Volunteer Roles

For more than 30 years, the Marine Conservation Society has been the voice of the sea, defending our coastal habitats and species. We work towards a cleaner, better-protected, healthier ocean. One we can all enjoy. Together, we can achieve our vision of seas full of life, where nature flourishes and people thrive.

The Marine Conservation Society fights for the future of our ocean bringing people and science together to achieve action. Today, our ocean is in poor health because of human activity. We’re determined to change this, working with communities, businesses and governments. We have the staying power to see through campaigns, such as progress on marine protected areas, and we’re at the forefront of innovation, like the work we’re doing with investors to drive change.

Giving everyone a voice and the opportunity to make a difference works. It creates support that joins with us as we campaign for tangible, positive outcomes for our ocean – and it achieves results!

We know we must, and will, get stronger and inspire more change to come. We invite you to join us as a Trustee at this exciting time, to ensure the Marine Conservation Society continues to be a loud and active voice for our seas. We are looking for you to help shape the Charity’s future, and for you to spend some time with us, sharing our passion for the Marine Conservation Society to grow and be even more impactful.

Right now, less than 3% of charity Trustees are under 30, 8% are people of colour and 36% are women. We are looking for people from across the UK and are keen to recruit trustees from all nations in the UK. We value the many skills and experiences that you can bring to the Marine Conservation Society. We are committed to a Board culture that enables everyone to be their authentic selves and to enjoy the Trustee experience.

Our Board needs people with a range of backgrounds, life stages, experiences, and skills who come together as a team to offer challenge and energy to one another, and to boost our ability to deliver for our ocean. By joining as a Trustee, you will help navigate us through the risks and opportunities that we meet.

Who are we looking for?

We’re looking for people to join our Board with expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Finance – you might be a qualified accountant and have a background in finance and audit so that you can provide vital skills to help the Board oversee our financial management. An understanding of charity accounts and regulations would absolutely be an advantage.
• Marketing & Communications – we want to reach new audiences to ensure a diverse and inclusive approach, and we are aiming to do that at scale. You may have experience of providing strategic support for increasing our reach and visibility.
•  Marine Conservation - you might have environmental knowledge, ideally on the marine environment, with policy and/or practical experience of conservation. A network of contacts across the marine sector, particularly with business or government, would be an advantage.

What you can bring to our Board can be just as interesting as where you’ve been working. You do not need to have previous charity trustee experience, but you will need to be comfortable participating at a senior level with complex discussions and the need to be comfortable making pragmatic but key decisions

For more information about these rewarding and difference-making roles and the application process please contact us.

Key dates:

• Application closing date: 31 May 2024
• 1st Interviews: June 2024
• 2nd Interviews: End of June/Early July

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.

Role: Trustee – several roles available

About the opportunity

The Community Foundation for Surrey is an independent charitable foundation that turns private money into community money by matching local donors with local charities and community groups doing excellent work. 

We believe in a stronger, fairer Surrey, enabling everyone to support organisations who are making a positive difference to our communities so that no one is left behind.

We are building a strong movement of local philanthropists, with a unique place-based giving approach to support local people. We engage the generosity of a broad Donor base within Surrey, connecting them with those providing positive solutions within our local communities. Using our unique knowledge of the community and voluntary sector in our area, we come together to ensure a fairer county for all.

We work with individuals, families, businesses, and charitable trusts who want to make a real and lasting difference within Surrey, by connecting them with charitable projects that are providing vital support and reaching those most in need. Local Donors can establish a bespoke Fund with the Foundation, or contribute to one of our Collective Funds, supporting a growing programme of grant-making. We are proud to manage more than £17M in invested endowments and provide meaningful support to over 400 community projects each year.

Last year we awarded around £2m in grants, but our work has only just begun. In recent years, applications for grants related to poverty and disadvantage have increased by over 600% and applications for projects to support those suffering from mental ill-health have risen by 260%. 

2025 will be our 20th anniversary year and our ambition is to grow our annual grant giving as we are currently over ten times over-subscribed. Significant growth is essential if we are to fulfil our role in ensuring that no one in Surrey is left behind. 

As Trustee you will help us to set the strategic direction and fundraising priorities of the Foundation, ensuring that we function within the legal and regulatory framework of the sector and make the best possible impact on the lives of those living in our county. You will join us at a time when our communities are experiencing more disparity of advantage than ever before in our county.

The primary purpose of a Board Trustee is to work with the Chair, the Chief Executive, and the other Trustees to ensure that the Community Foundation fulfils its objectives and performance targets. To that end, he or she is required to contribute to the effective running of the Board as a governing body.

What are we looking for? Specific skills and experience.

We believe that it is vitally important to work in partnership in our county, to support those most in need in our communities. To that end we are seeking to recruit a number of trustees as follows: 

1. A Trustee who could bring governance interest or experience to join our Personnel & Governance Committee.
   1. Could be someone with HR interest and background OR
   2. Someone with risk management or legal experience
2. A Trustee who has knowledge of Corporate Social Responsibility, Social value or Community Engagement.
3. A Trustee with wealth management or investment management experience to join our Finance & Development Committee.
4. A Trustee who will take the lead for the Board on our Funder Plus programme – this is the provision of pro bono support by business professionals to help charities with their business and financial planning. It is a relatively new programme for CFSurrey and we would like to grow and develop it to add real value to our grants programmes.
5. A trustee who will take the lead for the Board on our exciting new Arts, Culture & Heritage Social Impact Fund. Someone who is passionate about the life-changing impact that arts, culture and heritage can have on people and can help us grow a new fund in this area.

For all the Trustee roles:

• The Trustee role is a voluntary position, open to all applicants, prior trustee experience is not required and a full induction programme will be provided.
• We are particularly looking for Trustees who can help us to ensure that our Board is as diverse as the local community that it serves in order to ensure a range of opinions and lived experience on our Board.
• Minimum engagement equivalent to one full day per month (typically spread out).
• Trustees must be able to attend 4 Board meetings per year (2-3 hours each). Offices are in Woking, and all meetings are hybrid to support remote attendance.
• And attend annual Board Away Day.
• And Trustees are also encouraged to participate in a minimum of one Board Sub-Committee (2-6 meetings per year depending on the committee).
• Trustees should also be able to commit to attending occasional Donor development events and/or visit grant recipient events from time to time.  
• Trustees are appointed for an initial three-year term of office, after which they may be re-elected for a further 2 consecutive terms of three years.
• Trustees are voluntary positions, but expenses incurred in their duties may be reclaimed from the Foundation with the approval of the Chair and Chief Executive.

To apply: Please send a CV and covering letter indicating why you are interested in this opportunity, and what you would bring to the role. Application deadline 7th June 2024.

For an informal discussion about the role contact the CEO of the Community Foundation for Surrey, Rebecca Bowden.

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.

What does RSPCA Mid Norfolk and North Suffolk Branch do? 

We are a separately registered charity to the National RSPCA, covering 2,500 square miles of Norfolk and Suffolk and fundraise within these areas. We work with local private boarding establishments and have a network of fosterers who help care for the animals within our Branch. Our primary source of funding is through our seven charity shops in Attleborough, Cromer, Dereham, Norwich, Sheringham and Wymondham.

The animal welfare services that we offer include: 

• Rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of animals

• Subsidised neutering and microchipping, financial aid for owned animals and a pet food bank 

• Advice and education sessions for schools and local groups. 

Our Mission and Values 

Our mission is to raise awareness, provide practical support and demonstrate compassion, in order to deliver excellent animal welfare in our Branch area. We have three key values which we uphold: 

• Honest 

• Passionate 

• Progressive 

What do RSPCA Branch Trustees do? 

RSPCA Branch Trustees are volunteers who shape the work that the Branch does and are collectively responsible for governing and managing the affairs of the Branch.  
“Trustees have overall control of a charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do.” “They may be known by other titles, such as: directors, board members, governors, committee members” - Charity Commission. 

Who are we looking for? 

We are looking for applications from people from all social and cultural backgrounds, who are passionate about improving animal welfare. It doesn’t matter whether you are an experienced Trustee or not, as Trustee training and induction will be provided.

We have identified gaps in one or more of the following skill areas, shared by our current board of Trustees, so this is our priority in terms of recruiting a new Trustee. 

• Business Development 

• IT/Digital 

• HR 

• Marketing and fundraising 

• Media 

What’s in it for you? 

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

• induction and Trustee training 

• claiming out of pocket expenses 

• the opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing skills 

• the ability to use your expertise to improve the wellbeing of animals in your local area and make a real difference to the lives of animals 

• access to our learning hub, which contains training materials and courses on a variety of subjects 

• the chance to meet like-minded people who share your enthusiasm for animal welfare 

• the chance to shape the services in your local area 

• volunteering is good for your wellbeing. 

WK Foundation is a recently registered charity in South London, seeking to add trustees to their board to reflect the communities the charity serve. Our work is dedicated to reconnecting low income urban communities with sustainable food pathways, with the aim of breaking the cycles of poverty that are perpetuated by dysfunctional food systems. The board are particularly interested in candidates who identify as Black Caribbean or have mixed racial backgrounds, such as mixed race Black Caribbean/White or Pakistani/White British.

Our board is female led (Chair & CEO are female), and consists of a clinical phschologist, social entrepreneur, trained counsellor & HR practicioner, and regenerative food specialist. We are a friendly but professional bunch who start meetings with a moment of reflection and prayer, record excellent minutes and stick (for the most part) to a pre-agreed agenda and schedule. We are big on creating a culture that combines support and listening with action, accountability and forward movement and our vibe is positive, and inclusive. 

We are currently re-developing our holistic hospitality training programme called Nourish, for an October 2025 launch. Nourish provides hands on skills training, work experience and employment opportunities, as well as employment progression and support for young adults from low income context facing disadvantages. We work with young adults for up to 12 months.

Our work is underpinned by our regenerative food practises and is run in accordance with our Christian faith values & principles. 

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If you have experience working, volunteering or living in community settings similar to those experienced by our trainees, and/ or experience in organising, training, mentoring, finance or legal experitse then please let us know!

Previous board experience is not a requirement, nor is any level of seniority in any given industry – WK
Foundation hopes to benefit from the insights of Trustees from all walks of life.

We are committed to building a diverse team, and seek to be representative of those we are supporting, so we
would especially like to hear from applicants who are from minority groups in the UK. We also recognise the
importance of lived experience in all roles within our organisation, and therefore welcome applications from those with lived experience of disadvantage.

Given the requirements of this role and WK Foundation Limited’s objectives and purpose as set out in its Articles of Association, it is a genuine occupational requirement under the Equality Act 2010 that the applicant for this role actively supports the Christian faith.

FLOWW is a charity solely purposed around solving period poverty. We are helping thousands of girls and women across sub-saharan Africa by supplying them with period safe underwear. We do this by partnering with other already established NGO's and using their resources and reach to help girls across the African continent. 

Want to be part of a world changing movement? FLOWW is tackling this problem that affects 500 million women. And we are doing it FAST.

We are looking for an intern (initially) who wants experience in the charity sector. We work in a focused but very friendly manner. The job would be to learn all about FLOWW and pick up on connecting the administrative dots needed in day to day management.

Skill set requires knowledge in basic tech / google workspace. Willingness to take on tasks last minute. 

Hours are flexible and will not exceed 3 hours on any given day. 

Location is Muswell Hill Road, London. With the option to work remotely after the initial period.

All expenses covered. 

We are looking for someone outgoing and committed- with hope to employ the right person after the trial period. 

Please get in touch if this sounds right for you. 

FLOWW is a registered charity and we will write a brilliant recommendation letter to whomever you may wish. 

Come change the world!

Emma and FInn.

Organisation: Kent County Council (supported by MCP)

Location: Opportunities in over 100 centres across 12 areas of Kent: Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe, Gravesham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge and Malling, and Tunbridge Wells.

Who’s who here?

KCC have opportunities for individuals to volunteer their time at a number of family hubs across the county.

MCP are a Kent based Recruitment business who are supporting KCC in the search for suitable volunteers. MCP will be your first port of contact to help you understand the opportunity and understand if it meets your needs & support you complete your training over a course of 12 weeks.

The mission - what and why?

All families need support from time to time to help their babies and children thrive, whether that’s from friends, family, volunteers, or practitioners.

Families with a new baby can face many different challenges, there is so much for new families to think about and cope with.

KCC’s ambition is for every family to receive the support they need, when they need it during this challenging but rewarding time.

So how can I help?

As a Volunteer you will help insupporting families to have access to the information and tools they need to care for and interact positively with their babies and children, and to look after their own wellbeing.

You will help to provide positive guidance, encouragement and sign post people in the direction of other resources to help them navigate this important time in their lives.

This is a flexible opportunity where we work together to understand what you can offer in terms of time; in turn you will receive full training fully funded and ongoing support.

What will I be doing?

You could be speaking to individuals one on one, manning a drop in session even running your own group sessions if you wanted to, however the main tasks will be:

• Increasing awareness & understanding of subjects.
• Support with baby & infant feeding.
• Assistance with early communication, play and learning.
• Providing non bias advice, specific support and services to families
• Signposting those who need it in the direction of other resources & services as appropriate (such as how to register a birth through to finding financial support, childcare options, SEND information etc…)

REMEMBER - THIS IS JUST A LIST OF WHAT THE HUB OFFERS - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW ALL THE ABOVE!

Do I have to have experience or qualifications?

No qualifications needed! You don’t need to have any special training or qualifications to apply, having said that, ideally a Family Coach role would be best suited to someone who has some form of the following:

• Parenting experience or some form of caring experience of babies & or young children.
• Have a non-judgemental attitude & understand about the pressure of bringing up a family.
• Have great communication skills - listening is a very important part of this role as well as providing support
• Be able to understand how important confidentiality is & ensure you respect this at all times

Sounds good! How do I become a Family Coach?

Good question. Initially get in contact so we can chat more. There is lots we can tell you about training and support but we only have so much room on these job advert boards! Here is some other information you might find helpful!

Training and Support:

• You will have 5 training sessions initially that will equip them to start as a Family Coach. This will be a mixture of online & face to face training which can be fitted in to suit you.
• There will be additional training sessions throughout the duration of your volunteering period.
• Volunteers must commit to undergo referencing and an enhanced DBS check (organised and paid by KCC)
• You must understand that support provided to families is completely confidential and follow KCC’s information governance and data protection policies (explained to you throughout the training).
• You must understand and follow multi-agency safeguarding processes (explained to you throughout the training).
• Fully trained, supervised & supported by KCC & Family Hub staff throughout your journey.

So why should I get involved?

Apart from giving back to your community and the families within it (which is an amazingly selfless thing to do!) there are several other benefits to getting involved!

Ultimately you will be giving up some of your time to support those around you, and you will most likely have your own personal reasons for wanting to give back, however there are a few other "benefits" that might be of interest:

• High quality, fully funded training sessions.
• Training does not only help you to grow your knowledge & skill set, it can be used for future opportunities, either volunteer, work or simply life skills.
• Gaining invaluable experience that could be applied to a later carer within the Social or Care sectors.
• Flexible hours - we can find out what works for you and us!
• Paid expenses to cover some travel etc..
• Opportunity to meet new people and grow your network with those local to you.
• Boost your confident, self esteem & communication skills.
• References provided at the end of the project or your volunteering time which you can use for other opportunities.
• And if all that wasn’t enough, it is proven that volunteering your time to help those around you will make you feel great! Helping others can help you too!

Right got it… what do I do now?

Great! If all that sounds like something you might be suited to then let’s chat more. As mentioned, MCP are working on behalf of KCC to put you in touch.

Reach out to MCP to get started, ask any questions you might have & find out more info.

About We Are Family 

We Are Family is an extraordinary peer support community for adopters and prospective adopters. We’re there for parents throughout their adoption journey. Online and in person, our parents’ groups, events, resources, podcasts and talks offer mutual support, information and inspiration to adopters and those considering adoption. We currently operate across Greater London and the Home Counties, with ambitions to scale nationally over the coming years. 

You can find out more about us here. 

The Role

We are looking for new trustees to strengthen and enhance our board. The key responsibilities of the role include, governance, overseeing policy and direction, financial oversight and assisting with the leadership and general promotion of We Are Family to support the organisation’s Vision, Mission, Values and needs.

This is a voluntary opportunity with associated Trustee expenses -  such as travel / childcare -  covered by We Are Family.  Trustees can be based anywhere in the UK. 

Commitment

Trustee capacity to devote the time needed for the following is essential:

• 4 Board meetings per year

• 2 Board away days per year (on a Saturday)

• Membership of at least one sub-committee (which also meet 4 times a year)

We estimate 8-10 hours for the charity per month. The duration of membership for a new Board member is for three years in the first instance, with the possibility of appointment for a further three year term.

Skills and Experience 

All applicants should be able to demonstrate the following:

• Be able to show high levels of professionalism and an ability to work collaboratively with others, including Trustees, our core team and the wider Volunteer network at We Are Family

• Be well-organised, with good written and verbal communication skills.

• Previous board/trustee experience is not necessary and we welcome applications from all ages and backgrounds. A thorough induction, and further trustee training as appropriate, can be provided. 

We are particularly interested candidates with the following experience:

• Working as a professional with or in the adoption sector,

• Advocacy and/or research work;

• Finance/charity finance

• Leadership within a charity

• Education 

• Legal.

Although many of our current trustees are adopters themselves, we are also keen to recruit suitably qualified people who are not, but who can demonstrate a commitment to the values and mission of We Are Family.

One of the great strengths of We Are Family is that we are volunteer and member driven, and we represent a diverse community of adoptive parents. We particularly welcome trustees from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds to ensure that the board can benefit from this diversity of experience. We would also welcome single adopters to the board. 

To Apply 

If the opportunity to join an exciting, rapidly growing charity appeals to you as someone able to make a valuable contribution, please get in touch!

Refer to our job ad for the Applications email address and email our team. If you would like an informal conversation about the opportunity, please let us know.

Please note that applications are received and reviewed on an ongoing basis, therefore an early application is advised.

Role: Youth ‘GRS’ casework volunteer 

Team: Casework 

Supervised by: Youth caseworker 

Location: Tooting Hub on a Wednesday afternoon (between 12:30-18:00pm) 

Time commitment: 2.5 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months 

About CARAS : 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation, we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

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 CARAS Casework: 

CARAS works with adults and young people of a refugee and asylum seeker background to find solutions to their problems. There are two separate sub-teams within the Casework team; young people and adults. We support young people to navigate the asylum system, understand their rights and entitlements, access education, connect with services and realise their goals. We are a non-specialist casework and advocacy service, so we work in close partnership with other local organisations to whom we refer people with more complex issues. 

Using the empowerment model, our casework service embodies CARAS’ values of ‘with not for’, always striving to ensure people are armed with the information and resources they need to make decisions and take action for themselves. 

About CARAS GRS: 

CARAS runs a “Get Ready for School” (GRS) programme for newly arrived Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children who are eligible for statutory education but do not yet have a place in school or college. The programme helps young people prepare for mainstream education by offering six hours a week of classroom-based ESOL learning alongside numeracy, digital literacy, and study skills. These sessions take place on a Monday and a Wednesday.  

Under statutory guidelines, a looked-after child in year 11 or below must be placed in full-time education within 20 school days.1 If the young person is out of education for longer than four weeks, they can continue attending Get Ready for School for up to 12 weeks, with CARAS additionally offering the young person and their support network help from our Casework team to ensure that they are accessing full-time education as soon as possible.

About the Role: 

We are currently recruiting for 3 volunteers to join our Youth Casework team as a GRS needs assessment caseworker. 

The purpose of the Youth ‘GRS’ Casework volunteer role is to support young people with a refugee or asylum-seeking background to understand their rights, access information and services, and ultimately, take control of their own lives. You will work with individuals to complete a needs assessment to establish what support they may need alongside GRS. You will work with individuals to address problems they may face relating to, among other issues, asylum information, accessing healthcare and education, accessing support from their local authority, and finding activities and opportunities. There are often supplementary referrals that come out of the GRS needs assessments that will need equal care and attention from volunteers. 

On occasion, you will offer support to the GRS team to support young peoples’ learning journey and develop a wider understanding of the GRS programme. 

You will start from an understanding that individuals are always best placed to solve their own problems, and often need nothing more than to talk out a problem and find the solution themselves. When helpful, you will provide information to clarify and support to take action. 

The GRS volunteer will attend our community space in Tooting Hub on Wednesday afternoons for 2.5 hours between 12:30-18:00pm. Volunteer caseworkers have 1:1 appointments, either in person or by phone, with CARAS members. Volunteers also support administrative tasks such as updating our databases, collating resources, and creating information guides. 

Youth Casework Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities:  

Working in an empowering way with individuals and promoting their independence through goal-setting. 

Supporting people to develop their knowledge of rights and entitlements. 

Assisting with filling out forms. 

Signposting and referring to other services and organisations. 

Gathering information from experts and disseminating information to people in an accessible manner. 

Engaging in collaborative internet and phone research on services, organisations, and grants. 

Flagging safeguarding concerns and other issues where further support is required. 

Keeping accurate case notes. 

Supporting to maintain our signposting database. 

Researching and collating resources. 

Working collaboratively as a team and assisting in shaping the Youth Casework project. 

Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality Policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant. 

Requirements (all experience can be from paid or voluntary roles):  

Essential:  

Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English. 

Confidence in using IT (Microsoft Office, Outlook, Zoom, Google Search, online forms) 

To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds; 

A commitment to confidentiality and data protection 

Thorough with good attention to detail 

Reliable 

A high level of spoken and written English 

Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way 

A calm, friendly, kind, and patient approach 

Enjoyment in speaking to new people 

A commitment to working in an empowering way 

Able to maintain boundaries 

Able to work autonomously 

Currently resident in the UK 

Desirable: 

Experience in doing 1:1 advice work/casework 

Working knowledge or experience of relevant law and policy around asylum support, the asylum process, rights, and entitlements for people seeking asylum. 

Direct experience of the UK immigration system. 

Past experience of working with people seeking asylum. 

Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu, or Vietnamese. 

We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process. 

Benefits of Volunteering: 

· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum. 

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team. 

· Develop your skills and competencies. 

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

Obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months regular volunteering. 

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. 

To Apply: 

Applicants will have an informal meeting with the Youth caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP. 

Successful applicants will be required to complete 2 hours of online general CARAS induction and 2 hours of online safeguarding training and specialist Casework volunteer training before commencing their placement. 

Organisation: Kent County Council (supported by MCP)

Location: Opportunities in over 100 centres across 12 areas of Kent: Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe, Gravesham, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge and Malling, and Tunbridge Wells.

Who’s who here?

KCC have opportunities for individuals to volunteer their time at a number of family hubs across the county.

MCP are a Kent based Recruitment business who are supporting KCC in the search for suitable volunteers. MCP will be your first port of contact to help you understand the opportunity and understand if it meets your needs & support you complete your training over a course of 12 weeks.

The mission - what and why?

All families need support from time to time to help their babies and children thrive, whether that’s from friends, family, volunteers, or practitioners.

Families with a new baby can face many different challenges, there is so much for new families to think about and cope with.

KCC’s ambition is for every family to receive the support they need, when they need it during this challenging but rewarding time.

So how can I help?

As a Volunteer you will help insupporting families to have access to the information and tools they need to care for and interact positively with their babies and children, and to look after their own wellbeing.

You will help to provide positive guidance, encouragement and sign post people in the direction of other resources to help them navigate this important time in their lives.

This is a flexible opportunity where we work together to understand what you can offer in terms of time; in turn you will receive full training fully funded and ongoing support.

What will I be doing?

You could be speaking to individuals one on one, manning a drop in session even running your own group sessions if you wanted to, however the main tasks will be:

• Increasing awareness & understanding of subjects.
• Support with baby & infant feeding.
• Assistance with early communication, play and learning.
• Providing non bias advice, specific support and services to families
• Signposting those who need it in the direction of other resources & services as appropriate (such as how to register a birth through to finding financial support, childcare options, SEND information etc…)

REMEMBER - THIS IS JUST A LIST OF WHAT THE HUB OFFERS - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO KNOW ALL THE ABOVE!

Do I have to have experience or qualifications?

No qualifications needed! You don’t need to have any special training or qualifications to apply, having said that, ideally a Family Coach role would be best suited to someone who has some form of the following:

• Parenting experience or some form of caring experience of babies & or young children.
• Have a non-judgemental attitude & understand about the pressure of bringing up a family.
• Have great communication skills - listening is a very important part of this role as well as providing support
• Be able to understand how important confidentiality is & ensure you respect this at all times

Sounds good! How do I become a Family Coach?

Good question. Initially get in contact so we can chat more. There is lots we can tell you about training and support but we only have so much room on these job advert boards! Here is some other information you might find helpful!

Training and Support:

• You will have 5 training sessions initially that will equip them to start as a Family Coach. This will be a mixture of online & face to face training which can be fitted in to suit you.
• There will be additional training sessions throughout the duration of your volunteering period.
• Volunteers must commit to undergo referencing and an enhanced DBS check (organised and paid by KCC)
• You must understand that support provided to families is completely confidential and follow KCC’s information governance and data protection policies (explained to you throughout the training).
• You must understand and follow multi-agency safeguarding processes (explained to you throughout the training).
• Fully trained, supervised & supported by KCC & Family Hub staff throughout your journey.

So why should I get involved?

Apart from giving back to your community and the families within it (which is an amazingly selfless thing to do!) there are several other benefits to getting involved!

Ultimately you will be giving up some of your time to support those around you, and you will most likely have your own personal reasons for wanting to give back, however there are a few other "benefits" that might be of interest:

• High quality, fully funded training sessions.
• Training does not only help you to grow your knowledge & skill set, it can be used for future opportunities, either volunteer, work or simply life skills.
• Gaining invaluable experience that could be applied to a later carer within the Social or Care sectors.
• Flexible hours - we can find out what works for you and us!
• Paid expenses to cover some travel etc..
• Opportunity to meet new people and grow your network with those local to you.
• Boost your confident, self esteem & communication skills.
• References provided at the end of the project or your volunteering time which you can use for other opportunities.
• And if all that wasn’t enough, it is proven that volunteering your time to help those around you will make you feel great! Helping others can help you too!

Right got it… what do I do now?

Great! If all that sounds like something you might be suited to then let’s chat more. As mentioned, MCP are working on behalf of KCC to put you in touch.

Reach out to MCP to get started, ask any questions you might have & find out more info.

Role: Youth casework volunteer 

Team: Casework 

Supervised by: Youth caseworker 

Location: Tooting Hub on a Wednesday afternoon (13:30-16:00pm or 18:30-21:00pm) 

Time commitment: 2.5 hours a week, we ask that volunteers commit for a minimum of 6 months 

About CARAS: 

Community Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (CARAS) is a registered charity that has been supporting refugees and asylum-seekers since 2002 empowering them to integrate and engage in the local community. 

Arriving as an asylum seeker/refugee can be a disempowering experience. Difficulties with language, accessing services and overcoming prejudice are ever-present. As an organisation, we are committed to work alongside refugees to overcome those challenges, and to help them build their lives. 

We offer group support and targeted support work. We offer a range of activities including: ESOL classes; social and recreational activities such as youth club, drama, trips, and family activities; educational support for young people; and casework and advocacy support. 

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 CARAS Casework: 

CARAS works with adults and young people of a refugee and asylum seeker background to find solutions to their problems. There are two separate sub-teams within the Casework team; young people and adults. We support young people to navigate the asylum system, understand their rights and entitlements, access education, connect with services and realise their goals. We are a non-specialist casework and advocacy service, so we work in close partnership with other local organisations to whom we refer people with more complex issues. 

Using the empowerment model, our casework service embodies CARAS’ values of ‘with not for’, always striving to ensure people are armed with the information and resources they need to make decisions and take action for themselves. 

About the Role: 

We are currently recruiting 3 volunteers to join our Youth Casework team. 

The purpose of the Youth Casework volunteer role is to support young people with a refugee or asylum-seeking background to understand their rights, access information and services, and ultimately, take control of their own lives. You will work with individuals to address problems they may face relating to, among other issues, asylum support, accessing healthcare and education, access to legal advice and finding activities and opportunities. 

You will start from an understanding that individuals are always best placed to solve their own problems, and often need nothing more than to talk out a problem and find the solution themselves. When helpful, you will provide information to clarify and support to take action. 

The Youth Casework team hold a support session at our community space in Tooting Hub on Wednesday afternoons from 13:30-16:00pm and evenings from 18:00-21:00pm. Volunteer caseworkers have 1:1 appointments, either in person or by phone, with CARAS members. These can be related to a range of topics. Currently, our biggest areas of work are around social care, the National Transfer Scheme, access to college, nursery/school places for children, referrals to mental health providers, searches, and signposting to activities, finding solicitors and supporting people to apply for bus passes and ID cards. Volunteers also support administrative tasks such as updating our databases, collating resources, and creating information guides. 

Youth Casework Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities:  

Working in an empowering way with individuals and promoting their independence through goal-setting. 

Supporting people to develop their knowledge of rights and entitlements. 

Assisting with filling out forms. 

Signposting and referring to other services and organisations. 

Gathering information from experts and disseminating information to people in an accessible manner. 

Engaging in collaborative internet and phone research on services, organisations, and grants. 

Flagging safeguarding concerns and other issues where further support is required. 

Keeping accurate case notes. 

Supporting to maintain our signposting database. 

Researching and collating resources. 

Working collaboratively as a team and assisting in shaping the Youth Casework project. 

Adhering to CARAS Confidentiality Policy, Health & Safety policy, Equal Opportunities policy and all other policies as relevant. 

Requirements (all experience can be from paid or voluntary roles):  

Essential:  

Excellent communication skills, especially with people with varying levels of English. 

Confidence in using IT (Microsoft Office, Outlook, Zoom, Google Search, online forms) 

To be non-judgemental and able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds; 

A commitment to confidentiality and data protection 

Thorough with good attention to detail 

Reliable 

A high level of spoken and written English 

Ability to gather information from people in a sensitive way 

A calm, friendly, kind, and patient approach 

Enjoyment in speaking to new people 

A commitment to working in an empowering way 

Able to maintain boundaries 

Able to work autonomously 

Currently resident in the UK 

Desirable: 

Experience in doing 1:1 advice work/casework 

Working knowledge or experience of relevant law and policy around asylum support, the asylum process, rights, and entitlements for people seeking asylum. 

Direct experience of the UK immigration system. 

Past experience of working with people seeking asylum. 

Proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Dari, Farsi, Kurdish, Oromo, Pashto, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Tigrinya, Urdu, or Vietnamese. 

We will prioritise applicants with lived experience of the asylum process. 

Benefits of Volunteering: 

· Learn about issues relating to refugees and people seeking asylum. 

· Work as part of a friendly, welcoming team. 

· Develop your skills and competencies. 

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

Obtain a reference from us relating to your placement after 3 months regular volunteering 

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. 

To Apply: 

Applicants will have an informal meeting with the Youth caseworker, and one with community members, to assess compatibility to the role. These meetings will be on a rolling basis so apply ASAP. 

Successful applicants will be required to complete 2 hours of online general CARAS induction and 2 hours of online safeguarding training and specialist Casework volunteer training before commencing their placement. 

Who we are:

ACAA works to empower and support refugees and asylum seekers by providing vital services that enable successful integration. These include English classes, mentoring, drop-in advice sessions, a legal surgery, employment and education training, counter-extremism workshops and youth and women's engagement services. The main office is in London, but has recently launched a branch in Liverpool.

Role Summary:

Working as part of a small dynamic ESOL teaching team, you will have the opportunity to shadow teachers and gain practical teaching experience. This is alongside training sessions for CPD (continued professional development), as you progress in the position you will take on more responsibility and develop your role. 

Duties will include:

• Preparing and delivering lessons to students of different ages and abilities
• Preparing classroom and coursework materials, homework assignments, and weekly hand-outs
• Assessing students' class work and assignments
• Creating an engaging and fun teaching atmosphere
• Ensuring all our students engage in academic learning despite their ability, to achieve their highest potential whilst developing personal and employability skills
• Setting effective targets to monitor students’ progress
• Supporting and motivating students to allow them to grow and enhance their own skills by both achieving qualifications and becoming ready for work

Personal requirements:

• Previous teaching experience is desirable, but not essential as support is provided
• ESOL qualification (CELTA, TEFL or other) or equivalent experience
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• Good listening skills
• DBS checked or willingness to be
• Planning and organisational skills

Working alongside our existing members, the new trustee will help us uphold our charitable aims, giving input on decisions for the future of the organisation and sharing opinions and experiences toward our shared social and environmental goals. We are currently particularly seeking support from people living or working locally, who have professional experience and/or qualifications in legal fields.

You will need to be able to commit two hours for meetings every other month from 7-9pm, either in person or online. Additional time will be needed to read the board papers which will be sent in advance and there may be occasional discussions outside of the normal meetings. No trustee experience is required, and training can be provided. More information on these expectations can be found below.

Walworth Garden is committed to equality of opportunity, and values diversity. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic locals who have been historically excluded from the horticulture industries, as well as applications from women and LGBTQIA+ candidates.

We are currently seeking to recruit goverenance members to our Local Boards who can contribute to the support and challenge operating in our schools and bring experience, for example in finance, marketing, data analysis, human resources. 

We are hoping that you can help us to fill this gap.

There are approximately 210,000 school governors in England – the largest volunteer force in the country. High-quality governance has a significant impact on how well a school is run and what pupils can achieve. 

What we are looking for

Contrary to popular thought, you don’t have to be a parent or connected to the school in some way to be on the local board.

For our schools, the main advantage of having you join one of our local boards is the expertise and experience you can bring to the role. Knowledge of e.g. marketing, financial management, human resources, data analysis will greatly improve the effectiveness of our board and have a positive impact on our pupils’ education.

What we require of local board members

In terms of time commitment, we expect that you will attend at least one meeting per term, which will take place at the end of the school day (usually around 4pm) and rarely last more than 2 hours. Plus, take part in agreed school visits focusing on specific areas such as Pupil Premium, SEND and safeguarding.  Feedback from members contributes to an evidence-base for self-evaluation and school improvement and you will be offered training and support to help you fulfil your role successfully. All those in governance roles, meet together at least once a year at a conference event.

About our schools

All schools are in rural locations and are firmly rooted in their local communities. We support learners from 4-18 and inclusivity is central to our working. There are two SEND Centres for children with additional learning and cognition needs, supporting children in KS2, 3 and 4. Our schools are: Bacton Primary School, Cedars Park Primary School, Mendlesham Primary School and Stowupland High School.

Experience tells us that our local board members not only make a significant difference to our schools, but also gain much personal and professional satisfaction from the role. If you find that you enjoy the role and gain skills and experience, you may also wish to look at becoming a trustee in the future.

We are happy to talk with anyone interested, or arrange a visit to one of the schools, if you would like to find out more. Please feel free to email or call as detailed below.  Further information, including an application form, can also be found on the Governance page of our website:  JMAT Governance

Voluntary Business Development Officer (part time)

ETS is a growing UK based Christian charity, which is looking to expand its discipleship and evangelism training throughout the UK and the English-speaking nations.

We are looking for a person of faith who can identify with our aims and has some experience with business development or sales. Although this is a voluntary position, we anticipate that this role will be salaried at some point in the future.

This role will be our first contact to many Pastors and Leaders in both the UK and to other English-speaking Nations. The role will involve reaching out to Churches to promote our discipleship and evangelism training. This will be by targeted emails, letters, and phone calls, which will be backed up and supported by our Social Media and Fundraising Officers.

ETS is based in Peterborough, and we expect any applicant to work from home/remote (hybrid) along with attending meetings over zoom. We will only interview applicants who are UK based. There may be occasional team meetings at Allia Business Centre, Peterborough, but traveling costs will be reimbursed, along with phone calls and other approved expenses.

Salary: This is a voluntary role and you are expected to pay your own taxes (if applicable)

Hours of work: This is a part-time role of 2 days per week (10 hours) but can be carried out at different times during the week.

We expect a commitment of one year, with the possibility of extension

Safeguarding: Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory DBS check.