Youth Services Manager Volunteer Roles in Manchester

We are looking for a new Honorary Treasurer to join our diverse Board of Trustees. This is a key role within the organisation, offering a wonderful opportunity to make a difference to the lives of separated children arriving in the UK.

In addition to the general responsibilities of a Trustee, the Honorary Treasurer maintains an overview of The Separated Child Foundation’s financial affairs, monitors the financial administration of the charity and provides financial management advice and information to the Board of Trustees and to the Chief Executive.

Main responsibilities

• Making sure the charity keeps proper accounts

• Reviewing the charity’s financial performance

• Drawing up or reviewing policies for finance and investment

• Ensuring that the charity has robust and effective financial controls in place

• Liaising with external bookkeeping providers and with the charity’s Independent Examiner

• Reporting on financial matters where relevant

• Acting as a counter signatory on bank payments

• Liaising with external payroll provider regarding payroll preparation for new employees

• Ensuring our banking services are fit for purpose

Financial overview

• Act as the main interface between the Board of Trustees and the Chief Executive on financial matters

• Advise the Board as necessary on its financial duties and responsibilities

• Maintain an overview of the organisation’s financial status and viability and provide overall financial management advice to the Board and to the Chief Executive

• Advise and monitor financial risks to which the organisation is exposed

• Oversight of and input into financial controls

• Involvement in the preparation of the Trustees’ Annual Report and Accounts (TARA) and Annual Review

Strategic input and budget monitoring

• Work with the Chief Executive to draft 1-3 year budgets to deliver the strategic plan

• Advise on the financial implications of the strategic plan

• Support the Chief Executive’s review of monthly management accounts as needed

Additionally, the Honorary Treasurer is a key member of the Management Committee, which – amongst other duties – reviews and makes recommendations to the Board on staff pay in line with the charity’s policy

Are you an experienced professional with expertise related to teaching and learning / social, emotional, or mental health needs? Then you may be able to use those skills to make a positive difference at Inscape House School in Cheadle.

Inscape House is a non-maintained special needs school based in Stockport, Cheshire. It’s one of the specialist education services provided by the charity the Together Trust. We cater for children and young people with autism from Year 1 to Year 14 with an Education Health and Care Plan and whose needs require a higher level of support than local authority education settings can provide. At Inscape House School we recognise that every child is different. Our team of educationalists and therapists work together to meet the individual needs of students and support them to overcome barriers to learning.

This is a strategic role offering a great chance to make a real difference to the education of young people with support needs, and also an excellent opportunity to add strategic level leadership experience to your CV or Linked In profile.

Please note, if your application is successful we will carry out an Enhanced DBS check and Section 128 Check before you start in this role. Whether you’re new to school governance or have experience of this type of role we’d love to hear from you!

Why we want you

Collectively, individual governors contribute their professional, specialist and general management skills to the College (and its sub-groups) in a non-executive role. Governors advise, challenge and support the leadership of the school / college and hold them to account for its management, the quality of the teaching and learning and the achievement, wellbeing and safety of pupils. Governors uphold the values and ethos of the College and ensure it works within its allocated budget, approving targets, policies, and monitoring the progress the school / college is making.

What you will be doing

• Advising on and monitoring the operation and the internal management of the school / college, including number of teaching and support staff, curriculum, safeguarding arrangements, and health & safety
• Approving policies and the school/college quality improvement plan
• Promoting the well-being of students including independence, participation, diversity, inclusion, equal opportunities, and community cohesion
• Monitoring arrangements for safeguarding of children and young people
• Attending all full Governing Body meetings and subgroups of which they are members
• Attending induction and relevant training events

The skills you need

• Strategic perspective
• Constructive evaluation skills
• Leadership and influencing skills
• Interpersonal and teamworking skills
• Planning and organisation skills
• Ability to demonstrate a full understanding and appreciation of the principles of governance
• Determination

What's in it for you

• Demonstrable leadership and strategic experience for CV
• Insights into special education
• Opportunity to have an influence in an important arena

We are looking for experienced professionals with expertise related to the fields below to help make a difference by joining the board of governors at our wonderful Inscape House School:

• Education and/or the management of schools
• Business, finance and/or marketing
• Young people with ASC
• Disability
• Health and social care
• Looked after children
• The local community
• The management of charities
• A partnership involving the School and any external body.

Inscape House is a non-maintained special needs school based in Stockport, Cheshire. It’s one of the specialist education services provided by the charity the Together Trust. We cater for children and young people with autism from Year 1 to Year 14 with an Education Health and Care Plan and whose needs require a higher level of support than local authority education settings can provide. At Inscape House School we recognise that every child is different. Our team of educationalists and therapists work together to meet the individual needs of students and support them to overcome barriers to learning.

This is a strategic role offering a great chance to make a real difference to the education of young people with support needs, and also an excellent opportunity to add strategic level leadership experience to your CV or Linked In profile.

Please note, if your application is successful we will carry out an Enhanced DBS check and Section 128 Check before you start in this role. Whether you’re new to school governance or have experience of this type of role we’d love to hear from you!

Why we want you:

Collectively, individual governors contribute their professional, specialist and general management skills to the College (and its sub-groups) in a non-executive role. Governors advise, challenge and support the leadership of the school / college and hold them to account for its management, the quality of the teaching and learning and the achievement, wellbeing and safety of pupils. Governors uphold the values and ethos of the College and ensure it works within its allocated budget, approving targets, policies, and monitoring the progress the school / college is making.

What you will be doing:

• Advising on and monitoring the operation and the internal management of the school / college, including number of teaching and support staff, curriculum, safeguarding arrangements, and health & safety
• Approving policies and the school/college quality improvement plan
• Promoting the well-being of students including independence, participation, diversity, inclusion, equal opportunities, and community cohesion
• Monitoring arrangements for safeguarding of children and young people
• Attending all full Governing Body meetings and subgroups of which they are members
• Attending induction and relevant training events

The skills you need:

• Strategic perspective
• Constructive evaluation skills
• Leadership and influencing skills
• Interpersonal and teamworking skills
• Planning and organisation skills
• Ability to demonstrate a full understanding and appreciation of the principles of governance
• Determination

What's in it for you:

• Demonstrable leadership and strategic experience for CV
• Insights into special education
• Opportunity to have an influence in an important arena

Volunteer Independent Visitor (IV)

Would you like to befriend a child or young person in care to achieve the outcomes that matter to them in their lives, by building a strong bond and supporting them to experience a range of activities?

Yes?

Then our Volunteer Independent Visitor role may be right for you!

You could make a difference by:

Supporting a child or young person who may have little or no contact with their parents or other family members.

This service offers support to a child or young person by:

• Matching your hobbies and interests to that of the child or young person
• Being a positive role model who can enable a child or young person to take more productive paths in their lives
• Being a ‘trusted person’ that a young person can talk to and to share their concerns with, with a view to supporting them to get their desired outcome

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for friendly people aged over 21 who are good communicators to join our volunteer team. They will be reliable, compassionate, caring, respectful and understanding.

You do not need to be an expert; empathy matters more than academic qualifications or experience and we are keen to hear from people from all walks of life.

All we ask is that you are keen and able to:

• Understand the circumstances of children and young people in care and put the needs of children and young people first
• Utilise excellent communication skills and be comfortable conversing with children and young people
• Commit to children and young people’s rights and welfare
• Complete and submit relevant paperwork and forms
• Be computer literate and have access to emails and Microsoft Teams on a device
• Attend quarterly supervisions and volunteer meetings with our volunteer management team
• Attend necessary internal and external training
• Adhere to our volunteer policies and procedures
• Maintain strict confidentiality
• To commit to three or four hours a month offering a commitment of 2 years
• Travel using public transport or your own vehicle (for which you should have a full

UK driving licence)

What you will receive in return:

• Training opportunities
• An opportunity to develop your skills and experience in the health and social care sector
• Support and encouragement from our volunteer management team
• Out of pocket expenses
• Testimonials or a reference to support your career progression
• And most of all … a rewarding experience

OUR VALUES

Quality: We deliver high quality advocacy - we have over 20 years' experience of providing expert, person-led advocacy.

People: We put people at the heart of everything we do and want to enable them to make positive change in their lives.

Respectful: We are a respectful team - we treat everyone equally and make sure everyone feels valued, respected and listened to.

Trust: You can trust us and know that we will keep your information confidential and safe.

Independent: We are independent of councils and health services and we are on your side.

Learning: We never stop learning - we learn from the people we support, our partners and each other.

Pecan is seeking an accountant and Christian to join the Board of Trustees as Treasurer and Chair of the Finance committee. See person spec.

Pecan is a community development charity based in Peckham. We work with the local community to help people find a way through seemingly impossible barriers to a better future.

Over the past 30 years, we’ve seen thousands of clients flourish through our programs, including: ex-offenders and their families, refugees and asylum seekers, young people and the long-term unemployed. We see our service users as people who need supporting – not problems which need solving.

We advocate for those we work with, challenging inequality and injustice at a local and national level to provide hope and belief in a better a future for our community.

Board meetings are held on 10-12 occasions annually on a weeknight at 6.30pm.

Meetings of the Finance committee are held quarterly at a time agreed between trustees and management.

The Treasurer, along with the other finance committee members and senior management, guides the financial and business matters of the charity in line with good practice and in accordance with our governing documents and legal obligations. There are no executive responsibilities within Pecan and the Treasurer will not be an employee.

Main responsibilities and duties - in addition to the general responsibilities of a Trustee and undertaken with other members of the Finance sub-committee

 - To scrutinise and recommend budgets, accounts, financial policies, management accounts and financial statements to the board of Trustees after discussions with the Chief Executive, other senior staff, and other members of the Finance Committee, where applicable.

- To ensure that proper accounts and records are kept, ensuring financial resources are spent and invested in line with the charity’s policies, good governance mechanisms, and legal and regulatory requirements

- To ensure that Pecan has appropriate reserves and investment policies.

- Liaising where applicable with appropriate members of the core management team responsible for the financial and operational activities of the charity.

- Attending and contributing to the work of finance committee in line with its terms of reference and reporting back to the board of Trustees verbally and in writing.

- Liaising with the charity’s auditors where appropriate and monitoring and advising on the financial viability of the charity.

- Ensuring that specific financial and organisational controls and systems are in place and adhered to.

- Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s strategic plans.

- Ensuring that sound financial management of the charity’s resources is maintained and that expenditure and investment are in line with the charity’s objects.

- Reviewing the financial aspects of the charity’s risk register.

Person specification

● A Christian.

● Experience of financial management, planning and strategic influence.

● An understanding of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.

● The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences.

● Commitment to the mission and values of Pecan.

● Commitment to safeguarding the reputation and values of Pecan.

● Experience of board or committee membership in a charitable organisation.

● Skills and experience to strengthen the work of the committee in areas including fundraising, impact and evaluation, digital technology and administration.

● Being prepared to make unpopular recommendations to the Board

● Willingness to be available to staff to discuss issues related to the Treasurer portfolio.

Trusteeships

We are also seeking expressions of interest by the same date from people with similar experience interested in becoming a Trustee. We are currently particularly interested in recruiting new trustees with fundraising and/or buildings experience.

Trustees are required to sign Pecan’s Statement of Faith. 

Action for Stammering Children is looking for a Treasurer!

Please read on …

Action for Stammering Children (ASC) is looking to recruit an enthusiastic and suitably qualified person to join our Trustee Board as Treasurer to replace our current Treasurer who has sadly come to the end of his term. 

Who are Action for Stammering Children?

Action for Stammering Children is the UK charity for children and young people who stammer, their families, and the communities who support them. We are a small charity, founded in 1989, but one that punches above its weight and with Dr Ria Bernard, who joined us as Chief Executive in 2022, we have big ambitions! 

We’re here to make sure that every child who stammers has the support, respect and confidence to live the life they want to lead. 

We support and empower parents, caregivers and professionals; facilitate and champion research; and campaign for changes in policy and societal attitudes 

What do we do?

Information, community and support

We provide resources, advice and guidance for children and young people who stammer, their families, and the professionals who support them. 

Changing policies and attitudes 

We make sure the voices of children and young people who stammer are heard. We work with politicians and other decision makers to ensure the unique needs of children who stammer are reflected in public policy. But we know we can’t stop there. That’s why we campaign to challenge prejudices and misconceptions, seeking to change how society treats stammering and promote acceptance. 

Championing research 

We support and promote research into childhood stammering in order to build understanding and feed into our advocacy work, informing positive changes in policy and practice. 

Our team

ASC currently has a staff team of three (one of whom is part-time) but we hope shortly to recruit a part-time book-keeper and an events co-ordinator, in order to be able to deliver on our ambitious strategic objectives. 

Our Board of Trustees has been chaired by Dame Jane Roberts since 2021. With a number of trustees having come to the end of their term, we have had a number of trustees join the board recently including a new Company Secretary and two new trustees who had previously been members of ASC’s Youth Panel. With the Chair, the Company Secretary has been reviewing our governance to ensure that we conduct ourselves in line with best practice in charity governance. The Youth Panel is made up of young people who themselves stammer and who inform our strategic direction as well as engage in projects of their own. Our Annual Report for 2022-23 is available on the Charity Commission website, in addition to Trustees’ Reports for previous years. 

Executive and Non-Executive, we are a professional but friendly bunch who would extend a warm welcome to a new Treasurer as well as ensure that there was a generous handover period with the current Treasurer.

Who are we looking for as Treasurer?

We would like to attract a qualified accountant, perhaps still working, perhaps recently retired. You might have a personal connection to stammering but this is not required. Your interest, enthusiasm and experience are the most important. 

We’d love to hear from potential interested applicants to explain more about what we do and who we are looking for. 

In the first instance, please contact Jane Roberts. Please apply with a letter explaining your interest in the role, your CV and two references to my e-mail address.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Dame Jane Roberts
Chair
Action for Stammering Children 

Role description of the Treasurer

Purpose

• To monitor the financial matters of the organisation and report to the Board of trustees at regular intervals on its financial health in line with good practice and in accordance with the governing document and legal requirements
• To oversee arrangements for risk management and ensure that these are adequate to organisational need, governance requirements and legal obligations.

Main responsibilities:

• Oversee the framework of internal controls and, in conjunction with the Company Secretary and Chair, the charity’s policies, procedures and delegated responsibilities in line with good governance, legal and regulatory requirements
• Oversee and review the preparation of budgets, management accounts and the annual financial statements, ensuring that they are brought regularly and in a timely manner to the Board 
• Monitor and advise on the financial viability of the charity, including the adequacy and use of charitable reserves and other funds
• Oversee the risk management framework, ensuring that the risk register is brought regularly to the Board for review
• Develop a working knowledge of the activities, services and products of Action for Stammering Children
• Provide advice and financial analysis to other Board members 
• Play a key role in the annual accounts, budgeting, cash flow and management accounts processes 
• Act as a liaison with the external auditors 
• Monitor the charity’s reserves and use of funds 
• Act as a counter signatory on all financial transactions and applications to funders when required

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

Do you want to make high quality, inclusive relationships and sex education a reality for all children and young people? Join us! 

Read on to find out about our trustee vacancies. The information contained in this document is also available from our website here. 

About the Sex Education Forum

The Sex Education Forum is the voice of Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) in England. First established in 1987, we have helped support generations of educators and campaigned successfully for the introduction of compulsory Relationships and Sex Education in all schools. 

In 2021 we established ourselves as an independent charity. We have a team of six staff, who work remotely, and are passionate about RSE. We have more than 70 Partner organisations and hundreds of members, who we bring together regularly, mostly through online events. We have formed a partnership with the youth-led organisation Make it Mandatory so that we can support each other to meet our shared goal to extend inclusive RSE to post-16 and make a difference to the lives of young people. 

What we do

Now that RSE is compulsory, we are focused on ensuring that children and young people get the good quality RSE lessons they have been promised, and that educators have the skills and knowledge necessary to provide inclusive RSE. One of the services that we offer is high-quality RSE training for teachers, foster carers and other youth professionals.

The experiences and voices of young people are central to our work. Some young people, especially those who are marginalised, are still missing out on RSE so we’re paying particular attention to addressing those gaps. We work closely with young people to design and launch our annual Young People’s RSE Poll. This gives us more data about the experiences of young people and what needs to change. 

About the board of trustees

Our board is made up of between 8 and 12 volunteers who are all passionate about the work of the charity and committed to ensuring all children and young people can access high quality, evidence-based and inclusive Relationships and Sex Education. Our trustees each bring different skills and types of experience, and are valued for their contribution. 

Being a trustee can be very rewarding, because you see the impact that your advice has on the working of our charity. You get to develop yourself and gain skills, and have the chance to help shape what we do and how we do it. Crucially, trustees help us stick to our values and principles and in doing so, make sure that we fulfil our commitment to making RSE accessible to all young people.  

Who are we looking for 

We are looking for up to four new Trustees to join our current Board. We are keen to recruit people with fundraising, financial management, lived experience or youth participation expertise. We would like to encourage more young trustees (aged 18 years old and above) to join our board. Read the role description below and don’t feel you have to tick all the boxes. If you have some of these skills to offer please give it a go. 

Sex Education Forum Trustee role description 

1. Help develop the Sex Education Forum’s overall strategy to meet our charitable objectives, and evaluate our performance in meeting these objectives.  
2. Keep informed about the activities of the Sex Education Forum and wider issues of RSE policy and practice which affect our work.
3. Bring to the fore the needs and perspectives of the diverse children, young people and educators that the Sex Education Forum seeks to support, and ensure that our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion vision and action plan is implemented and reviewed.
4. Be part of the trustee team, who must ensure the financial stability of the Sex Education Forum and that our funds and resources are only used for pursuing our charitable objectives.
5. Contribute to good governance of the Sex Education Forum, for example by taking part in regular discussions and monitoring of organisational risks.
6. Attend meetings and be part of at least one sub-committee, reading papers in preparation for meetings and carrying out the actions you agree to (travel expenses will be paid when meetings are held in person)
7. Use your skills, knowledge and experience  to help the Board of Trustees reach good decisions. 

This is the role for all trustees on our board. We are also recruiting for four different areas of skills and expertise. 

Youth participation role

This role is our internal expert on participation and youth inclusion, providing staff and trustees with guidance and support on how to meaningfully and effectively involve young people in the design and delivery of SEF’s work. We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience designing and delivering participation programmes enabling young people to have a stronger voice within an organisation
• Has experience supporting staff or other adults build their skills and knowledge of working with young people
• Has strong anti-oppressive practice and experience supporting the participation of marginalised, minoritised and racialised young people, including by challenging the systems and structures that impact them the hardest
• Has an understanding of safeguarding 

Lived experience role 

You might have recently received RSE at school or college and feel that you can support the board in championing the needs of our beneficiaries (children and young people) in everything we do. We are looking for someone who: 

• Knows what a positive difference it makes to have inclusive, high quality RSE
• Has experience speaking up for inclusive, high quality RSE for themselves or others 
• Understands relationships and sex education issues through their own life experience 
• Wants to ensure that marginalised, minoritised and racialised people are fully included in RSE and the running of the Sex Education Forum 

Finance role

This role will provide the financial management skills to support Sex Education Forum’s financial health and sustainability and who can bring financial insight to our team. This role offers the opportunity to grow into a more formal Treasurer position. We are looking for someone who will:

• Bring their financial/accounting knowledge to work with the Chief Executive in overseeing the financial operations of the charity.
• Collaborate with the Chair and Deputy Chair of the board to ensure the charity meets its financial governance responsibilities.
• Ensure that appropriate accounting and financial management systems are in place. 
• Lead on supporting the Chief Executive with banking related matters, including being an authorised signatory.
• Collaborate with the Chief Executive to ensure that adequate and regular financial reports are presented to the board.

Fundraising role 

This role will bring fundraising experience to help us secure funds that will drive our sustainability and increase our impact. Sex Education Forum is at a pivotal moment for growth so we are looking for someone who can:

• Strategically evaluate where fundraising aligns with the Sex Education Forum’s mission and objectives, ensuring that it supports our broader business plan
• Identify and actively pursue funding opportunities for the Sex Education Forum within statutory, charitable trusts and corporate settings. 
• Advise on the development of funding proposals, providing support to the CEO
• Provide oversight of Sex Education Forum’s fundraising activities to ensure they are carried out in an ethical, transparent, and legally compliant manner 
• Provide written and verbal communication skills to assist in the creation of funding proposals, grant-writing experience not mandatory but would be an asset

Time commitment 

Approximately 1-2 hours per week (for example this could be meetings, responding to emails) and attendance at six board meetings per year. At least two of these meetings are held in London, the others are online. Meetings last two hours (online) and around three hours when we meet in person. 

Is this role for me? 

Previous experience as a Trustee is not required. You can apply if you are 18 years old or above. We are particularly keen to hear from applicants that represent the diversity of young people and educators that Sex Education Forum seeks to support. Full induction will be provided. Travel expenses to attend trustee meetings in London are provided. 

How to apply

If you are interested in applying, please complete the application form and email it to us by the closing date (28 October). If you believe you have what it takes to do the job but don’t match every point on the role description, that’s fine - we welcome your application and will be happy to consider it. If you need help with the application or have an access requirement, please get in touch.

For more information about the role

If you would like an informal chat about the role, our Trustees and Chief Executive are very happy to help. Please contact Lucy Emmerson, Chief Executive.

More about the Sex Education Forum 

For more details about the Sex Education Forum, please see our website, Instagram, LinkedIn, the profiles of our current board of trustees and our Young People’s RSE Poll. Our certified accounts are available from the Charity Commission. 

The information in this document and the application form is available from our website here. 

Closing date for applications: Midnight, 28 October 2024

Interviews: Friday 15th November 2024 

We hope you will consider joining us at this exciting time for the organisation.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

Introduction

The English-Speaking Union (ESU), is a charity and membership organisation that works to give young people the speaking and listening skills and cross-cultural understanding they need to thrive. The ESU’s speech and debate programmes and international exchanges improve young people’s attainment, self-esteem and social skills, helping them to fulfil their potential and to change their lives and communities for the better.

We are looking for volunteers to help support and judge our competitions, please find details below:

• Schools’ Mace - The oldest debating competition for schools in England and Wales (ages 11-18)
• Public Speaking Competition - The largest such competition for schools in England and Wales (ages 13-16)
• Performing Shakespeare Competition - Students express their passion and imagination and compete for a chance to perform at Shakespeare’s Globe (ages 11-14)

You don’t need to be a debater or public speaker yourself – you just need to be enthusiastic about encouraging and inspiring young people to be the best they can be. There are opportunities throughout the year, each requiring around 4-5 hours’ commitment from late afternoon onwards. Full training is given, and it’s great fun, with students often covering thought-provoking topics from obesity and the NHS to Churchill and what defines happiness.

We look forward to welcoming you soon and can't wait to get you started!

Trustee voluntary vacancy

We’re on a mission to make sure every bereaved sibling feels seen, heard and supported, can you help us?

Sibling Support is on the search for new trustees to join the board of a small, but growing, charity as we move into our growth stage.

About the charity

Every year around 4,000 young people die in the UK before they’ve had a chance to live their lives to the fullest. Beside many of those is a sibling. 

We believe that siblings are overlooked when it comes to grief, so we help them, and those around them, navigate their way through tough times.

From specially designed resources, where thousands are ordered every year, to training, advice and information. Check out our website to see more. 

We are looking for Trustees with one or more of the following experiences/backgrounds: 

• Finance - to become our treasurer
• Prior trustee experience 
• Worked with people who are grieving
• Legal experience
• Organisational management and leadership

How you can help us:

• Join four board meetings every year, two in person, two virtually. The meetings are not during work hours. More meetings for those that choose to join sub committees.
• Offer ad-hoc support and advice.
• Use your skills and/or network to help the charity and its beneficiaries.

How to express interest + other information: 

For further information, or if you want to arrange a discussion, please email us.

Voluntary, reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Safeguarding and trustee training is provided.

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.

Our Volunteer Pet Welfare Speakers help us reach thousands of children and young people in primary schools and youth groups, sharing knowledge about responsible pet ownership and dog safety. Join our team of confident, committed and self-motivated speakers to make a real difference to the lives of pets by helping us educate the next generation. We provide full training, fantastic resources and pre-designed presentations together with lots of support to help you make the most of your volunteering. If you love pets, enjoy working with children and find it rewarding to educate young people about pet care, this role is for you

More about this role

Volunteer role: Pet Welfare Speaker

Volunteer manager: Education Officer

Where you will be based: Community - currently looking for volunteers in the following areas - Exeter, Norfolk, Southampton, Peterborough, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City, Stevenage, Northampton, Stafford, Leicester, Bradford, Huddersfield, Harrogate, Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Newport, Cardiff, Reading, Chelmsford, Colchester, Coventry, Banbury, Lincoln, Plymouth, Burford area

Why we want you

Sick, injured and homeless pets have relied on Blue Cross for help since 1897. Each year, thousands of dogs, cats, small pets and horses turn to the charity’s animal hospitals, clinics and rehoming services for treatment and support.

Our Volunteer Pet Welfare Speakers provide an informative and influential service by talking to children in primary schools and youth groups about responsible pet ownership and dog safety which enables us to improve the lives of thousands of pets. This role is for speakers who will visit and deliver talks to young people in primary schools and youth groups in their local area. We would love you to join us and help us help more pets in need

What you will be doing

• Having an informal interview with the team prior to selection
• Training online via e-learning to become a Pet Welfare Speaker
• Contacting primary schools using details we have given you to arrange all the details for your talks
• Visiting primary school and youth groups in your local area
• Delivering interactive presentations and fun talks to groups of children at primary schools during the day, and some youth groups such as Brownies and Cubs during the evening.
• committing to deliver talks throughout the school year on behalf of Blue Cross
• Using Assemble, our online volunteering system for information and communication

The skills you need

• To be a confident public speaker; happy to deliver PowerPoint presentations and talk to sometimes large numbers of children and young people in schools and youth groups
• To be self-motivated and happy to organise talks from details we have given you
• To be computer literate as you will need to complete your training online, deliver our pre-designed presentations and use Assemble, our online volunteering system to keep in touch
• To enjoy teaching and working with young people and have a keen interest in pet care and dog safety
• To have access to your own car or reliable public transport
• To have daytime availability during term-time

What's in it for you

• A chance to inspire young people to make better choices for pets
• You’ll be home-based, getting involved with influencing pet care within your local community
• You’ll use your skills such as customer service, communication and team working
• We’ll provide you a Blue Cross Polo shirt and ID, with all the training you need, including our GUEST customer service training, e-learning on the work of Blue Cross, basic pet care and tips on speaking to children and young people
• You’ll join a great team of like-minded people with closed social network groups and (optional) annual volunteer meet-ups
• You'll receive ongoing support and training through webinars and a regular newsletter

Disclaimer

Online training can take several weeks so you will need to commit to training before you can fully get stuck into your role. You will need to have term-time daytime and ideally some evening availability. You will need to have flexibility during the day in term-time and ideally some evening availability, dependant on demand. You'll need to be 17 or older for this role. You must have access to your own car or reliable public transport. Talks are delivered in person within a 20 mile radius of your home. Expenses are available. As this role involves liaising with children and young people, you will need to be prepared to undertake a DBS check. If you are using your own vehicle we will also need to complete some licence, insurance, MOT and tax checks. By submitting your application form, you consent to your personal details being passed to our external providers for them to carry out these checks, providing you are selected for the role. Blue Cross holds inclusion as a core organisational value. We positively encourage applications from eligible volunteers regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, transgender status, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity. We actively embrace our differences and know that it is our differences that make us unique. You are very welcome at Blue Cross, without the need to hide any part of who you are.

Volunteer School Mentor

Start Date: 21st October

Location: Walkden, Worsley, Manchester M28 7JB

The Role

As a City Year Mentor, you’ll support pupils at Co-Op Walkden Academy by acting as a positive role model and mentor. Your role involves helping students engage in learning, boosting their confidence, and improving behaviour both in and outside the classroom. You’ll also help run breakfast, lunch, and after-school clubs.

Your responsibilities will include:

· 1-to-1 mentoring and small group support

· Running breakfast, lunch, and after-school clubs

· Assisting teachers in the classroom

· Supporting extracurricular activities and school events

Leadership Development Programme

In addition to your work in school, you’ll take part in City Year UK’s Leadership Development Programme. This includes tailored professional development workshops and the opportunity to gain an accredited qualification. You’ll also receive training on leadership, communication, and employability skills that will set you up for success in your future career. Our volunteers often go on to careers in education, social work, law enforcement, and many other fields.

This is a full-time position, Monday to Friday, during term time. Living expenses and travel costs will be reimbursed.

Please note, we have limited spots available for this role.

What You'll Get

· Living expenses of £115 per week plus travel reimbursement

· A red City Year jacket

· Access to professional mentoring and accredited leadership courses

Please note that is takes up to 20 minutes to apply for the programme, so allow yourself enough time to complete the process.

Requirements

This role is full-time, Monday to Friday, during school term time. A typical school day runs from 8:00am to around 4:00pm, with an hour for lunch (this may vary depending on the school’s schedule). You’ll need to pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and provide satisfactory references.

About City Year UK

City Year UK is a youth and education charity that empowers young adults to tackle educational inequality by volunteering full-time in schools. Our mission is twofold:

To give every pupil the chance to succeed, by coaching those furthest from opportunity to achieve the social, emotional, and academic results they need.

To harness the talent and idealism of young people to drive social change in education while developing leadership skills for their future careers.

Since 2009, over 1,500 young people have volunteered with City Year UK, making a difference in the lives of more than 15,000 pupils. Many of our alumni go on to work in education or pursue careers in a wide range of fields, from social work to business, engineering, and even starting their own ventures.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and developing your leadership potential, we want you to join us. Start your journey, give a year, and #BeTheChange.

Join our board as a treasurer: help us navigate a path to a sustainable future

Are you a finance professional with a passion for making a difference?

CMV Action are seeking a proactive and committed treasurer to join our board of trustees, bringing financial expertise and strategic guidance to help our charity navigate a challenging period.

About CMV Action

CMV Action is the only charity in the UK providing support and information to families affected by congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV). Congenital CMV is the most common viral infection that can affect babies before birth, with potential long-term health impacts such as hearing loss, developmental delays and vision loss. It can also cause miscarriage and stillbirth.

As many as 1 in 200 newborn babies are born with congenital CMV.  The majority of these will not have any symptoms.  However, around 1 in 1,000 born in the UK every year will have permanent disabilities as a result of congenital CMV – around 900 children every year.  As congenital CMV is a relatively unknown condition, it is a common misconception that it is rare.  It is in fact more common than Down’s syndrome, Toxoplasmosis, Spina Bifida or Cystic Fibrosis.

Despite the prevalence and potential severity of congenital CMV, awareness and knowledge are alarmingly low among healthcare professionals, parents and the general public. One of our key roles, therefore, is to develop and deliver resources and training for healthcare professionals, run public awareness campaigns, and collaborate with researchers and policy makers to improve outcomes for those affected by congenital CMV.

The Role

As treasurer, you will play a key role in overseeing the financial health of our charity and ensuring we are well-positioned to continue our work. You will work with us to ensure that the charity complies with its governing document, charity law, and any other relevant legislation or regulations.This is an opportunity to make a significant difference by contributing your financial expertise to help us develop and implement a sustainable funding strategy.

What we are looking for

We are seeking a Treasurer who shares our values and can bring the following skills and experience to our board:

• Financial expertise: A background in finance, accounting, or financial management, with a qualification in line with a recognised professional body (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, ICAEW). Experience in charity finance is highly desirable.
• Proactive and purposeful: Ability to think strategically, explore new financial pathways, and drive change to support the charity’s long-term viability.
• Collaborative spirit: Strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to working closely with others to build a sustainable funding strategy.
• Accountability and integrity: A commitment to honest, transparent, and ethical financial management and reporting.
• Evidence-based decision making: An analytical mindset, using data and research to guide financial decisions that support our mission.
• Commitment to inclusivity: A passion for ensuring that our work is accessible and equitable for all, embracing the diverse needs of those affected by congenital CMV.

Our Sight Loss Counselling team provides counselling and information over the phone and online to people who are impacted by sight loss. Our client group is diverse, with the majority of clients being over the age of 50. We also offer our service to children and young people, run training workshops on Sight Loss Counselling and facilitate short-term support groups for people with sight loss and their friends and families. In this role you will be the first point of contact for all incoming clients and you’ll provide service information in a timely, efficient, and sensitive manner. You will be liaising between counsellors and clients and will carry out a range of admin duties and ensure client confidentiality. You may have the opportunity to contribute to the development of administrative systems.

Home based

• This role is home based

Additional location information

• This is a home based role to be carried out on a weekday between 9am and 5pm.

Who this opportunity will suit

Minimum age

• You must be at least 18 years old to apply

What skills and experience are needed?

• Ability to understand the importance of confidentiality
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Experience of providing administrative support within an office environment and using administrative systems and procedures
• Experience of using Microsoft Office packages
• Experience of data management/ CRM systems.

Family Thing Dance is a small but growing charity that provides inclusive dance classes for people with learning differences and diverse abilities. We are looking for Trustees to join our Board to offer governance and support to grow the charity. 

The dance base is commercial dance and hip-hop. Family Thing's mission is to provide opportunities for empowerment, support and a sense of belonging using dance as a vehicle to reach these aims. 

Family Thing is passionate about providing these dance opportunities for everyone.  There are many reasons why. Mencap lists the main benefits of taking part in leisure activities as improving physical and mental health, personal social skills, self-worth and confidence, and social attitudes (Mencap, 2019). Yet despite these widely understood benefits, only 16.8% of people with a learning disability take part in a sport or physical activities at least once a week, compared with 39.9% of the general population (Sport England, 2018). Additionally, there is a great deal of evidence that inactivity is a major contributing factor of ill health in people with learning disabilities. Only 9% of participants in a 2016 review met the minimum recommended guidelines for physical activity (Dairo et al, 2016).

We know that organisations like Family Thing play a role in the well-being of people with learning disabilities by providing activities that promote good physical health as well as positive psychological and social stimulation, and offers a way to overcome situations such as loneliness and anxiety. We know that a positive impact of Family Thing is the increase in social engagement and improvements in physical and mental well-being for those who participate in our classes.

Activities: Family Thing offers free or subsidised, supportive, fun and creative dance classes to diverse groups of children, young people and adults. During each session, dancers are invited to create their own ‘dance hero persona’, and have opportunities to express themselves as individuals with the support of the group. There is a focus on strengthening their sense of community through the concept of “supporting your crew”. As defined by those who attend the groups, the overall aim is to create a “big family” that’ll dance altogether basically!

What are we looking for?

At this particular time we are keen to find people with a financial services background and someone who may be willing to take on the role of Treasurer in due course and/or someone with marketing skills, including digital marketing.

Experience

• Experience of the dance community (desirable but not essential)
• An understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion and a desire to support those with learning differences and diverse abilities
• Leadership experience (desirable but not essential)
• Experience of delivering strategic organisational change (desirable but not essential)

It is not necessary to have previous board experience as training and support can be given

Skills

• A commitment to the Family Thing
• A willingness to devote half a day a month to this work and be able to attend the bi-monthly board meetings
• Good, independent judgement
• An ability to think creatively
• A willingness to speak your mind and communicate well
• An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship
• An ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• An understanding of safeguarding practices
• Some experience of charity finance and fundraising is desirable, but not essential (and candidates do not need prior experience as a charity trustee)
• Knowledge and experience of current and fundraising activities relevant to voluntary and community organisations (desirable but not essential)  

Attitude

• Honest, open and trustworthy with an understanding of the duty of candour
• Respectful of confidentiality procedures

Special Conditions

The post requires the ability to attend online meetings and occasional face to face events.  All expenses will be reimbursed.

What difference will you make?

We are interested in potential Trustees who can bring experience across of range of areas. At this particular time we are keen to find people with a financial services background and someone who may be willing to take on the role of Treasurer in due course and/or someone with marketing skills, including digital marketing.

We are also keen to hear from people who can bring experience in any of these areas:

• working with charitable organisations
• developing strategy;
• project management;
• fundraising and grants management;

Bringing skills in any of these areas will make a huge difference to the work Family Thing is able to provide.