Community Fundraising Administration Volunteer Volunteer Roles

Brighton Youth Centre are looking for Trustees, if you have an understanding of the importance of Youth Work, delivering Young People's lives, and are looking to join a board of trustees, please read on! 

Would you like to play a significant role in supporting the emotional and social development of children and young people and breaking down barriers to inclusion? Do you have a particular passion for the arts and creativity? Our Trustees play a vital role, not just promoting our work but helping to define and develop it. 
(Voluntary - unpaid. Reasonable travel and other expenses reimbursed)

SKILLS REQUIRED:

We are looking, in particular, for one or more of the following skills/experience to complement our existing Trustees.

- Treasurer

- Legal

- PR/Communications

- HR

- Fundraising (Major Donors)

You don't need to have been a trustee before as training will be provided. We’re very open to hear from all applicants!

At Brighton Youth Centre we embrace diversity. We feel passionate that our Trustee board should be truly representative of the people it serves. We’re therefore encouraging applicants from all backgrounds and (especially those) from Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups. We are also keen to add more voices from younger trustees or non-male backgrounds, helping us better reflect the demographic we serve.

WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOU:

We recognise volunteering with us as a two-way process and are keen to ensure you get the most out of your time with us.

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

We provide opportunities for training and development including child protection, Trustee Training as well as chances to improve your public speaking.

ACCESSIBLE MEETINGS

We want all of our meetings to be accessible to all, therefore our meetings and papers will be written and spoken about in simple language. Additionally. any actions required such as closed captions and extra induction support shall be offered as and where required. 

We endeavour to circulate board papers 2 weeks before the meetings and are always open to new ideas and ways to make our Board as accessible as possible.

TO APPLY:

Please email us with

- Your CV or LinkedIn URL

- A short covering letter (max 1 side of A4) OR a short video explaining what you think you would bring to the role.

MORE ABOUT BYC:

About Us

Established in 1917, Brighton Youth Centre is Brighton's leading youth project, with 100 year history of delivering services in the city. It's a thriving hub of activity providing a central hub for the city's youth work and attracting over 1500 young people every year from across the city.

It is truly a citywide resource for young people who come from every area of the city to access it's services. It is also notably very effective in engaging older teenagers: 57% of our young people are age 16+.

“My favourite part of the week is coming to BYC, having a conversation with the youth workers and interacting with all the activities put on for the day. I enjoy making new friends and having a space that really feels like my own where I can really be myself and not have to worry about judgement.” Young Person

Brighton Youth Centre is a safe space where all the young people have the freedom to be themselves, come together, learn from each other, and challenge themselves to make a difference in their own lives and the lives of their community. We place their voices, aspirations, and concerns at the heart of everything we do because we believe all children and young people deserve to be taken seriously.

We work with over 20 partner organisations and projects who use the centre as their base including specialist services for young people who are care experienced, on the autistic spectrum, LGBTQI+, asylum seekers, experience mental ill health or homelessness such as Brighton and Hove Pupil Referral Unit, Allsorts Youth Project, YMCA Downslink and Mascot, and youth arts and creative industries organisations like Southeast Dance, Block Builders, Miss Represented and Art In Mind.

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 the Oxfam community

As an Online Shop Volunteer you’ll be behind the scenes in our busy shop and learn all about selling donated gems through Oxfam’s unique Online Shop. You can get involved in everything from researching, describing, photographing, to posting. Best of all you’ll be raising vital funds to support people facing poverty around the world.

About this role

We will give you all the training and support you need so you will develop your skills as part of our Online Shop team. You don’t need to have any experience – we’ve got you covered. You can also get some lunch and travel costs too. Whatever you need, we’re here to help.

As an Online Shop Volunteer, you’ll develop transferable skills that boost your confidence:

• Improve your communication skills as part of a team
• Put your expertise to good use by focussing on what interests you the most
• You’ll develop IT experience with ongoing support
• Selling some of our most unusual and valuable items, you’ll know you’re making a real difference
• photographing donations/uploading images
• writing descriptive text
• processing orders

Along with learning all about this role, you can branch out and try other things. Whether it’s about the shop floor or behind the scenes, we will help you to learn as many skills as you want.

Volunteering that works for you

Volunteering can be very flexible to suit you. So even if your availability or skills don’t match this role, get in touch and we will find something right for you. By volunteering for a few hours a week, you will meet new people and have some fun for a good cause.

Everyone has something to offer

At Oxfam we know that everybody can make a real difference. People come to us for all sorts of reasons, from all backgrounds, and we will do what we can to find a role which works for you. You can find out more about volunteering with Oxfam here.

What happens next?

After you apply the manager will ask you to come in for an initial chat. This is not an interview, just a chance to get an idea of what you'd like to do in the shop. From there you can meet the rest of the volunteer team and get involved with whatever area of the shop takes your interest!

Can You Help Drive People to Places Forward?

Your role as a Trustee is not only to oversee the strategic direction and compliance of our charity but also to ensure that every decision made aligns with our core mission: delivering independence and tackling isolation.

What’s in it for you?

A Chance to Make an Impact: By volunteering as a Trustee, you’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth financial operations of People to Places. Your expertise will directly impact the lives of those in our community who rely on our services, making a tangible and lasting difference.

Professional Growth: Being a Trustee for a reputable charity like People to Places will boost your professional profile and expand your skill set. It’s a unique opportunity to enhance your leadership abilities, financial management skills, and strategic thinking.

Networking Opportunities: Joining our vibrant team opens doors to valuable connections within the non-profit sector. Collaborate with like-minded professionals, build relationships, and forge partnerships that can enrich your career journey.

Feel-Good Factor: There’s nothing quite like the fulfilment of knowing that your efforts contribute to the well-being of others. You’ll be part of a team dedicated to creating positive change and improving lives.

Who we are looking for

People to Places always aim to have a range of experiences and backgrounds represented on our Board. We endeavour to have Trustees who can champion the following areas that benefit the smooth running of the charity:

Health and Social Care, Finance, Marketing, Accessibility, Human Resources, Legal Issues, Compliance & Risk, and the Local Voluntary Sector.

We are looking for motivated individuals with:

• A strong commitment to improving accessibility and quality of life for people with mobility issues.
• Professional or personal experience in strategic management, legal compliance, finance, or a related field.
• The ability to think creatively and strategically, with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Role Description

As a member of the Board of Trustees to participate fully in the governance of the charity, sharing your skills, knowledge and experience to help develop and deliver the charity’s objectives and achieve the charity’s goals.

The duties of a Trustee are:

• to ensure that the organisation complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations
• to ensure the financial stability of the organisation
• ensuring that the organisation pursues its objects as defined in its governing document
• to ensure that the organisation uses its resources exclusively for the benefit of its objective
• to contribute actively to the Board of Trustees’ role in giving firm strategic direction to the 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 protect and manage the property of the charity and to ensure the proper investment of the charity’s funds
• to appoint the Chief Executive Officer and monitor his/her performance

In addition to the above statutory duties, each Trustee should use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board of Trustees reach sound decisions. This may involve: scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing guidance on new initiatives or other issues in which the Trustee has particular experience.

The Board of Trustees meet 6 times a year. Trustees can claim out of pocket expenses incurred in travelling to meetings.

View the full Trustee Role Description

Person Specification

A Trustee will have:

• a commitment to the organisation and its ethos
• a willingness to devote the necessary time and effort
• an understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of Trusteeship
• integrity
• a commitment to the seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership
• strategic vision
• good, independent judgement
• an ability to think creatively
• a willingness to speak their mind
• an ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the good of People to Places
• a willingness to consider taking senior governance roles within the charity
• to comply with Charity Commission rules as a “fit and proper person to act as a Trustee”

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.

The Organisation

Portsmouth Students’ Union Trading Company Ltd (PSUT) is the social enterprise business arm for the University of Portsmouth Students’ Union (UPSU), and seeks to enhance the experience of every Portsmouth student in collaboration with UPSU, University of Portsmouth (UoP) and Community Partnerships whilst contributing financially to the wider organisation. PSUT formed in 2007 generating just £8,000 operating profit and previous to the C-19 pandemic that number had grown to £130,000. Today, the company has endured the challenges of business stoppage and is once again making a comfortable and sustainable revenue to support the charity.

Purpose of Trading Company

• Fundraise for the Charity and enrich student experience as our priorities
• Raise student awareness of, and raise engagement with, UPSU
• Provide opportunities for students to integrate into their Portsmouth Community
• A mechanism for strengthening partnerships (UoP/Community)
• Does things that UPSU can’t
• Must have financial stability

Current position and Future Aims

The Cost of Living Crisis and changes in student recruitment are some of the latest factors in the dynamic and responsive landscape in which PSUT operates. Uniquely, we are a responsive trading company, adapting our products, events and offers annually in tune with student data and the changing needs of our cohorts.

We are currently seeking opportunities to grow the partnership we have with our bespoke digital platform product for SU’s, explore the growth in online sales, expand our commercial client offer across the city and potentially wider for our distance and commuter students as well as maximise the opportunities from our temporary and then permanent building move over the next two years.

We are looking for one independent non-executive Director to Chair our Trading Company Board to support the enterprise through its next steps as we seek to broaden our portfolio of businesses and increase the financial contribution to the University of Portsmouth Students’ Union charity.

A strong and active Board is crucial for us as we implement our new strategy and endeavour to grow our business; one that is flexible and agile enough to react quickly to the changing needs and interests of our members and drive an increasing level of profit for the charity.

Further Information

Application is via a comprehensive CV plus a supporting statement (of no more than two sides of A4) detailing why you are applying for the position and what requirements you meet to carry out the role

Completed applications must be received by midday on the 11th November 2024. 

TRUSTEE VACANCY FOR BERKSHIRE VISION

Berkshire Vision is a local charity with a 114-year heritage of supporting blind and visually impaired children and adults across the County, helping them to live their lives to the full. Did you know that 1 in 5 of us will experience sight loss in our lifetime? 

With a growing service-user base, a committed team, and enthusiastic volunteers, this is an exciting time to join the Berkshire Vision Board. We are now seeking new people to join our charity as trustees on an unpaid basis. You don’t need prior experience as a Trustee. At Berkshire Vision, we are a close-knit team that supports each other, and all the necessary training and guidance about taking on a Trustee role will be provided.

We are hoping to attract committed individuals ideally with experience in one or more of the following areas; Sight Loss, Accountancy, income generation, NHS, HR, Safeguarding, Disability and/or Social care but all applications from other areas will be welcome. Whatever your background, if you are interested in helping to make a difference to local people with sight loss, we would love to hear from you.

As a Trustee you will attend 4 board meetings per year, providing strategic direction, guidance and support to the Senior Leadership Team. Depending on your expertise and available commitment there are additional sub-committees that meet about 4 times per year. Trustees have independent control over, and legal responsibility for, a charity’s management and administration. They play a very important role, in a sector that contributes significantly to our community. Trustees are also encouraged to support fundraising and awareness events.

Being a trustee is rewarding for many reasons - from a sense of making a difference to the lives of visually impaired people in Berkshire, to gaining new experiences and making new relationships.

You will have the opportunity to:

● Utilise your skills for the public benefit through the support of a leading regional sight loss charity.

● Deepen your understanding of charity management and governance.

● Support the achievements of Berkshire Vision’s charitable objectives, resulting in a visible difference for people with sight loss.

Trustees - Campaign For National Parks

Would you like to make a difference for the National Parks of England and Wales?

Campaign For National Parks new strategy launched last year with three goals: better, equal and more National Parks, and we are explicit that securing reforms to address the inequalities in who visits, lives in and governs National Parks is a central plank of our ongoing and future work programme.

We are looking for two new trustees who share our passion for the work we do and who can help us ensure that National Parks are representative, inclusive and relevant to the nation today.

Trustee opportunities

We welcome candidates who can bring passion and commitment to our vision, with one or both of the following:

• Experience in working with underrepresented communities, championing social justice, and/or working with organisations to progress in action on antiracism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Commitment to EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) and lived experience or an appreciation of the challenges faced by people who are under-represented in National Parks. For example, young people, those from low income or ethnically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQ+, or who are living with a disability.
• New Board members will be offered a full induction and we do not require previous experience as a board member to apply for Trustee roles.

How to apply

Eastside People is supporting Campaign for National Parks in the recruitment of these roles. Please ensure you read the Trustee Recruitment Pack before applying.

Our goal is to remove bias from the hiring process so for the first stage of the process, we are asking skill-based questions which will allow us to assess your approach to a problem and understand the knowledge and skills you can bring to the Board. Your answers will be anonymised, reviewed and scored by the selection panel. Please note that your responses should not exceed 250 words per question. You can save your application and return to it later if you wish. We will use the scores from the questions to shortlist for interviews, at which stage we will also review CV’s.

If you have any queries on this application process or would like clarification about any aspect of the roles, please contact Bernice Rook at Eastside People.

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

The closing date for applications is Friday 6th December. Interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held in early Jan due to the break over the festive period.

Eastside People is fully committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and work with our clients to ensure that we recruit inclusively, seeking to address the underrepresentation of some groups of people in leadership teams. We warmly welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

The Organisation
Family Fund is the UK's largest grant-making charity supporting low-income families raising disabled or seriously ill children. Our mission is to ensure these families have the same opportunities, quality of life, and aspirations as others. We provide grants for essential items such as family breaks, digital equipment, and household goods. Additionally, we offer services like financial guidance, mental health support, and digital skills workshops. We also encourage families to share their experiences to influence change.
Our 2023–2028 strategy focuses on delivering essential help, expanding support, partnering with families for positive change, and empowering our team.
Family Fund is committed to inclusion, equity and diversity, and we welcome applications from all parts of the community. We are a Disability Confident Employer and all disabled applicants who meet the requirements for the role will be invited for interview. If you have a disability, and are happy to let us know, please highlight this in your covering letter.

You can find out more about our work and our clients on our website.

The Role
We are looking to appoint an exceptional individual who will bring passion and commitment, as well as skills and experience to our Board. Trustees play an active role in governing the charity and are responsible for setting vision and strategic priorities, as well as ensuring the charity complies with legal, charitable and financial requirements.  

This is a fantastic opportunity to develop skills and experience, while at the same time giving back to a nationwide charity that makes a real practical difference to the lives of families every day.

We are seeking two trustees to join our team. 

For one role, we are seeking a trustee with the knowledge and experience to help us navigate the changing digital landscape and understand the digital possibilities open to us. We want to use technology for automation and business efficiency and explore the opportunities artificial intelligence present; how we can use it to deliver our strategy and deliver for families – but without losing our personal touch which families value so highly. 

For the other role we hope to find a trustee with experience in the digital marketing field, with a knowledge of digital strategies to grow brand awareness and income. We want to maximise our brand profile and use marketing strategies to grow reach and enable fundraising and growth diversification. 
For both, we are seeking trustees who can bring thought leadership, challenge and ideas on the ways we embrace technology and digital solutions to grow our income in order to support more families.

The Person
We welcome candidates of any background who have the required skills and experience to be a trustee. We would like to particularly encourage those with disabilities or long-term conditions or who are parents or carers of children and young adults with disabilities or serious illnesses to apply, to bring fresh perspectives through lived experience.

Please download the Candidate Information Pack the person specification and more information.

How to Apply
If you are passionate about joining Family Fund and believe you have the skills and experience we are looking for, please apply with the following:

• A comprehensive CV, including your recent achievements, and the details of two referees.
• A supporting statement addressing your motivations for applying.
• We will also ask you to complete an equal opportunities form.

If you would like to have an informal discussion about the role, please get in touch with Melissa Baxter.

Closing date for applications: Monday 25th November 2024 
Interviews with Family Fund: Via Microsoft Teams week commencing 13 and/ or 20 January 2025

We look forward to receiving your application.

Do you want to make a real difference to a Community of people with lived experience of homelessness? Then join us as trustee at Sussex Emmaus! We are seeking someone with the ability to lead on Charity Governance and EDI.

Welcome from the Chair

Sussex Emmaus is a thriving community of companion residents who have been homeless, paid staff, volunteers and trustees as well as a network of local people and organisations who support our work.

There are always challenges to be overcome to deliver the range and quality of accommodation and support that we want to, part funded by our retail social enterprises. Our trustees contribute significant time and effort to the running of the charity. We value the diversity of ideas and skills that trustees can bring and have a range of committees and areas of focused responsibility. We need people who support our values, can challenge constructively, who can work collaboratively, and who want to drive our vision and mission forward.

Thank you for your interest in our Board of Trustees.

Whether you decide to apply or not, I hope you will be an ally to our charity and the important work we do.

Your sincerely,

Rosemary Friggens

Chair of Sussex Emmaus

Trustee overall responsibilities

• Ensure Sussex Emmaus complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations..

• Ensure Sussex Emmaus pursues its objects as defined in its governing document. Maintain proper financial control and ensure that it applies its resources exclusively in pursuing its objects.

• To work with the CEO to develop strategy, setting overall policy, defining goals and setting targets and evaluating performance against agreed targets.

• Please read Appendix 1 Charity Commission Guidance on ‘The Essential Trustee: what you need to know, and what you need to do’

Trustee specific responsibilities

• Governance:

- To attend board meetings and participate in decision making of the Board.

- To be a member of committees of the Board as agreed.

- To regularly evaluate the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Board.

- To ensure that the organisation’s policies are in line with current legislation and good practice.

• Financial:

- To approve and regularly review the organisation’s budget.

- To ensure that the organisation is financially structured for optimum strength.

- To ensure that all published reports adequately reflect the nature of the organisation and its financial health.

- To comply with the organisation’s conflict of interest policy.

- To appoint independent auditors and approve audited accounts.

• Leadership:

- To develop and approve the organisation’s vision and values.

- To promote the reputation of the organisation.

- To provide the strategic leadership necessary for all staff to deliver high quality services at all times.

- To represent the organisation at public events.

• Strategy

- To regularly assess the environment and develop the organisation’s corporate objectives.

- To agree the annual business plan implementing the corporate objectives.

- To review and agree any major changes to the organisation e.g. sale of assets or development of new enterprises.

• Performance management

- To monitor and assess the organisation’s results in relation to the agreed corporate objectives, budget and business plan

• Risk management

- To maintain a robust overview of the principal risks facing the charity.

- To exercise scrutiny over the charity’s risk management systems. Executive performance monitoring and remuneration

- To recruit and support the Chief Executive.

- To monitor performance of the Chief Executive and maintain an overview of Senior Leadership Team performance.

- To establish remuneration policy for the Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team.

• Other duties

- Use any specific skills, knowledge or experience they have to help the Board reach sound decisions.

- Act reasonably and prudently in all matters relating to the charity and always bear the interests of Sussex Emmaus in mind.

- As a member of the Board, be responsible and liable for the governance and functioning of the charity.

- To ensure that intangible assets such as organisational knowledge and expertise, intellectual property, the charity’s good name and reputation, etc, are properly valued, utilised and safeguarded

For more information and how to apply, please donwload the Trustee Recruitment Pack from our website. Candidates need to complete a CV and an application letter, setting out details about themselves and their suitability for trusteeship.

Help us make people’s experience of homeless temporary accommodation short, safe and healthy.

The Treasurer will support the Board to oversee the financial matters of the charity in line with good practice, the

Constitution and legal requirements, and report to the Board at regular intervals about the financial position of the charity.

The Treasurer will ensure that effective financial measures, controls and procedures are put in place and are appropriate

for the charity. (Despite this all trustees are jointly and severally responsible for the administration of the charity).

Main responsibilities:

• To support the Board to oversee and to ensure appropriate presentation of budgets, accounts, management accounts and financial statements.
• To ensure appropriate presentation of accounts and records, ensuring that financial resources are spent in accordance with the charity’s policies, good governance, legal and regulatory requirements.

Main duties:

• Liaising, where applicable with the CEO (or other appropriate member of staff).
• Supporting the Board to monitor the financial viability of the charity.
• Creating in conjunction with relevant senior staff sound financial instruments for the control of charity assets.
• Ensuring that staff create sound financial instruments for the control of charity assets.
• Advising on the financial implications of the charity’s Strategic Plan.
• Ensuring that the annual accounts are compliant with the current charities’ SORP.
• Ensuring close working relationships with the internal audit team and Committees of the Board.
• Ensuring that sound financial management is maintained and ensuring expenditure is in line with the charity’s objects.
• Acting as a counter signatory on charity cheques and any applications and receipts of funding (if necessary or mandated).

Treasurer at Buglife

Position: Treasurer
Location: UK (Remote/Hybrid meetings)
Application Deadline: 17 November 11.59pm GMT

Salary: Volunteer role

About Buglife:
Buglife is Europe’s only charity dedicated to the conservation of all invertebrates. We aim to stop the extinction of these vital species and foster sustainable populations through habitat protection, species recovery, and advocacy.

We are currently seeking a Treasurer to join our board of trustees and help us in our vision for a wildlife-rich planet.

Role Overview:

As a Treasurer, you will play a vital role in ensuring the financial stability and integrity of Buglife. You will work collaboratively with fellow trustees to guide our strategic direction and support our dedicated staff team in the fight for invertebrate conservation.

Please see the Trustee Recruitment Pack for more details on our website

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the financial management of the charity, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and best practices.
• Support the board in making informed financial decisions and managing risks.
• Monitor financial performance and report on this to the board.
• Ensure effective administration and financial stability, including overseeing property management and proper fund investment.

 Skill Specification:

• Financial skills and business planning experience including accounts, year end audit, investments, finance systems and compliance.
• An understanding of charity finance and its regulatory environment and experience of organisation finance and fundraising.
• The ability to interpret financial information for non-finance experts and make recommendations on such matters to all trustees.

Role Commitment

• Three half-day meetings and one full-day meeting per year, in addition to preparation time for board meetings (approximately 2-4 hours for reading board packs).
• In addition to the general trustee commitments (see above), the Treasurer will be expected to keep in contact with the Director of Finance (and wider leadership team as appropriate), and to maintain a brief on emerging financial reports or issues, between meetings. In relation to specific matters such as more detailed review of annual budgets and audited accounts, convene meetings of a finance sub-group of the Board (currently twice per year).
• Participation in occasional discussions and committee meetings as needed.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Buglife, we are committed to building a diverse board that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly encourage applications from young people, people of colour, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people with disabilities.

As part of our commitment to attracting and considering a diverse pool of candidates, we are operating a Guaranteed Interview Scheme which means that all candidates who are people of colour and/or people with disabilities, who share this information with us via the candidate survey on our website and opt in to the scheme will be met for a first stage interview if they have experience or training in any of the skills specified. This will be a 15-minute online interview with one of the recruitment team.

How to Apply

Please complete the candidate survey on our website to help us measure diversity (and opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme if you are eligible)

1. We invite you to apply for these roles in your own unique way be that cover letter (no more than 450 words) or something more creative letting us know what skills or experience you have that aligns with the ‘skills specification’ above.
2. A CV (no longer than two sides of A4).

Webinar

We will be holding a webinar to talk to interested candidates and answer your questions about trusteeship on 10 November, online at 6-7pm BST, before the application deadline 17 November 11.59pm BST. This will be an opportunity to ask us questions about Buglife and trusteeship and figure out if we would be a good fit for you.

Details and how to register are on our website. 

If you cannot make this webinar but would still like to find out more before applying, please email us and we will do our best to arrange an alternative opportunity.

Expenses

While this role is unpaid, Buglife will cover travel expenses to meetings, overnight accommodation, and other necessary costs incurred while fulfilling trustee duties.

Join Us

Help us save the small things that run the planet. Your expertise can make a significant difference in conservation efforts.

Please see the Trustee Recruitment Pack for more details on our website.

We look forward to hearing 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.

Buglife searches for young trustees (18-30)

Position: Young trustee
Location: UK (Remote/Hybrid meetings)
Application Deadline: 17 November 11.59pm GMT

Salary: Volunteer role

Join us in our mission to protect invertebrate species and promote a wildlife-rich planet. We are seeking young trustees (18-30) for a year long shadow trusteeship on Buglife’s board, after which you can choose to become a permanent board member.

About Buglife

Buglife is Europe’s only charity dedicated to the conservation of all invertebrates. We aim to stop the extinction of these vital species and foster sustainable populations through habitat protection, species recovery, and advocacy.

Role overview

We would love to hear from young people interested in gaining experience as trustees of a charity board. As part of our commitment to diversifying our board, but recognising the barriers to young people interested in trusteeship due to the time commitment, lack of financial compensation, and the support required for young people with less experience, we are committing to taking on two young people as shadow trustees.

As a shadow trustee, you will play a crucial role in overseeing the organisation’s management and administration, contributing to strategic decisions that support our vision of a thriving natural world. The successful candidates will help us shape the shadow trusteeships in terms of the time commitment they can make to the boardand the areas of governance they would like to be more engaged in. This will be discussed during the interview.

Please see the Trustee Recruitment Pack for more details on our website.

Skills specification

We are looking for a diverse range of skills to enrich our board. While previous trusteeship experience is not required for our young trusteeships, any of the following areas of expertise would be valuable:

• Change management: Revising and recreating strategies; changes in leadership, restructuring organisations; globalisation.
• Community engagement: Engaging communities in rural and urban areas; developing memberships.
• Conservation: Studies and/or practical experience of conservation in the UK, particularly invertebrates.
• Digital communications: Digital communications and/or marketing; social media growth; digital campaigns.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): Lived experience of an identity marginalised in the UK; developing or contributing to better EDI practice both internally within an organisation and/or wider engagement and communications.

· Financial skills and business planning experience including accounts, year end audit, investments, finance systems and compliance.

· An understanding of charity finance and its regulatory environment and experience of organisation finance and fundraising.

• HR: HR management and expertise; organisational procedures; employment law.
• Legal: Legal duties of trustees and best practice in governance; charity law and compliance.

Role commitment

The time commitments for shadow trustees will be finalised with the successful candidates, but as a guideline, this is the commitment for our current trustees:

• Attend three half-day meetings and one full-day meeting per year, along with preparation time for board materials.
• Participate in occasional additional meetings and committees.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to attracting a diverse board and encourage applications from young people, people of colour, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people with disabilities.

As part of our commitment to attracting and considering a diverse pool of candidates, we are operating a Guaranteed Interview Scheme which means that all candidates who are people of colour and/or people with disabilities, who share this information with us via the candidate survey on our website and opt in to the scheme will be met for a first stage interview if they have experience or training in any of the skills specified. This will be a 15-minute online interview with one of the recruitment team.

How to Apply
Please complete the candidate survey on our website to help us measure diversity (and opt in to the Guaranteed Interview Scheme if you are eligible)

1. We invite you to apply for these rolesvia our website in your own unique way be that cover letter (no more than 450 words) or something more creative letting us know what skills or experience you have that aligns with the ‘skills specification’ above.
2. A CV (no longer than two sides of A4).

Webinar

We will be holding a webinar to talk to interested candidates and answer your questions about trusteeship on 10 November, online at 6-7pm BST, before the application deadline 17 November 11.59pm BST. This will be an opportunity to ask us questions about Buglife and trusteeship and figure out if we would be a good fit for you.

Register for the webinar here via the website.

If you cannot make this webinar but would still like to find out more before applying, please email us and we will do our best to arrange an alternative opportunity.

Expenses

While this role is unpaid, Buglife will cover travel expenses to meetings, overnight accommodation, and other necessary costs incurred while fulfilling trustee duties.

Join Us

Help us save the small things that run the planet. Your expertise can make a significant difference in conservation efforts.

Please see the Trustee Recruitment Pack on our website for more details

For any questions or to request further information, please contact us.

We look forward to hearing from you!