Youth work volunteer volunteer volunteer roles in London

About Children With Voices

Children With Voices (CWV) is a grassroots charity supporting children, young people, and families through alternative education, life-skills programmes, wellbeing activities, and community food hubs.
Our mission is to empower children with confidence, resilience, and the tools they need to thrive. We work closely with local schools, families, and partners to create safe, supportive learning environments where every child is valued and heard.

Role: Youth Mentor / Support Worker

Location: Community sites / schools
Hours: 2–4 hours per week (flexible)
Contract: Volunteer
Reports to: Head of Programmes & Education

Role Overview

As a Youth Mentor, you will provide emotional, practical and wellbeing support to young people who need a positive role model. You will help build resilience, confidence, and healthy life-skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide 1:1 mentoring and group support

• Encourage positive behaviour, engagement and wellbeing

• Support workshops, activities and trips

• Build safe, trusting relationships with young people

• Report safeguarding concerns appropriately

• Log basic session notes and progress

Person Specification

Essential:

• Empathy, patience, and strong listening skills

• Experience supporting young people (formal or informal)

• Commitment to safeguarding and boundaries

Desirable:

• Experience in youth work, coaching or education

Benefits

• Safeguarding, mentoring and youth-work training

• Flexible volunteering

• Excellent experience for education, youth work, or social care careers

• Meaningful impact on young people’s lives

We want you to help us to connect families across Scotland by managing a special closed Community Network Facebook group and a Padlet of groups and events with the support of Adoption UK Staff and current Community Network volunteers. As a Virtual Community Network Volunteer (VCNV), you would be responsible for administering a closed Facebook group for families with adopted children and young people. The purpose of the group is to share Adoption UK Scotland groups and events but also to share activities aimed at adoptive families or care experienced children in one place. 

s a Virtual Community Network Volunteer (VCNV), you would be responsible for administering a closed Facebook group for families with adopted children and young people. The purpose of the group is to share Adoption UK Scotland groups and events but also to share activities aimed at adoptive families or care experienced children in one place. It would also allow parents to post in the group to find families local to them that they can connect with outside Adoption UK Scotland activities. As VCNV you would be responsible for moderating the chat and posts within the group, creating and managing a Padlet that contains groups or events that local authorities or other 3rd sector organisations are hosting. 

The Skills and Experience you need 

• IT literate and familiar with Facebook
• Enthusiasm

• Ability to respect other people’s differences and non-judgemental 

• Confidence to work independently and the ability to recognise when to ask for support or raise concerns if required 

• Desirable but not essential: Personal experience or understanding of the issues facing adoptive parents 

What’s in it for you 

• Be part of a new way of supporting adoptive families to thrive in Scotland

• Flexibility to volunteer at a time that suits you

• Free membership to AUK and access to relevant training and development opportunities

• Use and develop your communication, organisational and people skills 

• Receive an induction, relevant training, the support you need to carry out the role and agreed out-of-pocket expenses 

Volunteer with Refugee Young People - Help with Homework and Activities

Location: Battersea, London

Programme: Future Foundations - Katherine Low Settlement

Join our Future Foundations programme and support young people from refugee and newly arrived backgrounds to thrive in school and beyond. Each club blends focused homework support with fun, creative activities that help build confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging. You'll be part of something that gives young people a brighter start in life, and you'll still get school holidays off.

Every hour you spend helps a young person feel more confident, more connected and more empowered to succeed.

Choose a club that works for you

Junior Homework Club (Ages 7-11) - Thursdays, 4:00 to 7:00pm
Support primary-aged children with reading, homework and structured play.

Senior Homework Club (Ages 11-14) - Wednesdays, 4:30 to 7:30pm
Help senior school aged students with schoolwork, confidence and communication, then join in with group games and creative activities.

Youth Homework Club (Ages 14-20) - Mondays, 4:00 to 7:00pm
Help older, newly arrived students with schoolwork, confidence and communication, then join in with group games and creative activities.

What you'll do

- Support young people with homework, reading and school projects
- Build confidence through games, conversation and encouragement
- Help run arts, crafts, sports or group activities
- Work alongside experienced youth workers and other brilliant volunteers

What you'll get

- Full training and ongoing support
- The chance to make a real difference in a young person's life
- A friendly community of staff and volunteers
- Great experience for anyone interested in education, youth work or community support

"Volunteering at Future Foundations has been such a rewarding experience. Seeing the young people improve in their reading and confidence week by week is incredible. One student told me they felt 'smarter' after we worked on homework together. That was a real highlight for me." - Future Foundations Volunteer

What we're looking for

- Kind, patient and enthusiastic people
- Good listeners who enjoy spending time with children or teens
- No experience needed, just a willingness to help and learn
- Volunteers from all backgrounds are welcome

We ask for a commitment of one afternoon per week, for at least six months (term time only).

Future Foundations is part of Katherine Low Settlement, a community charity in Battersea. We work with young people from refugee and newly arrived backgrounds through mentoring, homework clubs and educational support.

Ready to make a difference?

- Apply on Charity Jobs
- Apply on our website: search Katherine Low Settlement
 

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

This role is assisting in leading a youth unit in the Dacorum St John Network

Pursuing the role.

Closing date for these opportunities is: 20th July 2026.

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Are you looking for a fresh challenge that makes a positive difference to the lives of Young People throughout the UK?

At Childline we are actively recruiting new Volunteers. 

What will I be doing?

• Your shift will consist of 3hrs30mns counselling, sandwiched between a 15mns brief before your shift and a 30mns debrief post shift. This is to ensure that you can start and finish your shift with any support you require from your Practitioners.
• On shift you will take contacts from Young People who rely on the service that Childline offers. Childline is not there to solve problems, we are a listening service for Young People and in each contact your role is to engage the Young Person, explore their situation and to support them in deciding their next steps.
• The contacts you would take from Young People can come in 3 ways. Traditional phone call contacts, live chats via instant response typed messaging or less commonly via 'PIBS' which are essentially emails sent by Young People in the knowledge the response will not be 'live' and instant.

What impact will this have?

• Childline is a unique service, valued greatly by the Young People who contact us.
• It provides a safe place for Young People to talk confidentially to our Volunteer Counsellors, an option that many of them do not have elsewhere.
• Young People rely on us being there for them 24/7. In an average month, Childline London takes approx. 1,500 live chats, 900 voice calls and 300 PIBs.
• However, the demand for the service often outstrips the supply as Young People who desperately need our service cannot always get through.
• That is why we are actively recruiting new Volunteers to be able to meet the need of all Young People who are in distress and need the support that Childline provides.

Training

• Childline offers a full 12 week online training programme to new Volunteers. This consists of one 4 hour session per week.
• During the training, you will meet other Volunteers in your cohort and have access to your 2 dedicated Childline Trainers.
• As part of the training, you will also go in person to the London Base for observation and mentored shifts which give you a face to face insight into how the Counselling Room works.
• You will also have access to a dedicated Volunteer Engagement Lead to give you a London Base tour (optional) and generally be on hand to answer any questions or queries you may have - big or small, if they matter to you they matter because you are giving your time to volunteer and Childline wants to offer you every level of support.
• Once you pass through training and become a qualified Childline Volunteer Counsellor, the development opportunities do not stop there. You will have access to a multitude of mandatory and optional training courses that are accredited and 100% free to all Volunteers.

We are recruiting Youth Helpers to assist at our various Cadet and Badger groups in the Surrey area.

Youth Helpers work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units by supporting our Youth Leaders to deliver a sessions across our range of programmes. In this role, you'll support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Helpers also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Pursuing the role

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role at these dates:

• Welcome Event (Induction) -  31/01/2026.

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Events Volunteers are an essential part of our work for reaching and supporting different communities. Our partners in the community hold events across the UK and your support will help ensure they run smoothly, and attendees have a positive experience! You may be on your own, or as part of a team so you’ll need to be enthusiastic and motivated. 

About you 

• Aged 18 years and over 

• Reliable and good at organising your time 

• Good attention to detail 

• Friendly and polite with good communication skills 

• Self-directed and motivated 

When and where 

• Events will vary regionally and may take place during the day, evening, or weekends as a one-off or regular occurrence 

• You’ll decide where and when you’d like to volunteer - we don’t expect anyone to travel far from their home

• We're looking for volunteers in Berkshire, Somerset, and Bristol

What you will do 

Your tasks will depend on who you are supporting and what kind of event they’re running, but they will probably include: 

• Completing agreed tasks on time and responding to any changes on the day 

• Engaging with families and sharing your expertise if appropriate (either professional or lived experience) 

• Supporting with different areas, e.g. signing people in, helping with directions, sharing information 

• Identifying tasks that need doing and any issues that need reporting 

• Using your initiative to respond to situations and help out without being asked 

• Presenting the National Deaf Children’s Society and our community partners in a positive way 

What will you gain from the role? 

Other volunteers have told us that training and volunteering has given them:  

• Increased confidence and new skills   

• A broader understanding of childhood deafness and the issues faced by families  

• A sense of achievement by making a positive difference

Support and training 

You will be provided with: 

• Basic training to help keep yourself, others, and data safe 

• A named point of contact for support 

• Reimbursement of agreed expenses such as travel costs

• Clear information about what to do and who to contact if you are worried about something

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of families, children and young people. You will be asked to complete a Basic disclosure check, provide references, complete a self-disclosure form, and complete our essential training.

Are you passionate about young people and ensuring everyone has equitable access to opportunities? Do you have a vibrant energy and experience to bring to our families and children? Then we could be looking for you to join our team of volunteers supportung families and young people in the North Kensington community.

As we ease out of lockdown, we are looking for volunteers to help on day trips in and around London to support families in getting back to normality again.

Trips will include anything from horse riding through to the beach, farms and Kew Gardens. This is an opportunity to help families in our community while gaining experience of working with a small, friendly and supportive charity.

Volunteers will help the group leader to accompany groups of parents/guardians and their children on a variety of cultural/fun trips, helping to make them feel welcome. 

Suitable volunteers will be reliable and sociable and enjoy working with children. Volunteers must be available for day trips during school holidays, as this is when most of the trips take place.

Volunteers receive a full induction, and support from the Children and Young People Coordinator. Travel expenses on the outings and any entrance fees are covered, and some further expenses can also be claimed.

IMPORTANT: An enhanced DBS check is required for this role, and so we are unfortunately only able to accept applications from UK-based applicants or British nationals living abroad.

About Youth Advantage UK

Youth Advantage UK is a growing organisation working to improve outcomes for young people across England and Wales. Our England & Wales Local Operations Department leads local policy and research projects across counties, regions, cities and towns — identifying local challenges and developing evidence‑based recommendations that support young people to thrive.

As a young organisation, we are still building our systems and ways of working. This is a great opportunity to help shape a department at an early stage and contribute to meaningful, place‑based change.

Please note: This is a voluntary and unpaid role, with no financial compensation or future paid opportunities attached. We encourage you to apply if you have relevant/transferable skills for this role. YAUK is currently an unregistered charity, working towards gaining the registered status.

About the Role

We are seeking a Deputy Head of Department to support the leadership and smooth running of the England & Wales Local Operations team. Working closely with the Head of Operations, you will provide additional leadership capacity, help coordinate multiple local research projects, and step in to lead the department when required.

This role is ideal for someone with a strong research or policy background who enjoys working in evolving environments and wants to use their skills to make a positive impact for young people.

Key Responsibilities

- Support the Head of Operations with day‑to‑day departmental coordination.

- Provide leadership cover when needed, including taking on delegated workstreams.

- Lead or oversee local policy and research projects across England and Wales.

- Ensure research is rigorous, ethical and relevant to local contexts.

- Translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations.

- Help develop emerging systems, processes and ways of working.

- Build positive relationships with internal teams, volunteers, and external partners.

About You

You will have:

- Experience in research, evaluation or policy analysis.

- Strong analytical and writing skills.

- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.

- Confidence working in ambiguity and helping build structure where needed.

- Experience volunteering and/or managing volunteers in a charity or community setting.

- A collaborative, supportive approach to leadership.

- Commitment to improving outcomes for young people.

Why Volunteer With Us

- Shape a new department at a formative stage.

- Use your research expertise to support real, local impact.

- Gain leadership experience in a supportive environment.

- Flexible hours that fit around your existing commitments.

- Join a mission‑driven team passionate about youth opportunity.

Apply Now

If you’re passionate about evidence‑based change and want to help shape a growing organisation, we’d love to hear from you. Join Youth Advantage UK as we build our Local Operations Department and create better opportunities for young people across England and Wales.

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a charity that supports refugees and asylum-seekers living in South West London, and helps them to play their full part in the community. Arriving as an asylum seeker in the UK can be a terrifying and disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. We exist to help people seeking asylum overcome those challenges, and to help them rebuild their lives. 

We offer a range of individual and group support to improve the holistic wellbeing of people who have a forced displacement background, providing them the tools they need to build lives filled with value, meaning and purpose in the UK. Our activities for adults include currently include: ESOL classes; sports; women’s creative writing; women’s coffee morning, and casework. 

About the CARAS Adult Team: 

In the post-pandemic environment, CARAS is responding to the role of digital literacies in our programme delivery to learners of asylum-seeking and refugee background. In contrast to the UK essential Digital skills framework, we have built in language inclusion to create a participatory learning course for Essential Digital Literacies for learners who are new to reading and writing in English. The individuals joining CARAS are highly diverse, with different countries of origin, linguistic and educational backgrounds. We have observed over the last year that many CARAS community members have limited digital skills, particularly in regard to using computers. Community members have highlighted that computers are important for many individuals to achieve their educational and employment goals, whilst increasing confidence and independence. We have co-designed a digital skills program in partnership with CARAS community members to improve computer literacy and skills, focusing on basic computer literacy.

Our values are at the centre of all our work: 

• Kindness: CARAS will nurture all who are part of our community, helping everyone to develop their skills, talents, and interests. 

• Justice: CARAS will strive for social justice following a rights-based approach in all our work and challenging instances when rights are not upheld in wider society. 

• Empowerment: CARAS works alongside people, recognising and respecting their skills and strengths and striving together for better outcomes. 

• ‘With’ not ‘for’: CARAS will put the voices, opinions, experiences and needs of its beneficiaries at the heart of all that we do. 

About Youth ESOL: 

Our ESOL project offers English language classes to young people at a wide range of levels. This provides vital skills, opportunities and social contact and is crucial for enabling young people to do well at school or college.

About the Role: 

CARAS is looking for Digital Skills Volunteer to support our face-to-face study programme for young people.

The Digital Skills group is in Streatham and is an important element of a study programme for young people aged 14 to 18 who are out of formal education. The timings of the digital skills sessions is as follows: 

• Tuesday evenings 4pm to 6pm 

Volunteers are required to attend one session per week. They are also welcome to come early and support ESOL classes before the Digital Skills sessions, where appropriate. 

The Tuesday Digital skills sessions focus on practical, accessible digital skills, such as, but not limited to: 

• Using computers, tablets, or smartphones confidently 

• Keyboard and navigation skills 

• Using email and online communication tools 

• Accessing learning platforms and online resources 

• Online safety and digital wellbeing 

• Using digital tools to support English learning, homework and study skills 

The aim of the Digital Skills sessions is to build independence, confidence, and digital inclusion, supporting young people to engage more fully with formal education and everyday life in the UK. Enrolments to the programme are based on rolling admissions, requiring adaptability to the changing digital skills needs of the group through participatory enquiry led by the ESOL teacher. 

The ESOL teacher will provide guidance, session plans, and tips for supporting learners with emerging English, including how to explain digital concepts in clear, accessible ways. 

Volunteers will typically work with 1–5 students, offering one-to-one or small group support and adapting tasks to different ability levels. 

Please note that ESOL classes do not run during school holidays, and we follow Wandsworth Council term dates.

Volunteer tasks and responsibilities: 

• Providing one-to-one or small group support during Digital Skills sessions 

• Supporting young people to use digital devices and software confidently 

• Helping to set up the classroom and digital equipment 

• Attending and contributing to volunteer debriefs after each session 

• Sharing observations on learners’ progress, challenges, and successes 

• Making use of any community languages if any, to support learners’ understanding 

• Working collaboratively as part of a team and helping to shape the project 

• Supporting young people to recognise and celebrate their achievements 

• Showing flexibility to a wide range of ability levels and confidence with technology 

• Following CARAS’ confidentiality, safeguarding, health & safety, equal opportunities, data management, and all other relevant policies 

Requirements: 

Essential: 

• Aged 18 years or older 

• An interest in education, digital inclusion, and supporting young people 

• Confident using computers, smartphones, or tablets 

• Currently resident in the UK or has asylum-seeker or refugee status 

• Able to provide five years’ worth of addresses and willing to undergo a DBS check 

• DBS and proof of residency are not necessary if you are a CARAS community member who is more recently arrived in the UK 

• Able to attend volunteer induction training (online) prior to starting 

• Able to travel to our community centre in Tooting (food and travel expenses can be reimbursed) 

• Non-judgemental and able to engage with young people from diverse backgrounds 

• Reliable and punctual, with a commitment of at least one session per week for a minimum of 4 months 

• Good communication skills, especially with people who are new to English 

• Willingness to explain digital concepts patiently and clearly 

• Ability to volunteer during Wandsworth term time 

Desirable 

• Experience supporting young people with digital skills or IT (formal or informal) 

• Knowledge of community languages such as Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Pashto, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Somali, or Spanish 

• Experience working with young people, refugees, or learners of English in a work or volunteer capacity 

• Interest in using digital tools to support language learning 

Through volunteering with us you will: 

• Gain experience of English language teaching; 

• Meet new members of your local community; 

• Learn about different cultures; 

• Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum; 

• Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team; 

• Develop your skills and competencies such as literacy and phonics strategies for emerging learners of English; 

• Be able to access relevant training, including safeguarding training. 

• Be able to obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months of regular volunteering. 

To Apply: 

Successful applicants will be invited to a taster session at CARAS, following which they will have an informal interview with a staff member of the CARAS ESOL team and a community member. All volunteers must complete an enhanced DBS check for working with young people and attend training with us before starting. You will also receive training and support relevant to your specific role. These meetings and the induction training will be on a rolling basis, so apply ASAP!

Youth Leaders work directly with young people in St John Ambulance Badger Setts and Cadet Units. By organising a mixed weekly programme, this role will support the learning and development of young people into the next generation of health citizens. Youth Leaders also help young people develop their confidence, teamwork skills, self-discipline, and generally encourage them to strive to be the best they can be, as well as supervise and support other adult volunteers in their team.

You’ll get a huge sense of satisfaction and pride delivering an essential service. It’s great for you, great for your community and great for our nation, and it requires only a small commitment of your time. 

Pursuing the role

Interviews and selection for the role will take place between 12 April and 10 May (inclusive)

If you are successful you will need to undertake induction & training for role:

• Welcome Event (Induction) - A Welcome/ induction event will take place once all new volunteers have been on-boarded.
• Training for role - Volunteers will need to undertake both on-line and face to face training, details of course including dates, time & venue tbc

Closing date for these opportunities is: 09/04/2026

To apply for this opportunity please follow the link below:

Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable Key Stage 3 English tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with serious illnesses. 

"The phrase "time flies when you are having fun" comes to mind. It's been a really joy teaching my student." - Volunteer Tutor

What will you be doing? 

Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person for one hour per week

Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to KS3 English

Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions. 

Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What are we looking for? 

1. Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of KS3 English concepts and specifications.
2. Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
3. Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
4. Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
5. Adherence to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What difference will you make?

1. Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
2. Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
3. Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

What will you gain?

1. Enhanced DBS will be provided
2. Safeguarding Level One Training
3. Skill Development opportunities
4. Direct experience working with children and young people

You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.

Location 

Remote/Online

Time 

1 Hour per Week 

 Duration: 14 Weeks minimum

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.ed

About Youth Advantage UK

Youth Advantage UK is a growing organisation  working to improve outcomes for young people across England and Wales. Our England & Wales Local Operations Department leads local policy and research projects across counties, regions, cities and towns — identifying local challenges and developing evidence‑based recommendations that support young people to thrive.

As a young organisation, we are still building our systems and ways of working. This is a great opportunity to help shape a department at an early stage and contribute to meaningful, place‑based change.

Please note: This is a voluntary and unpaid role, with no financial compensation or future paid opportunities attached. We encourage you to apply if you have relevant or transferable skills. YAUK is currently an unregistered charity, working towards gaining the registered status.

About the Role

We are seeking a Senior Research & Policy Officer to support the delivery and coordination of local research and policy projects across England and Wales. You will supervise and support Officers, Researchers and Advisors, helping to delegate tasks, resolve issues, and ensure high‑quality outputs.

Working closely with the department’s management team, you will contribute to planning, decision‑making, and the development of effective ways of working. This role is ideal for someone with strong research skills who enjoys supporting others and thrives in a collaborative, evolving environment.

Key Responsibilities

- Delegate tasks and oversee the work of Officers, Researchers and Advisors.

- Provide day‑to‑day supervision, guidance and support to team members.

- Help resolve issues, remove barriers and maintain smooth project delivery.

- Lead or contribute to local research and policy projects across England and Wales.

- Ensure research is rigorous, ethical and relevant to local contexts.

- Support the development of team members through feedback and coaching.

- Build positive working relationships with internal teams, volunteers and external partners.

- Work alongside the management team to support planning and decision‑making.

About You

You will have:

- Experience in research, evaluation or policy analysis.

- Strong analytical and writing skills.

- Ability to supervise or support others in a project or team setting.

- Experience volunteering and/or managing volunteers in a charity or community environment.

- Confidence working in ambiguity and helping build structure where needed.

- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

- A collaborative, supportive approach to teamwork.

- Commitment to improving outcomes for young people.

Why Volunteer With Us

- Play a key role in shaping a new department at a formative stage.

- Use your research and leadership skills to support real, local impact.

- Gain supervisory and project‑coordination experience in a supportive environment.

- Join a mission‑driven team passionate about youth opportunity.

Apply Now

If you’re passionate about evidence‑based change and want to help shape a growing organisation, we’d love to hear from you. Join Youth Advantage UK as we build our Local Operations Department and create better opportunities for young people across England and Wales.

British Exploring Society is looking for two additional Trustees to join our Council (Board).

Trustee: Operations and Expeditions – A trustee with previous experience of leading British Exploring Society expeditions. Experience of taking young people on multiple remote and challenging expeditions. Previous Trustee experience of an outdoor and/or youth development charity is essential.

Trustee: Legal – A trustee who is a qualified lawyer ideally operating at a Partner level or senior executive level with a corporate environment with a passion for the outdoors and youth work. Previous trustee experience is helpful but not essential.

• Applications are open until close of business on Wednesday 1st April.

Charity Description

British Exploring Society is a world-class youth development charity with a unique heritage founded on the belief that challenging experiences can transform lives, empowering and equipping young people with the courage, integrity, skills, resilience and motivation to make the most of their future.

We prepare young people for adventures and expeditions virtually, and in remote locations in the UK and overseas where they face challenges, acquire outdoor skills and learn about themselves - as well as undertaking projects with content relevant to their lives and to the fragile environments that they explore.

The results are transformative – not just in terms of practical skills and resilience, but in a new-found confidence and self-belief which they carry forward to their future life. More than this, through their adventure together, our young people forge friendships for life and become part of a unique supportive and continuing community of explorers with shared experiences, values and perspectives on the world.

Our trustees

Our trustees play a vital role at British Exploring Society. They have independent control over, and legal responsibility for, our management and administration. Since 1932 we have always relied on the time individuals donate to us, and our trustees are a cornerstone of that culture of professional volunteering. We want our trustees to enjoy the time they give to us, and to feel motivated and uplifted by the work we do. We do everything we can to involve our trustees in the life of the organisation, to visit and get involved in our activities and to feel the positive impact of their contributions.

Our trustees ensure that we comply with the law, with our Articles, and that we continuously strive to fulfil our charitable purpose. This includes a proactive duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of our beneficiaries and a duty of care to ensure beneficiaries and others the charity comes into contact with do not come to harm.

Key responsibilities

Planning

• Approve our mission statement and review the team’s performance in achieving it
• Annually assess the changing environment and approve the charity’s plans
• Annually review and approve the organisation’s strategy
• Review and approve our financial goals
• Annually review and approve our budget
• Approve and review major policies, including all those relating to financial procedures, health and safety, risk, data protection and safeguarding.

Organisation

• Recruit, appraise, advise, support and if necessary change the CEO of the charity
• Be assured of management succession
• Approve appropriate salaries, terms and conditions of service for staff
• Support sub-committees and fill vacancies as needed
• Regularly audit the performance of Council and approve plans to improve its performance.

Operations

• Review results achieved by our team in relation to aims and objectives, annual and long range goals
• Be certain that the financial structure of the charity is adequate for its current needs and strategy
• Provide open and constructive criticism, advice, comments and support
• Approve major actions of the charity, such as expenditure on items over authorised limits and major shift in activity.

Audit

• Ensure accountability within the charity, particularly where trustees delegate responsibility for particular tasks or decisions to staff or volunteers
• Be assured that Council is adequately and currently informed of the condition of the charity and its operations
• Be assured that published reports adequately reflect the nature of services and the financial condition of the charity
• Ascertain that the CEO has established appropriate policies to define and identify conflicts of interest throughout the organisation and is administering and enforcing those policies
• Appoint independent auditors
• Review and assure compliance with statutory accounting, reporting requirements, relevant laws and standards affecting the charity