Communications Volunteer Roles in Birmingham, West Midlands

OUR VISION

A world where primary bone cancer is cured.

OUR MISSION

To save lives and improve outcomes for people affected by primary bone cancer.

OUR VALUES 

PIONEERING. We lead the way, we leave no stone unturned, we are prepared to take risks.

DYNAMIC. We don’t stand still, we innovate, we celebrate every success.

SUPPORTIVE. We listen, we understand, we care.

KNOWLEDGEABLE. We know our stuff; we are eager to know more.

TRUSTWORTHY. We do what we say we’re going to do; we do the things that matter.

Bone Cancer Research Trust are currently looking for exceptional individuals to join our board of Trustees. Trustees have overall control of the charity and are responsible for making sure it’s doing what it was set up to do. As a trustee, you will use your skills and experience to support BCRT, helping it achieve its aims. 

We are a highly driven and ambitious charity and at the centre of our plans are our patients. They are the driving force of our 2022 – 2032 strategy More Patients Surviving. More Patients Thriving. We are looking for equally driven and motivated individuals to help us achieve our strategic aims.

We are looking to recruit two individuals and are particularly interested in candidates who might have experience in the areas of finance or policy. If you feel you have the experience, knowledge and skills we are looking for, or feel you can add significant value to BCRT’s board in other ways, we would like to hear from you.

MORE PATIENTS SURVIVING. MORE PATIENTS THRIVING. 

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

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

About the Sex Education Forum

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

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

What we do

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

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

About the board of trustees

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

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

Who are we looking for 

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

Sex Education Forum Trustee role description 

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

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

Youth participation role

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

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

Lived experience role 

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

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

Finance role

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

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

Fundraising role 

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

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

Time commitment 

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

Is this role for me? 

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

How to apply

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

For more information about the role

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

More about the Sex Education Forum 

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

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

Closing date for applications: Midnight, 28 October 2024

Interviews: Friday 15th November 2024 

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

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

Branch Trustee (Preston & District reg Charity No 232256)

This is an exciting opportunity to be a hands-on trustee at branch level, helping to promote kindness and prevent animal cruelty, reach out to more supporters, and influence how we do things. With your support and expertise, we will achieve so much!

Overview of the Branch Trustee opportunity

We are looking for enthusiastic and passionate people who could devote the time to volunteer with us as one of our Trustees. As a Trustee of the Branch, you will have the chance to influence how we care for and prevent cruelty to animals and drive the implementation of key initiatives. You will serve on the governing body of the charity and be instrumental in the running of the Branch and setting out both the short and long term aims.

As a charity trustee, you will be responsible for ensuring effective governance and strategic direction for the branch, you will provide leadership and support for the branch management team.

We are recruiting for a  complementary mix of skills within our trustee board. Whilst a passion for animals is crucial, we are also looking for a diversity of  skills such as general business management , finance, marketing, Legal, IT, HR and H&S etc, if this is you, we would love to hear from you.

Your role as a Trustee will require working in collaboration with your fellow trustees, staff and volunteers to ensure our branch continues to deliver our  important  animal welfare work.

As a minimum, trustees would normally be expected to attend a bi-monthly committee meeting lasting around 2 to 3 hours (virtual meetings are an option). However, the commitment may vary depending on your availability,  and if  you decide to take on additional duties.

Trustee do not need to live within the branch boundaries but occasional travel to Branch sites may be required from time to time.

About the National RSPCA

Founded in 1824 we have been saving animals for 200 years and are proud to be the oldest welfare charity around. It has always been our vision to live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion, so our volunteers and employees work tirelessly to ensure that all animals can live free from pain and suffering.

Through our numerous campaigns, we seek to raise standards of care, and awareness of issues affecting animals today. We rely heavily on our volunteers who play a significant role in enabling us to carry out this important animal welfare work every day!

About the RSPCA Preston & District Branch

Over 80% of the animal welfare work of the RSPCA is carried out through local Branches which are run by staff and volunteers, supported by the RSPCA National Society.

Preston & District Branch has been affiliated with the National RSPCA for 150 years!

A separately registered charity looking after animals in the local area and engaging with the local community.

Our mission is to seek out safe homes for abandoned, neglected or abused animals who are  nursed back to health, rehabilitated and found forever loving homes.

Preston & District Branch is part of a network of 140  branches, and 1 of only 8 in the North of England with an animal centre.

The rehoming centre is within the Preston area (close to JCN 31 of the M6).

RSPCA Preston & District Branch is a well established Branch with approximately 20 members of staff and 75 volunteers across 4 locations and raises all its funds locally through supporters and other income streams.

To continue helping animals in need the Branch also operates 3 charity shops in Longridge, Chorley and Penwortham (within our specified branch area) which bring in a regular income to keep our animal centre open.

Primary responsibilities of the Branch Trustee 

•  Appreciate and support the aims and policies of the RSPCA.
•  Work in conjunction with fellow trustees and branch officers and jointly act in making decisions for the best interest of the branch and the RSPCA.
•  In conjunction with your fellow trustees, ensure the proper management and control of all activities and decisions relating to any premises held or staff employed by the branch if applicable.
•  Work with national RSPCA staff to ensure that the branch meets all minimum animal welfare standards (MAWS).
•  In conjunction with your fellow trustees and Branch Partnership Manager write, adopt, monitor, and review a development plan setting out the short and long term aims of your branch.
•  Actively participate in branch committee meetings and to attend the branch annual general meeting.
•  Be aware of the outcome of regional board meetings and support local initiatives.
•  Actively promote and advertise the society in an ongoing programme to recruit new branch trustees and volunteers and welcome new members.

What we are looking for in a volunteer:

• Ideally you would have some level of knowledge in the following areas-
• Financial, Human Resources, Health & Safety backgrounds or legal; Marketing communication including social media, PR, website;
• Fundraising including corporate fundraising, trust fund and grant applications;
• Local community and supporter relationships; Project management, business development
• Awareness of employment and/or charity legislation
• General management or business administration

These all can be useful to help ensure we have a sound and robust business model and long term strategic development plan, however, they are not essential.

We are looking for people who are creative, innovative, who have experience of or are part of groups and communities we want to attract, who can bring new ideas, different experiences and fresh perspectives to the board and to help put those ideas into action.

We are committed to creating a Board which is representative of our society and in particular, our community and surrounding areas so encourage people from any background to apply for any of our opportunities.

Ultimately we are looking for someone who is committed to the RSPCA’s charitable objectives and shares our passion for animal welfare.

You will need to be able to work with people and have good interpersonal skills. You do not need to be an expert although commitment, common sense, and the ability to be objective are vital.

What we can offer you as a volunteer Branch Trustee

•  We will provide you with a comprehensive trustee training course which will provide you with everything you need to carry out the role.
•  Ongoing support is also provided by local and national RSPCA staff in addition to any additional training provided by the relevant branch.
•  The platform to utilise your skills and experience to oversee the charity and make decisions that have a direct impact on local animal welfare.
•  The opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones, whilst making a real difference to the lives of animals.
• A way to expand your professional and personal network through working with like-minded people.

Practical considerations

• Please also note that to become a Trustee, you will need to be aged 18 or over and a member of our branch for three months before you are eligible to be elected at our AGM.
• Trustees are elected for a 12-month term each year.
• Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
• Trustees must sign a Trustee Declaration of Willingness to Act to clarify that they are not disqualified from being a trustee and read the Charity Commission’s guidance for individuals who cannot be a trustee or senior manager of a charity.
•  References will also be required.

We hope you are interested in volunteering for our branch!

Join Transition Network as a new Trustee

Do you have wisdom, a fresh perspective, time and energy that you want to place in service to an innovative organisation?

Transition Network is a charity registered in England and Wales that works internationally to support the Transition movement.  We are looking for new trustees from a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences who can help guide our strategy and join an ongoing experiment in shared governance. We are seeking to recruit several new trustees, including generalists as well as a new trustee Treasurer.

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.

We’re looking for an IT professional to join our Board and provide thought-leadership on our digital and IT strategy, including guiding us through Cyber Essentials accreditation. If you can help us use technology to improve our local advice service, we would love to hear from you.

As our digital and IT expert, you will work alongside the Chair, Chief Executive and the external IT support company we use to:

• Ensure our IT operating systems and equipment are fit for purpose
• Guide the charity through the work needed to obtain Cyber Essentials accreditation
• Advise how we can use technology to improve our service to clients
• Translate the risks and opportunities of IT for other trustees
• Take the lead in evaluating IT related proposals for the Board.

We need someone who either lives, works or studies in Elmbridge (or the surrounding area) and who has:

• Demonstrable experience of delivering IT and business change management
• Experience of IT strategy planning and execution
• A good understanding of cyber security including obtaining Cyber Security Accreditation
• A good understanding of Microsoft 365 multi-factor authentication
• Experience of business continuity and disaster recover planning
• A good understanding of risk management
• A commitment to the Citizens Advice organisation
• A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
• We are particularly keen to achieve a more diverse board of trustees and welcome applications from all sections of the community.  Experience of Citizens Advice work is not required.

Time commitment

Our trustees are expected to attend six board meetings each year.  These normally take place on a Monday evening, at our office in Esher. Reading preparation for each board meeting will take around one-two hours.  All Citizens Advice trustees are required to complete a small number of e-learning courses each year.

In addition, as the IT lead, you will need to have time to participate in various IT discussions with our management team and with the IT support company we use.  This work may average around 1-2 hours a week.

What difference will you make?

People with good local knowledge and strategic vision can really help us to develop a service that meets the changing advice needs of our community.

More specifically, your input will help us to reach more people and provide more timely advice.

What's in it for the volunteer?

Citizens Advice is a well-respected and influential organisation.  This is an opportunity to help develop this much-needed charity at a local level, really making a difference to people's lives.

As well as intellectual stimulation, the role will provide you with practical management experience of the voluntary sector to help develop your career.

Initial induction and training takes place in-house and through peer support but there is the opportunity to attend national Citizens Advice conferences and seminars.  Travel expenses to these events are paid.

We are a business-like but friendly board, keen to welcome new members.

Join Transition Network as our new Trustee Treasurer

Can you bring an understanding of budgets and organisational finances, a fresh perspective, time and energy to help us to deliver on our purpose and strategy?

Transition Network is a charity registered in England and Wales that works internationally to support the Transition movement.  We are looking for a new Treasurer to join our team as a trustee, and we welcome applicants from a diversity of backgrounds and lived experiences.  As Treasurer you would join a groundbreaking organisation, using shared governance structures and processes. 

We are seeking a new Chair with the ability to lead the organisation in partnership with the CEO. This is an exceptional opportunity for the right person to play a part in making a positive contribution towards increased water conservation and positive action on climate change. Now is a fantastic time to join us, as we launch our Impact Plan to drive ambition and delivery!

The successful individual will be an exceptional leader with a proven track record of leadership or operating at senior level within an organisation, governance experience, and a commitment to our cause of water efficiency, for the benefit of people and the planet. Understanding the nature of a non-executive role, they will ensure that the values of Waterwise are embraced by both the Board and the executive team, whom they will hold to account through a process of inclusive leadership.

The Chair will develop and maintain a relationship with the CEO and with the non-executive directors, and will work to ensure that the Board provides good governance. 

They will establish and maintain close relationships with political figures, stakeholders and influencers as appropriate, acting as an ambassador for Waterwise, in partnership with the CEO.

At Waterwise, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. For this role we therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented on Waterwise’s Board.

This includes candidates from the global majority and disabled candidates..

Terms of appointment

Time commitment

This role requires a time commitment of approximately 1 to 2 days per month - including formal meetings and work outside of them.

The meeting schedule is below:

• Four Board meetings per year, three of which will be virtual and one of which will be an in-person Away Day - plus membership of one Board Committee (Committee meetings are held virtually)

• Board meetings are held during the day

If possible we would like our new Chair to attend the Waterwise Board meeting on 18th December, on Zoom, from 10am - 1pm, and take over as Chair at the end of that meeting.

Remuneration

This is an unremunerated role, with travel expenses paid.

Term in office

Three-year term (renewable once for a maximum of six years in office).

Process

First interviews - 6th November 2024, online via Zoom

Second interviews - 19th November 2024, in person in London

How to Apply

To apply for this role, you will need to answer role-related questions. We are using an anonymised platform to help to debias the recruitment process as far as possible. As well as a CV to support your application (which our platform will anonymise and redact of identifying information), you will provide evidence and examples from your work history or other aspects of your life to answer the questions and demonstrate how you meet the role criteria.

Your answers will be anonymised, randomised and reviewed by the selection panel. We will use these scores to shortlist for interviews. We also think giving feedback is incredibly valuable for candidates, so at the end of the process, you'll see how well you performed during the application process.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

We Are Family is hiring! We have an exciting role within our adopter peer support community to join us as our Chair of Trustees. 

We are looking for a new Chair of Trustees with a strong understanding of the challenges facing adoptive parents and who shares our commitment to supporting adopters and prospective adopters throughout their adoption journey. Ideal candidates will have strong governance knowledge, the capacity to think strategically, work collaboratively and lead the Trustees in making significant contributions to our future.

You will join the Board as the organisation heads into its second decade, with established services, partnerships and a growing membership base. Our quality and consistency of service provision is leading to exciting conversations nationally, and we are looking for our new Chair to help steer us through this next stage of growth.