Activities Support Volunteer Roles in Manchester, Greater Manchester

We are seeking Trustees to join our Trustee Board who wish to make a positive difference to the health and well being of women in the Borough. Successful applicants will contribute to the overall strategy of the charity and oversee its governance, to ensure it is well managed and administered with resources being used appropriately.

Young Enterprise’s Team Programme is an enterprise journey for students who have mild to moderate learning difficulties. Designed to aid young people’s transition from education into independent living and employment, the programme develops confidence and life skills through working as a team to set up and run an enterprise.

This hands-on and highly impactful role involves mentoring and encouraging students with learning disabilities to face the challenges of running a business, and learn critical life skills, in a safe space.

Team Programme Volunteers are primarily based within schools/ colleges supporting a group of students with learning disabilities. They will volunteer alongside school staff to ensure the young people are able to flourish. Young people particularly value volunteers who can attend in person as this support their learning and development of social skills.

The time commitment can be variable depending on the particular needs of the group. At most this will involve around one hour per week, attending weekly company meetings throughout the school academic year, however in some cases may be less frequent than this.

What you will be doing

• Coaching, mentoring, and positively supporting young people with learning disabilities and autism through their business adventure
• Attending regular company meetings within the school environment
• Liaising closely with the lead teacher to achieve the best outcomes for young people

The skills you need

• Patient, encouraging and open-minded
• Open to learning new things, to challenge and in turn be challenged
• Comfortable in the presence of young people with learning disabilities (but no specific experience is necessary)
• Able to commit to attending regular face to face student company meetings within a school . Continuity for this group of young people is particularly important
• Able to communicate clearly and directly with young people with learning disabilities, who may also have communication difficulties
• A creative thinker, able to support young people experiencing additional barriers to overcome challenges

What's in it for you

• Satisfaction of supporting young people to grow in confidence, learn new skills and achieve their potential
• Develop your professional skills in mentoring, facilitation and communication
• Volunteering alongside a group of young people will challenge you to think differently and approach problems from a new perspective

The CRH Charitable Trust is looking for new Trustees to join its Board.

The CRH Charitable Trust are looking for new Trustees to join their Board of Trustees. The CRH Charitable Trust is a registered charity (charity number 213579).

The Charity provides grants to  a wide range of charitable organisations.  The Trustees' preference is to support charitable organisations in the North West of England for mental health and mental disability projects where expertise in this area and financial stability can be demonstrated.

We are now looking to appoint new Trustees to join the current Board of Trustees. We would particularly welcome people with the following skills and experience:

· Qualified accountant

· Social work

· Finance and investments

· Management

· Other Trusteeships

This is an opportunity for you to:

· Join a respected local charity trust

· Make a positive impact for people in your local area

· Gain valuable board experience and develop your analytical and strategy skills

The time commitment would be 4 meetings per year, plus report reading and preparation time for each meeting.. In addition Trustees are expected to undertake visits to potential grant applicants and report back to the Board.  We estimate that the time commitment is equivalent to 1-2 days per month

For further information, please see our Trustee Information Pack on our website.

To apply please provide a copy of your CV along with a supporting statement as to why you wish to be considered as a Trustee referring to the Trustee Role Profile.

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.

About us – the Irene Taylor Trust: Creating Music. Transforming Futures.

We believe that creating original music collaboratively can have a powerful impact on people’s lives, bringing them new confidence, important transferable skills and raised aspirations for the future. Our programmes Music in Prisons, Sounding Out and Making Tracks support people of all ages in prisons, previously imprisoned people rebuilding their lives on release, and young people experiencing challenging circumstances in the community. We have a measurable impact on recidivism, helping people into training and jobs, and on enhancing wellbeing. We work with around 600 participants each year. The quality of our work was recently recognised by the Royal Philharmonic Society with their ‘Gamechanger’ award.

About you – who we’re looking for to join our board

We are looking for Trustees to join our welcoming and productive Trustee Board - in particular, we are looking for a Finance Trustee/ Treasurer to take a lead on overseeing our finances (c £500k and in good order). 

We are also starting succession planning for the Chair role, so please get in touch if this would be of interest to you and you have experience and skills in leading others. This is an exciting time to join the team, as we look ahead to celebrating 30 years of the Irene Taylor Trust in 2025. 

At the Irene Taylor Trust, we understand that diverse perspectives strengthen our work and help us better serve the communities we aim to uplift. We actively encourage applications from individuals who bring a wealth of different experiences, particularly those from Black, Asian, and other global majority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ communities and neurodiverse individuals. We are also eager to hear from those who may not have previous trustee or board membership experience but are passionate about making a difference. Your voice is valuable. We are open to applications from people with a criminal conviction (and could help you to check your eligibility under the Charity Commission rules). We will deliver an induction and support working collectively as team. 

Our terms of office are three-years, renewable up to twice. The time commitment for Trustees includes attending quarterly meetings (in-person in London or online), attending our project performances when possible, and supporting the office team on emerging issues in your areas of skills and interest.

Finance Trustee role details

We are looking for someone with a skill for numbers to take the lead at the Trustee Board concerning keeping our finances in good order, meeting financial governance requirements and thinking strategically. This role is formally referred to as the Treasurer. We have a Fundraising and Finance Committee which you would also join alongside our Vice Chair, who is an investment professional; this meeting is also attended by the office staff responsible for our fundraising and finances; you would chair this committee. You would also have occasional involvement with the office team in approving larger payments or verifying financial aspects of reports for funders.

This role would suit someone with the following particular skills and attributes:

· Knowledge of charity finances and the Charity Commission's requirements, or the willingness to develop this knowledge.

· An accountancy qualification and/or good financial management experience

· The ability to provide, communicate and explain financial information and advice to members of the Trustee Board and other stakeholders.

· A collaborative approach to working with others

Volunteer Accountant for St Lawrence School of Football (Charity)
Are you a skilled accountant looking to give back to your community? St Lawrence School of Football, a local charity dedicated to youth development through sports, is seeking a volunteer accountant. Your expertise will help us manage our finances, allowing us to focus on nurturing the next generation of athletes.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee all financial operations, including bookkeeping, budgeting, and financial reporting for our charity.
• Prepare financial statements and reports for seasonal programs, fundraising events, and community activities.
• Ensure compliance with charity financial regulations and manage donations and invoices.
• Provide financial advice to support decision-making and help us maximize resources for our programs.

Requirements:

• Proven experience in accounting, preferably in a charity or nonprofit setting.
• Knowledge of financial regulations and budgeting, especially in the charitable sector.
• Ability to work flexibly, managing seasonal financial needs.
• Strong communication skills and a passion for community work.

This volunteer role is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful impact while gaining experience in a dynamic charity environment. If you're ready to help us achieve our mission, we'd love to hear from you!

Salary: N/A This is an unpaid volunteer role

Location: UK-based. Meetings are held in London, Manchester, Bradford, and Birmingham

About Refugee Action

Refugee Action exists to work with refugees and people seeking asylum who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes. We are a national charity with more than 40 years’ experience of empowering people who’ve survived some of the world’s worst regimes to secure the protection and support that they need to live with dignity and respect and build a new life in the UK. We do this by providing expert advice and casework, building the capacity of partner organisations and campaigning on the policies that affect them.

Our new 2030 Strategy

We have recently launched our new 2030 Strategy; you can read more here.

Everyone involved in developing our new strategy was clear that if we want to create the future that refugees and many people in the UK want, we must demolish the hostile environment. It’s an environment that manifests itself in the racist rhetoric of our leaders and the systems they create; systems that are dehumanising and complex, which segregate people and sap their spirit. Our current leaders may be stooping to new lows with their words and policies, but they are simply repeating the behaviour of previous Governments. The hostility has been ramping up for years. And that hostility is rooted in a racialised logic that underpins the entire asylum and immigration system.

As a trustee of Refugee Action

You will be responsible for developing and guiding the strategic direction of the organisation and steering the long-term stability of the charity. You will need to persuade, influence and communicate effectively with the rest of the board.

We are interested in talking to anyone who can demonstrate the ability to think strategically and the integrity to take on this important role.  Please don’t be discouraged if this isn’t something you’ve done before, or if you don’t meet all elements of the role specification; we will provide mentoring and training to support new Trustees to understand their role. Please do consider applying if you have the courage and enthusiasm to encourage, challenge and support us to be the best we can be.

All our trustees are committed to being actively anti-racist and removing the barriers to power for people with lived experience. You will need to be committed to and demonstrate an understanding of shifting power to people with lived experience, anti-racist practice and decolonisation.

Treasurer trustee:

We are currently looking to appoint a trustee to join the Board of Refugee Action.  This role will be the lead Trustee for our Treasurer work to advise and guide Trustees in the charity’s financial management to enable the board to fulfil their responsibilities.

This role will:

• Advise the board on the budgetary implications of strategy and ensure that strategy is optimal for Refugee Action to be a sustainable and successful going concern.
• Ensure statutory financial responsibilities are met and report formally to the board on the annual Auditor’s report and accounts.
• Lead on the boards duty to ensure proper accounting records are kept, and financial resources are properly controlled and used.
• Work with and support staff in Refugee Action with financial responsibility, in order to be satisfied that the financial information presented to the board is comprehensive and accurate.

Specialist skills, knowledge & experience for this role:

Essential

• Experience of working in a senior financial role: setting budgets, working with management accounts, financial controls and risk assessment systems.
• Ability to work with auditors with a good understanding of the financial obligations of charities.
• Ability to effectively guide and support Finance staff.

Safeguard and promote the values and mission

• An understanding of, and empathy for, the needs of refugees and asylum seekers and of their communities
• Commitment to Refugee Action’s (RA) vision, purpose and values and to act in a manner consistent with these
• An understanding of the importance of RA being responsive to the needs of its beneficiaries and of their wider communities
• Determine the Strategy and Structure
• Experience of setting, monitoring and reviewing strategic plans so as to be able to ensure any Refugee Action plan reflects the charity’s values and mission and that progress is being achieved
• An understanding of how an organisation remains sustainable

Be effective, responsible and accountable

• As part of the Trustee board, be able to ensure that the organisation is using its resources appropriately (comply with legislation and ensure the organisation can account for its activities)
• An understanding of and ability to review key areas of risk for Refugee Action to ensure appropriate policies and controls are in place
• Ability to review organisational policies and practices

 Make sure the board of Trustees functions effectively

• An understanding of the role of Trustee and the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities attached to it
• An understanding of the role of the Hon Officers (Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer) and those of the Chief Executive and his/her management team
• A commitment to prepare for and attend Trustee meetings
• Ability to analyse information and, in an appropriate manner, challenge when necessary
• Ability to recruit and induct other Trustees where necessary

 Overall duties of Trustees

 Statutory duties

• To ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• To ensure that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document for public benefit
• To ensure the organisation uses its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects: the organisation must not spend money on activities that are not included in its own objects, no matter how worthwhile or charitable those activities are.
• To contribute actively to the board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to organisation, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets
• To safeguard the good name and values of the organisation
• To ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation
• To ensure the financial stability of the organisation
• To protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds

Other duties

In addition to the statutory responsibilities outlined above, other duties may include

• Lead and provide guidance to the board in a given area of expertise
• Meet with donors and any other stakeholders to represent Refugee Action and its beneficiaries
• Keep up to date with Refugee Action’s services to clients, Influencing and Fundraising work
•  Attend 5 meetings a year– 4 board meetings and 1 away day.
• Read and scrutinise board papers before a meeting so as to be able to contribute fully in the meeting
• Occasional participation in a working group
• Occasional participation in staff interview, disciplinary or grievance panels

Funding

Refugee Action’s board of Trustees has approved a three-year budget for Refugee Action, to accompany our 2030 strategy. A core priority for us in this period is to diversify our income and to ensure that public support enables us to be a sustainable charity in the long-term so that we can deliver on our ambition for a fairer society for refugees.

Our income in the current year 2024-25 will be around £7.78 million. Around 43% is donations of individuals and other grant giving bodies. As this support will be central to Refugee Action’s future, we aim to increase this source of income, and we have started investing in our public fundraising activities to achieve it. We also rely on grants from Trusts and Foundations and contract income from local authorities. The income we get from local authorities is for our resettlement services, providing integration support to refugees from Ukraine and elsewhere to enable them to rebuild their lives during their first 12 months in the UK.

Your experience via paid work or volunteering

How you meet the skills knowledge and experience outlined in the person specification – remember, don’t be discouraged if this isn’t something you’ve done before, or if you don’t meet all elements of the role specification; we will provide mentoring and training to support new Trustees to understand their role.

We ask that you provide information using a maximum 3-4 A4 pages – you are not required to use 4 pages.

Those with lived experience as a refugee are particularly encouraged to apply

Closing date: 23:59 on 6 November 2024

Interviews: 14 November 2024 (on Zoom)

Refugee Action only operates in the UK, so all roles are UK-based.

Can you spare one or two hours once a week or a fortnight to spend time with a ScotsCare client?  You could be having a friendly chat in their home, going for a walk in a local park, or around the shops, or visiting museums and other places of interest together. 

Giving someone who is struggling with some aspects of life, the simple gift of time and companionship could make the world of difference to their sense of wellbeing, particularly if they feel alone, are socially isolated, or simply need someone to socialise with.  As one of our Buddies told us recently, “this is an easy, very meaningful way to help someone and is immensely rewarding and fun!”  Our clients are adults of all ages, mostly 60 or over.

You will need to commit to regular meetings for a minimum period of at least 6 months, longer if possible.

 In return, we provide training, so you feel comfortable and confident in the role, and support you once you are matched, we also reimburse out of pocket expenses for travel, refreshments and agreed activities. 

Please note, this is an unpaid voluntary role.  Two references are required and an enhanced DBS check will be processed for successful applicants.

Please contact us for more information, and a very warm welcome!

Skills & Characteristics Required for Befriending:

• Good listening and & conversation skills
•  Honest, trustworthy and committed to helping others
• A friendly, warm, non-judgemental approach
• Empathy and patience
• An understanding of the need to work within the framework of our policies and procedures.

We will process a DBS check for all successful applicants and request two references.

At the British Dyslexia Association (BDA), our trustees play a vital role in making sure that the organisation achieves its core purpose. They oversee the overall management and administration of the charity. They also ensure that the charity has a clear strategy and that our work and goals are in line with our vision. Just as importantly, they support and challenge the Senior Management Team to enable the BDA to grow and thrive, and through this, achieve our mission.

Board members have a collective responsibility. This means that trustees always act as a group and not as individuals.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute your skills and experience to a cause that matters, ensuring we stay true to our mission and achieve our goals.

For full details of the role including key responsibilities, the skills we are seeking from prospective applicants, along with the anticipated time commitment, please view the trustee role description.

What we are looking for:

We are seeking individuals who bring enthusiasm, integrity, and dedication to the role, and who can contribute fresh perspectives to our Board. We are especially interested in candidates with expertise in the following areas, and ideally, with prior Board experience:

• Dyslexia specialist within the field of education
• Special educational needs – research expertise
• Finance or technology

What’s in it for you:

As a trustee, you will have the chance to:

• Make a difference: impacting the lives of those we support and contribute to a cause you care about.
• Develop your skills: gain valuable experience.
• Network: connect with like-minded individuals and expand your professional network.
• Personal fulfilment: experience the satisfaction of giving back and contributing to something meaningful.

Terms of office - Trustees are appointed for 3 years each, for 2 terms.

Equal Opportunities

The BDA are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all individuals and believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our team and help us achieve our mission.

Use your skills and experience to serve a nationally respected, Christian homelessness charity growing in its impact and influence.

Oasis Community Housing (part of the wider Oasis Charitable Group) is a Christian homelessness charity with 40 years’ experience of delivering bespoke, effective services for vulnerably housed and people experiencing homelessness.

We exist to reignite a hope and a future for everyone facing homelessness. We believe that anyone’s life can be transformed however dark things may seem.

We run supported accommodation programmes in the North-East and London for young people, particularly young women and mums facing homelessness for a variety of reasons. We also run drop-in crisis centres providing emergency housing on a ‘housing first, no questions asked basis’, a warm shower, food, clothing and access to advice. Additionally we run a programme to help victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence to break the cycle of abusive relationships.

The last 3 years have been tumultuous and challenging for us all due to the enduring legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over this period we have been stretched and tested across the range of our work. But in the testing, our passion for our mission and ability to innovate and be agile have shone through.  

In spite of the challenges of the last 4 years we have seen a 41% increase in unrestricted donations over the last two years.

This is an exciting time to consider joining Oasis Community Housing.

We are now looking for two or more Trustees. The priority areas we are seeking to cover include:

Finance – with strategic financial leadership experience in order to ensure effective oversight and risk management at a governance level.

Property/Facilities Management/Planning – with experience of lease agreements, property licensing and planning regulations.

Whilst these are priority skill areas we would also be open to considering candidates from other professional backgrounds too.

Opportunity summary
The Branch is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator to establish a fundraising strategy for the branch. It is a great opportunity to become directly involved in animal welfare work.

Location
Mostly remote working, but we are looking for someone local to our branch cover area (Macclesfield, South East Cheshire and Buxton) to  potentially attend branch events or meetings.

Key activities
In conjunction with the committee, the Volunteer coordinator will produce, control and monitor a fundraising plan and budget dedicated to raising funds for the branch.
Maintain momentum for the branch fundraising programme through the recruitment and retention of volunteers. 
Be committed to the RSPCA’s objectives of promoting kindness and preventing cruelty to animals. 

Times and preferred duration of commitment
A few hours a month minimum. Flexible. An ongoing commitment is preferred.

Experience/skills/knowledge/personal qualities requiredYou will need to be able to work with people and have good interpersonal skills. You do not need to be an expert in any area although basic computer skills, commitment, common sense and the ability to be impartial is vital. Guidance will be provided.

We hope you are interested in volunteering for our branch!

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependent on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.

Mothers’ Union Southwest

Trustee and Honorary Treasurer

Location – Remote

Salary – Unpaid Voluntary Role

The Organisation

Mothers’ Union is a federated  global Christian movement working to transform lives, strengthen families and advocate for change. Active for nearly 150 years and now with 4 million members in 84 countries, our programmes have extraordinary reach and an approach that is in line with best practice – our members serve in their local communities, have strong established relationships, and are there for the long term. They see what is needed, where it is needed and work as volunteers to facilitate change and help others. This local knowledge, combined with their Christian faith perspective enables transformation in the communities they serve.

Our work around the world is focused around the three pillars identified by our members of stopping violence (especially gender based violence), poverty and injustice.

The Role

We now seek a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer for a new charity being formed in England as apart of a pilot reorganisation and consolidation of operations within Britain. This is an exciting opportunity to use your skills and experience to help transform our movement and drive lasting change in communities in the South West of England.

For further information, please click apply for this role and see the job pack attached.

Closing date for applications is 24th January 2025.

Interviews to be held week commencing 27th January 2025

This is an exciting opportunity to help lead Big Leaf Foundation in the next phase of its development, as we transition our self-employed contractors to employee contracts and explore new multi-year core funding opportunities to build greater sustainability in our work. We are looking for someone with direct experience in financial management and/or charity finance and fundraising to fill this role. Ideally you will have experience of moving people onto employee contracts. You will use your skills and knowledge to make a lasting difference to the lives of displaced young people in Surrey.

In addition to the general responsibilities of a trustee, duties of the treasurer include:

• Overseeing, approving and presenting budgets, accounts and financial statements.
• Being assured that the financial resources of the organisation meet its present and future needs.
• Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate reserves policy.
• Preparing and presenting financial reports to the board.
• Ensuring that appropriate accounting procedures and controls are in place.
• Liaising with any paid staff and volunteers about financial matters.
• Advising on the financial implications of the organisation’s strategic plans.
• Ensuring that the charity has an appropriate ethical funding policy.
• Ensuring that there is no conflict between any funding sources and the aims and objects of the charity.
• Ensuring that the accounts are prepared and disclosed in the form required by funders and the relevant statutory bodies, for example the Charity Commission.
• Ensuring that the accounts are scrutinised in the manner required (independent examination or audit) and any recommendations are implemented.
• Keeping the board informed about its financial duties and responsibilities.
• Contributing to the fundraising strategy of the organisation.
• Ensuring the accounts are presented in a coherent and easily understandable way in our annual review.
• Sitting on appraisal, recruitment and disciplinary panels as required.

In addition, with other trustees to hold the charity “in trust” for current and future beneficiaries by:

• Ensuring that the charity has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction and is focused on achieving these.
• Being responsible for the performance of the charity and for its “corporate” behaviour; ensuring that the charity complies with all legal and regulatory requirements.
• Acting as guardians of the charity’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application.
• Ensuring that the charity’s governance is of the highest possible standard.

Could you volunteer in your local PDSA charity shop and help us raise vital funds to treat pets in need?

PDSA is a charity with 48 pet hospitals that supports pets and people in need. All of our charity shops need an amazing team of volunteers to make them a success and we need you now more than ever.

By becoming a charity shop volunteer with PDSA you will:

• Gain retail experience
• Develop new skills and boost your CV
• Meet new people
• Support your local community
• Donate your current skills and knowledge
• Have fun
• Be part of a friendly team

Charity Shop Volunteers are involved in a wide range of roles and day-to-day activities that support the running of each shop and even a few hours a week will make a difference.

On the shop floor you could be involved with providing excellent customer service, processing transactions on the tills, replenishing stock and putting up eye-catching displays to entice customers in.

Behind the scenes, volunteers get involved with sorting through donations to find those hidden gems and preparing goods for sale by sorting, steaming and pricing

We provide training, so you don’t need experience – and we reimburse travel expenses so you won’t be out of pocket.

We’re looking for people who are 18 years of age or over that enjoy working as part of a team and making a difference.

Get in touch today to talk to us about volunteering in one of our shops or to apply for this role please visit Volunteering with PDSA - PDSA

PDSA positively encourages volunteer applications regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, adults at risk and all our colleagues and expect everyone who works for us to also share this commitment and to treat people with courtesy and respect

To support this commitment, our recruitment & selection processes are robust and rigorous and all appointments will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate background checks.

OTR is seeking 3 volunteer trustees to join us at an exciting time of development for the charity. We are looking for trustees who have some specific experience or expertise in one or more of the following areas:

· Chair & Leadership

· Counselling and Listening Services for Young People

· Business Engagement and Local Networking

To find out the full details of these 3 trustee roles, please click on the Trustee Applicant Pack below.