to what we want to achieve, what we can say is that below are the issues we are trying to address, how we do this will change as quickly as society does, but the issues we want to tackle are these:

1) Outdated and damaging employment practices

2) Accessibility to services

3) Limited employment, training and education opportunities

4) Lack of support during times of crisis or need

5) Lack of equity and agency for many people in society

6) Institutional discrimination that is not challenged

7) Abuse of the legal system at all levels

8) Abuse of power in government bodies

9) Poor access to healthcare

10)  Unequal treatment of many people in society by large corporations

11)  Assumptions made by wider society based on incorrect, outdated or discriminatory rhetoric that is used in daily life

12)  Outdated company engagement with the public

13)  Lack of support that is not talked about and not being addressed

Who are we?

Well, it is a small operation at this point, there are three people that are working to set up the charity, but we are all neurodivergent and have disabling aspects to our lives and experienced lack of opportunity or presumed ideas based on others perception of us. We are just people who care in reality and want to make a true change in society for everyone we work with.

Where are we now?

We are ready to become a CIO; we want to go straight to a fully incorporated charity so that we are able gain the most support as possible and open up opportunities for growth from day one as well as ensure people know they can trust us.

We need 3 trustees to start and understandably, two of us don’t want to be trustees due to personal reasons, so we need at least another two, maybe more, trustees to start up. That is hopefully where you come in!

We have our governing document, and we are still completing the further documents we want to launch with. We hope that new trustees will add to the plan and bring fresh ways of us working and how communicate the message of the charity.

The charity objects

· To promote social inclusion for the public benefit by preventing people from becoming socially excluded, relieving the needs of those people who are socially excluded and assisting them to integrate into society.

For the purpose of this clause ‘socially excluded’ means being excluded from society, or parts of society, as a result of one or more of the following factors: unemployment; financial hardship; youth or old age; ill health (physical or mental); substance abuse or dependency including alcohol and drugs; discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability, ethnic origin, religion, belief, creed, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment; poor educational or skills attainment; relationship and family breakdown; poor housing (that is housing that does not meet basic habitable standards; crime (either as a victim of crime or as an offender rehabilitating into society).

· The relief of financial hardship, either generally or individually, of people living in England and Wales by making grants of money for providing or paying for items, services or facilities

· The promotion of equality and diversity for the public benefit by conducting or commissioning research on equality and diversity issues and publishing the results to the public; advancing education and raising awareness in equality and diversity and promoting activities to foster understanding between people from diverse backgrounds.

Our Living Values -

Creativity

1) Imaginative Development (Individual)

2) Instilled Collaboration (Internal)

3) Changing The Status Quo (External)

Prospectivity

1) What Can You Do (Individual)

2) What Can We Do (Internal)

3) What Can They Do (External)

Revolutionary 

1) Inspire With Confidence (Individual)

2) Boundaryless Innovation (Internal)

3) Challenge Traditions (External)

Attentivity

1) Analyse and Redesign (Individual)

2) Rebel and Reform (Internal)

3) Enquire and Reimagine (External)

So, who are we looking for?

The answer to this is complex. What we are looking for in a trustee is someone who is passionate about creating equity for everyone while sustaining equality, someone that has lived experiences that would mean they can relate to the objects of the charity, whether that be personally, as a support for someone that does or has struggled to be given equity in society or someone that works or has worked in an industry that has played a part in restricting others in society and want that to make real change.

We think this covers a large number of people.

The role of trustee in Living Reasons will always be a remote role, meetings will be held online as standard as we would like to have trustees that are from all areas of the UK and that anyone can be a trustee, regardless of any accessibility requirements.

Additionally, to the personal experiences, the below are also necessary for all trustees of all charities:

1) Must not have an unspent conviction

2) Must not be barred from working with children or vulnerable adults

3) Must not be in undischarged bankruptcy, or other debt management programme

4) Must not be barred from being a trustee or company director

The requirements of skills and understanding of the undertaking of trusteeship with Living Reasons:

1) Being a trustee comes with requirements and responsibilities in terms of acting in the best interest of the charity at all times in line with the law and the charity’s governing document, which will be supplied to all trustees before agreeing to be a trustee and will be discussed with any person selected to be a trustee before they agree to be a trustee.

2) An understanding of financial information is required, this is to ensure that financial reports are assessed correctly and that any anomalies are highlighted, this does not mean you need to have in depth accounting or finance experience by any means, but it is important that you are able to analyse financial reports and risk as they arise.

3) Specific to Living Reasons, you will need to be someone that thinks creatively and is not scared of challenging traditions and pre-existing ideas and open to hear from a wide audience to make informed but innovative changes that are sustainable, realistic but also dynamic and challenging the current societal norms.

Work Type: Hybrid
Location: Remote & In-Person (London-based office)
Role Type: Voluntary (Unpaid, with expenses covered)
Status: Actively Interviewing

Time Commitment & Work Schedule:

• First Month:

  • 16 hours total (4 hours per week on Tuesdays)

  • Office-based every Tuesday from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM to shadow the current Project Manager (Michelle)

• Ongoing (After Month 1):

  • 2–3 hours per week on Tuesdays (remote/office-based as needed)

  • Attendance at weekly Jumping Beans team meetings every Tuesday from 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (online)

• Additional Requirements:

  • Required to be in the office at least two weeks before each school holiday period for planning and final confirmations

  • Must attend at least 2–3 Jumping Beans sessions per term

About the Role:

Are you an organised and proactive individual passionate about community-led programmes that support children and families? We are looking for a dedicated Volunteer Project Manager to oversee and lead our Jumping Beans Team—a vibrant, child-focused initiative offering enriching experiences for local families.

Key Responsibilities:

General Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Jumping Beans Team to ensure project success

• Coordinate and chair weekly Tuesday evening meetings

• Track team tasks, monitor progress, and ensure timely delivery

• Report regularly to the leadership team

• Collaborate across departments to align project goals and resource needs

On-Site Responsibilities During Jumping Beans Sessions:

1. Staff & Volunteer Coordination

• Brief staff and volunteers on the day’s plan and their roles

• Ensure child-to-staff ratios are maintained

• Manage volunteer and staff attendance

• Act as the main point of contact for staff and volunteer concerns

2. Activity Oversight

• Ensure activities run on schedule and engage children effectively

• Troubleshoot or adapt plans as needed

• Confirm all materials and equipment are prepared

3. Child Safety & Welfare

• Oversee child sign-in/sign-out

• Monitor for safeguarding issues and respond appropriately

• Manage minor incidents and maintain accurate records

• Ensure the venue is safe, clean, and child-friendly

4. Communication

• Welcome and update parents, address any concerns

• Serve as liaison between staff, children, parents, and visitors

• Escalate significant issues to senior leadership

5. Logistics & Administration

• Manage session supplies and resources

• Track attendance, consent forms, and incident logs

• Ensure awareness of allergies and special requirements

• Uphold all safeguarding, emergency, and first aid policies

6. Evaluation & Reporting

• Take note of successes and areas for improvement

• Gather informal feedback from children, parents, and staff

• Report session outcomes to leadership

Qualifications & Experience:

• Previous experience in project management or team leadership (paid or voluntary)

• Excellent organisational, communication, and time management skills

• Creative thinker with strong problem-solving abilities

• Experience working with or supporting children or families is a plus

Benefits & Impact:

• Help bring joy, structure, and support to children and families

• Gain valuable experience in project and team management

• Be part of a passionate, values-driven team

• Expand your network through connections with community leaders

• Personal and professional growth through hands-on leadership

Apply Now
Make a real impact in your community and develop leadership skills that last a lifetime.

Community researchers wanted to help East London Waterworks Park ensure our community-owned park is inclusive and welcoming for all.

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for community researchers specialised to contribute to our community-led working circle who are working on on a listening project to ensure often underrepresented voices in conservation and environmental projects are heard and centred. 

There is opportunity to lead on projects and facilitate the direction of the working circle.

The Inclusivity Circle currently meets monthly on a Wednesday evening on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

While your experienced research skills are crucial, we also value your ability to engage with the community and build partnerships. Experience in conducting community-based research or working with community organisations is important. A strong understanding of community dynamics and the ability to collaborate effectively will be invaluable in ensuring your research findings are relevant and impactful. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role. 

Contribute to the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. Your research expertise will be vital in shaping our new biodiverse park. By conducting listening research on community needs, and potential park uses, you'll help us create a sustainable and inclusive space. Your findings will inform our design, programming, and outreach efforts, ensuring the park meets the needs of our community and contributes to biodiversity conservation.

Join us and help lead change for anyone affected by ME.

Can you help us deliver our mission to improve the lives of all people affected by ME by becoming a new Trustee on our Board?

With the recent launch of the UK Government Delivery Plan for ME/CFS, and some critical research partnerships on the horizon, now is an exciting time to join us and play a pivotal role in our work to secure a better future for people with ME.

As a Trustee, you will have a vital role within Action for ME, establishing a clear and shared vision, setting policies and acting in the best interests of Action for ME and people with ME. We are particularly looking for people who bring: Scientific and/or research expertise; healthcare and/or information, support and advocacy experience; Policy experience at local or national level; Communications and/or marketing expertise.

If you have experience in any of these areas and share our ambition for a better future for people with ME, we want to hear from you.

Trustee - Role Description

Duties of a Trustee are as follows:

• To ensure that Action for ME complies with its Memorandum and Articles of Association,charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• To ensure that Action for ME pursues its charitable objects as defined in its Memorandum of Association
• To ensure Action for ME applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objectives
• To contribute actively to the Board of Trustees role in establishing a clear and sharedvision for Action for ME, giving firm strategic direction, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets and evaluating performance against the agreed targets
• To act in the interests of Action for ME and for people with ME in general
• To safeguard the good name and values of Action for METo ensure the effective and efficient administration of Action for ME
• To ensure the financial stability of Action for ME
• To protect and manage the property of Action for ME and to ensure the proper investment of charity funds
• To appoint the Chief Executive and to monitor his or her performance and determine his or her remuneration.
• In addition to the above statutory duties of all Trustees, each Trustee should use any specific knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions
• To represent Action for ME as appropriate.

Time Commitment:
The time commitment expected of a Trustee is approximately six days per annum, including an AGM, preparing for and attending Board meetings, and involvement in at least one of the sub-committees: Audit, Finance & Fundraising; Public Affairs & Communications; Research; Healthcare Services; or Remunerations & Nominations.

We hold an away day once every two years. Additional time may be required dependent on circumstances/needs. You will receive a full induction and support upon appointment.

We do ask that Trustees make a commitment to at least one, three-year term of office.

Trustee - Person Specification

All Trustees must demonstrate:

• A commitment to the organisation, its cause and demonstrate an understanding of MEand its impact
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort Strategic vision Good, independent judgment
• An ability to think creatively
• A willingness to speak their mind
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• A willingness to participate in at least one sub-committee, as appropriate
• A commitment to working within Action for ME’s values and principles of working,including Nolan’s ‘Seven Principles of Public Life’:

             a. Selflessness
             b. Integrity
             c. Objectivity
             d. Accountability
             e. Openness
             f. Honesty
             g. Leadership.

• Be willing to sign relevant statutory and other forms (eg for opening bank accounts).

Specific requirements:

While we are open to applications from people who meet the person specification, we regularly review the skills and backgrounds of our Board members and are specifically looking for people who bring:

• Scientific and/or research expertise
• Policy experience at local or national level
• Communications and/or marketing expertise.

How to Apply

If you are interested in becoming a Trustee, please submit:

• Your CV, including all employment/voluntary roles since you left full-time education ensuring any gaps or time out is accounted for and
• A completed ‘Equal opportunities monitoring and information form’ (provided separately)
• A covering letter outlining why you would like to become a Trustee and how you meet the person specification outlined above, including how you meet the specific requirements we are currently looking for.

Please also indicate any reasonable adjustments that you may require to enableus to provide a good recruitment process with you.

You will be informed of the outcome of your application and any potential interviewdates with the Chair, the Chief Executive and another Trustee. We will be invitingpeople for interviews as applications come in and will close recruitment when we fillthe current vacancies.

Equity of access

We strive to ensure equity which includes being as accessible as possible to attract Board members with a diverse range of experience and insight. If you don’t meet the person specification fully, please do consider contacting us for a discussion as youmay be our ideal candidate!

We will consider all requests for reasonable adjustments within the parameters ofensuring Trustees are able to enact their legal responsibilities and accountabilities.

Home-Start Suffolk is seeking an exceptional individual to join our Board of Trustees as Vice Chair.
This is a unique opportunity to play a key leadership role in a well-established and growing charity that
supports families across Suffolk. As Vice Chair, you will work closely with the Chair, CEO and wider Board to
help shape our strategic direction, support strong governance and ensure we continue to meet the needs of
families in our communities.

We are specifically looking for someone with charity governance experience. You will bring a solid
understanding of how effective boards operate and feel confident supporting other trustees, offering
constructive challenge and helping to ensure the charity meets its legal and strategic responsibilities.
This Vice Chair role is part of our wider trustee recruitment and we welcome applicants who bring any of the
following:

• Experience or knowledge of the local charity or voluntary sector
• Understanding of family support or volunteer management
• Strong networks and connections within local businesses
• Previous involvement with Home-Start Suffolk as a volunteer or someone who has received support
• A passion for making a difference in your community

Interested?
We would love to hear from you. more information and a candidate pack can be found on our website.

Closing date: This is an open and rolling recruitment
Interviews: Held as applications are received
 

HR Trustee - Join Us in Transforming Children’s Lives!

At School-Home Support, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to be in school and ready to learn – no matter the obstacles they face. Our mission is simple yet ambitious: to ensure that every child is in school, every day, by 2050. We are looking for a passionate and experienced HR Trustee to help us make this vision a reality and have a lasting impact on children and families across the country. 

We’re seeking an individual who shares our passion for improving children’s lives. If you have experience as a trustee and are ready to take the next step in your governance journey, we would love to hear from you. 

Who We're Looking For:

We are looking to recruit a HR Trustee who is passionate about the work of School-Home Support and brings energy, commitment and leadership combined with a willingness to advocate for the work we do and the cause we serve.

As a HR Trustee, You Will: 

• Contribute to setting goals, targets, and overall policy for the organisation

• Share your expertise and networks to support the development and growth of the charity. 

• Help ensure compliance with our legal obligations and the organisation’s core purpose. 

• Provide oversight of the budget to guarantee School-Home Support’s financial sustainability. 

• Ensure measures are in place for safeguarding for the children and families we support and the staff team

• Act as a champion and ambassador for School-Home Support, enhancing our reputation, representing us at key events, and supporting fundraising efforts.

What We Offer: 

• Impactful Role: By joining our Board of Trustees, you will play a key role in shaping our national impact and supporting our mission to transform the lives of children in need. 

• Training & Development: You will receive tailored training specific to your role and access to additional learning opportunities through our staff-led EDI networks. 

• Networking Opportunities: You’ll have the chance to expand your professional network and make valuable connections within the education and charity sectors.

• Support Throughout Your Journey: We will buddy you with a more experienced trustee or corporate volunteer to ensure you feel supported and confident throughout your time with us.

Expectations: 

• Commitment: A commitment of three years to this voluntary role

• Meetings: Attend four half-day board meetings and one AGM each year, which are typically held in Stratford, London, or remotely. 

• Sub-Committees: Participate in one of our sub-committees to help guide specific areas of our work. 

• External Events: Attend 2-3 fundraising events each year (usually evenings) and make at least one school visit annually. 

• Inclusion & Diversity: A strong commitment to inclusion, equal opportunities, and the promotion of diversity in all aspects of your work. 

If you’re ready to make a difference and contribute to creating brighter futures for children and their families, we want to hear from you! 

To learn more about this exciting opportunity, please review the Trustee Pack and submit your application today!

About 1st Place
1st Place was established in 2005 as part of the Aylesbury Sure Start Programme, shaped by the vision of local children and parents. It was created to be a welcoming and supportive space where families come first—where parents could access the support they need, professionals could collaborate, and services could evolve to better serve the local community.

Families remain at the core of everything 1st Place does today.

The Opportunity
1st Place Children and Parents’ Centre is a respected Family Hub and provider of early years education. Through outreach, nursery provision, and a range of family-focused projects—particularly for children under five—the organisation delivers high-quality, consistent services to the local community.

The Board of Trustees is seeking a new Honorary Treasurer to succeed the outgoing postholder. The Treasurer chairs the Finance & General Purposes Sub-Committee and holds responsibility, on behalf of the Board, for overseeing budgets, internal management accounts, and annual financial statements. The role also ensures that appropriate financial controls and procedures are in place.

The ideal candidate will bring a strong understanding of the voluntary sector, charity governance, finance, and risk management. Strategic thinking, effective communication with trustees and senior managers, and leadership experience are essential. A commitment to dedicating time and energy to the organisation’s mission is vital.

At a time when we are experiencing the largest reforms to the welfare rights system in a generation, we believe this is an exciting opportunity for individuals interested in welfare rights work, to join a respected organisation working at the forefront of the advice sector.

The Welfare Benefits Unit offers specialist welfare benefits advice to those who work with members of the public. Our experienced advisers provide independent support through our advice line, publications, training, consultancy, campaigns and projects.

The Welfare Benefits Unit aims to maximise benefit take-up, helping to reduce the incidence and impact of poverty and in doing so improve health, well-being, financial and social inclusion. We are a registered charity based in York. We primarily operate in North Yorkshire and York although some of our services are accessed by organisations working further afield. 

We continue to aim towards a board that reflects the populations we work to support, and as such, welcome individuals from diverse ethnic communities, LGBTQIA+ groups, as well as younger people, those with disabilities, and those who have lived experience of the welfare benefits system.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

We welcome and support applications from those new to being a Trustee. We also know that studies have shown some people are less likely to apply for positions unless they believe meet every requirement in the description. The most important thing for us is to find Trustees that connect with our values and who can readily buy into our mission. Though we have suggested skills and experience areas below, which would be keen to hear from, we’re eager to meet people that believe in our mission and can contribute to our board in a variety of ways – not just candidates who tick all the boxes.

We’re keen to add these areas of skills and experience to our board:

• Financial, legal or HR matters (especially as they may apply to a small charity)
• Expertise in marketing, digital or similar technological areas
• Welfare benefits system and welfare rights advice or lived experience.

About the Role

All Trustee positions are voluntary with reasonable expenses remunerated. To be an effective Trustee, you will need to commit up to 1-2 days per quarter to attend and prepare for board meetings which are held virtually.

Effective Trustees support our work by:

• ensuring we are working towards our vision, mission and values in everything we do
• ensuring the effective and efficient use of resources, maintaining proper financial and regulatory oversight and best practice as a charity
• approving the annual budget, and supporting strategic decision-making by actively contributing advice and guidance
• appointing key personnel such as the Chief Executive, and determining pay and conditions for the wider team
• constructively guide the Senior Leadership Team in the delivery of the organisation’s strategy
• actively representing and championing the work of the Welfare Benefits Unit.

We are looking for a Trustee who is passionate about arts and social justice, who wants to make a difference and is able to compliment our Board of Trustees, Artistic Director, and Executive Director as we work together to develop the impact and profile of Cardboard Citizens.

We are looking for strategic thinkers and committed collaborators who are passionate about the arts and social justice.

We especially welcome those who can bring lived or professional experience in areas such as communications, campaigning, public engagement, fundraising, or media- skills that will help us grow our public profile and deepen the impact of the stories we tell.

We believe that the need for Cardboard Citizens is as urgent as it ever has been with the current external environment and the challenges for our communities with experience of homelessness and poverty.

Whilst we'd like to hear from applicants from a range of backgrounds and experiences, we are particularly keen to hear from those with skills in any of the following areas:

• Digital, New Media
• Communications / public relations
• Environment & Sustainability
• Development
• Strategic partnerships

The general attributes we're looking for in a potential Trustee include:

• Good judgement
• An ability to think creatively and strategically
• An ability to collaborate and work as part of a team
• Effective interpersonal skills
• An active commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
• An ability to command trust and respect
• An understanding and acceptance of a Trustee's legal duties and responsibilities
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort required.

Trustees will be required to:

• To serve an initial term of 4 years, with the possibility of re-appointment until 8 consecutive years' service has been reached.
• To attend 4 x 2-hour Board Meetings a year, committee meetings as required, as well as an annual Away Day.
• To attend events, performances, workshops and other engagements, to gain a full experience of the breadth of Cardboard Citizens work.
• To sit on one of the Board's Committees.
• To provide specialist advice and expertise as required and appropriate.
• To advocate and champion Cardboard Citizens' work, values, ambition, and strategic direction.