External Trustees Volunteer Roles

We are looking for an enthusiastic and passionate person, with a legal background, who could devote their time to volunteer as a trustee at our Tunbridge Wells & Maidstone Branch and support us with GDPR compliance. 

Alongside passing on your expertise, this opportunity will give you 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, alongside fellow trustees, in the running of the Branch and setting out both the short and long term aims.

As a minimum, trustees would normally be expected to attend a  committee meeting every other month lasting 2 hours either in person or virtually (can alternate). However, the commitment may vary depending on whether or not the trustee takes on additional duties.

Primary responsibilities of the Branch Trustee – Legal and GDPR

•  Assist the Branch in ensuring that activities are GDPR compliant and reviewing and updating the Branch processing activities register.
• Support the Branch in developing and updating Branch policies, particularly the Branch privacy notice and internal data protection policy, to make sure they are compliant.   
• Support the Branch when liaising with external specialist providers such as HR and health and safety specialists.
• The Branch may occasionally enter into new leases with regards to its charity shops; so liaising with external specialists for advice if it does not fall under your area of expertise.
• To assist the Branch when developing new schemes, such as providing welfare assistance to those  low incomes, to ensure any new schemes are GDPR compliant.

What we are looking for in a volunteer:

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.

Alongside legal and GDPR compliance experience, we are looking for someone who is committed to the RSPCA’s charitable objectives and shares our passion for animal welfare. You would be creative, innovative, bring a fresh perspective, and have the ability to put ideas into action.

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 – Legal and GDPR

•  We will provide you with a comprehensive trustee training course which will provide you will 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.

• Role: provide legal oversight, analysis and strategic guidance to the CEO and board
• Liaises with: Chair, CEO, trustees, committees, external stakeholders
• Location: Cambridgeshire area/remote
• Voluntary role: reasonable expenses paid
• Time commitment: 0-5 hours per month (estimated), mostly outside office hours
• Term: negotiable, e.g. interim/three years/extendable by re-election
• Application closing date: 31st October 2024

About Us:
Evolve Counselling is a long-established charitable social enterprise, providing low cost, affordable or funded mental health counselling to adults in Cambridgeshire and surrounding counties. Our professional counselling community is made up of 50 – 60 qualified self-employed practitioners, working part-time to deliver talking therapies both online and in person. 

We deliver around 500 counselling sessions per month to a broad range of individuals, many of whom would not otherwise be able to access therapeutic support. Evolve also provides supervision, reflective practice, critical incident support, and mental health awareness and related training to organisations and businesses large and small.

We are in the early stages of developing ambitious growth and innovation programmes, so this is a perhaps the most interesting time to be part of Evolve since we started in the 1970s. Opportunities for new Trustees to make their mark are considerable.

What We’re Looking For:
We are searching for an experienced legal specialist who can support our board, committees, and the CEO as we move through our next strategic stage of consolidation, then growth. Although long-established and successful, Evolve is reshaping itself and your legal expertise will be instrumental in positioning our charity to successfully meet the ever-growing demands and opportunities for supporting good mental health in our communities. Please note, a background in counselling is NOT a prerequisite for this role. Training will be available in general charity governance and in specific areas such as charity finance.

Your skills and knowledge, whether gained in the charity or commercial worlds, in a Legal Department or Practice, or a specialist consultancy, will help us to plan and “do the right thing” for our small staff and our self-employed counsellors, as we grow.

Including quarterly board meetings, committee sessions (at present virtual), a face-to-face AGM event, away days, and regular meetings with our CEO and the trustees, we anticipate a flexible time commitment of around 0-5 hours per month.

The Organisation
Global's Make Some Noise is the in-house grant-making charity of Global, the Media and Entertainment group. We harness the assets of Global to raise funds, awareness and skills for small charities supporting the people who need it most in their communities. 
We have proudly raised over £34 million for more than 400 UK charities since our launch in 2014. Last year we funded crucial work at 59 charities across the country, granting over £2.5m. A further 20 charities benefitted from access to small grants to achieve a transformational organisation development aim. This financial support will change more than 24,000 lives in the UK, with thousands more family members indirectly benefitting. 
This is our ten-year anniversary, and we are at a pivotal moment looking at opportunities to significantly grow and amplify our impact. This is an exciting time to be launching our Philanthropy Development Committee and we are excited to be seeking someone to lead this and join our Trustee Board.
 

The Role
This is your opportunity to make a real impact for communities across the UK. We’re looking for a driven, passionate, and ambitious individual to join our Board of Trustees and lead our new Philanthropy Development Committee (PDC), with the aim of raising £1 million over the next two years. As Chair of the PDC, you will create this Committee, help shape its terms of reference, and recruit its members, drawing on a mix of high net worth individuals, foundations, and possibly corporates. You’ll be supported by our charity team in these endeavours and will also provide guidance and advice to our team on its outreach. This is an incredible opportunity to make a significant community impact.

Person Specification
We welcome applications from people with a range of different backgrounds. 
We are particularly looking for applications from individuals who are passionate about our ambitions and objectives and have the willingness and ability to invite professional and personal networks to support the charity. Our Chair of the new Philanthropy Development Committee will be a strong and credible leader with:

• A passion for the aims of Global's Make Some Noise.
• A proven track record of leadership in either the voluntary, public or commercial sectors.
• Experience on committees, panels or boards.
• A commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• Understanding of the voluntary sector and a commitment to developing this knowledge in support of the charity and its plans.
• Enthusiasm for commercial radio and an interest in the media industry.
• A proven track record of leading one or more successful fundraising drives

Further Information
For comprehensive information about Global's Make Some Noise and the role responsibilities, please download the Candidate Information Pack.

How to Apply
If you would like to be considered for this exciting opportunity, please provide:

•  An up-to-date CV
•  A supporting statement of no more than 1 side of A4, outlining your experience, motivations and suitability for the role.

All applications are being handled by our recruitment partner, Trustees Unlimited (part of the Russam group).

All applications should be sent to Trustees Unlimited (details via the website).

If you have any difficulty uploading your application or if you would like to have an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Melissa Baxter - Managing Partner, Charities.

Application Closing Date: Friday 27th September 2024 
1st Stage Interviews with Global Make Some Noise: w/c 7th and 14th October 2024
2nd Stage Interviews with Global Make Some Noise: w/c 21st and 28th October 2024

We look forward to recieving your application.

• Role: provide HR oversight, analysis and strategic guidance to the CEO and board
• Liaises with: Chair, CEO, trustees, committees, external stakeholders
• Location: Cambridgeshire area/remote
• Voluntary role: reasonable expenses paid
• Time commitment: 0-5 hours per month (estimated), mostly outside office hours
• Term: negotiable, e.g. interim/three years/extendable by re-election
• Application closing date: 31st October 2024

About Us:
Evolve Counselling is a long-established charitable social enterprise, providing low cost, affordable or funded mental health counselling to adults in Cambridgeshire and surrounding counties. Our professional counselling community is made up of 50 – 60 qualified self-employed practitioners, working part-time to deliver talking therapies both online and in person. 

We deliver around 500 counselling sessions per month to a broad range of individuals, many of whom would not otherwise be able to access therapeutic support. Evolve also provides supervision, reflective practice, critical incident support, and mental health awareness and related training to organisations and businesses large and small.

We are in the early stages of developing ambitious growth and innovation programmes, so this is a perhaps the most interesting time to be part of Evolve since we started in the 1970s. Opportunities for new Trustees to make their mark are considerable.

What We’re Looking For:
We are searching for an experienced HR specialist who can support our board, committees, and the CEO as we move through our next strategic stage of consolidation, then growth. Although long-established and successful, Evolve is reshaping itself and your HR expertise will be instrumental in positioning our charity to successfully meet the ever-growing demands and opportunities for supporting good mental health in our communities. Please note, a background in counselling is NOT a prerequisite for this role. Training will be available in general charity governance and in specific areas such as charity finance.

Your skills and knowledge, whether gained in the charity or commercial worlds, in a corporate HR Department, or a specialist consultancy, will help us to plan and “do the right thing” for our small staff and our self-employed counsellors, as we grow.

Including quarterly board meetings, committee sessions (at present virtual), a face-to-face AGM event, away days, and regular meetings with our CEO and the trustees, we anticipate a flexible time commitment of around 0-5 hours per month

Trustee Role Description

Purpose of role:

The Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of Wandsworth Care Alliance (WCA).

Scope and objectives:

Trustees have a duty individually and collectively to:

• Determine the overall direction and development of WCA through good governance and clear strategic planning.
• Ensure that WCA pursues the objectives defined in its governing documents, and complies with charity law, company law, employment legislation, and with all other relevant legislation, constantly striving for best practice in governance.
• Uphold the financial responsibilities invested in their position, undertaking such duties in a way that adds to public confidence and trust in WCA.
• Ensure that WCA uses its resources in pursuit of its charitable objects.

Main duties:

• To contribute actively to the Board’s role in providing direction for WCA, in setting overall policy and in maintaining a framework of good governance and accountability, and in evaluating performance against agreed targets.
• To give clear direction, leadership, guidance, and advice to the WCA director and staff.
• To safeguard the good name and values of WCA and to act as an ambassador for the organisation.
• To provide vision, inspiration, and support to the WCA director and staff.
• To ensure the effective and efficient administration of WCA.
• To ensure the financial stability of WCA.
• To appoint the director and monitor his/her performance.
• To use specific skills, knowledge, or experience to help the Board of Trustees to reach sound decisions.

This may involve:

• Scrutinising Board papers;
• Contributing to or leading Board discussions;
• Acting as a board champion for a particular area of WCA’s work;
• Identifying and focusing on key issues;
• Providing guidance on new initiatives;
• Being part of a working group.

Duty of care:

Each Trustee will:

• Apply reasonable care and skills as a Trustee, using their knowledge and experience to ensure that WCA is well run and efficient;
• Be ready to consider the need for external professional advice on matters where there may be material risk to the charity, or where the Trustees may be in breach of their duties;
• Safeguard the good name and values of WCA.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality about sensitive information received in the course of responsibilities as a Trustee.

Each Trustee will:

• Ensure that the charity is and will remain solvent; keeping informed of the charity’s activities and financial position;
• Avoid undertaking activities that might place the charity’s property, funds, assets or reputation at undue risk.

Each Trustee is required to act reasonably and prudently in all matters relating to the charity and must always bear the interests of WCA in mind.

Section 72(1) of the Charities Act 1993 disqualifies anyone who:

• Has been convicted of an offence involving deception or dishonesty unless the conviction is spent.
• Is an un-discharged bankrupt.
• Has previously been removed from trusteeship of a charity by the court or the Charity Commissioners.
• Is under a disqualification order under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

It is an offence to serve as a charity trustee while disqualified unless the Charity Commission has given a waiver under section 72(4) of the Charities Act 1993.

Accountability:

The law imposes a duty of care on Trustees to act responsibly and prudently in all matters relating to their charity and to act in the best interests of the charity.

WCA is a registered Charity and Company Limited by guarantee and Trustees are therefore accountable to the members, the Charity Commission, and to Companies House (as company directors).

Suitability as a WCA Trustee will include many of the following:

• Commitment to Wandsworth Care Alliance (WCA).
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort.
• Availability to attend meetings regularly.
• Strategic vision.
• Good, independent judgement.
• Ability to think creatively.
• Willingness to participate actively in discussions, listening to others and con- tributing accordingly.
• To use professional experience and any technical skills and knowledge to contribute to Trustee decision making.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
• Ambassadorial ability and willingness to represent WCA in a range of situations.
• Experience of involvement in community or residents’ groups and/or in building community involvement.
• Commercial awareness including, but not limited to: marketing, branding, fundraising and social media.
• Skills and experience within finance or communications.
• Valuing diversity, with experience and/or knowledge of minority issues and perspectives.
• Capacity to pursue potential sources of charitable investment in WCA.
• Willingness to take part in training and learn new skills.

Person specification

Trustees should possess:

• Commitment to Wandsworth Care Alliance (WCA);
• Willingness to devote the necessary time and effort. This will include attending a minimum of six out of the eight Board meetings a year, plus additional related meetings, in addition to the Annual General Meeting;
• Contribute to WCA Strategic vision;
• Good, independent judgement;
• Ability to think creatively;
• Willingness to speak their mind, and to lead and contribute to discussions enabling their professional experience to contribute to trustee’s decision- making;
• Willingness to use their experience and or specific technical skills for work areas reserved for Trustees;
• Understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship and the governance role;
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team;
• Ambassadorial ability;
• Chairing skills or the willingness to develop them.

If you are interested in the role, please apply with your CV.

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.

Do you want to support the running of a longstanding, free and highly-effective counselling service for young people?

You could be a trustee for Bracknell-based charity, Youthline.

Set up in 1988, now a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee, we have just celebrated 35 successful years, offering more than 600 counselling hours to young people every month. Demand and complexity of services continue to increase, and we have thus improved space and availability to meet that demand.

Our anniversary year meant a new logo, and in 2023/24, our income was maintained at £220k, with a successful funding bid. Of course, income-generation remains a high priority, as for all charities.

The role and what we are looking for in a new trustee

Trustees are the people who make the top-level decisions for our charity. Our Board includes people with experience and skills in governing a youth counselling charity, and we require new trustees to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. 

You don’t necessarily need prior experience of charity trusteeship, as full induction and guidance from our trustees and staff will be provided, including access to external training, as needed.

We are looking for new trustees with some skills or experience in:

• Income-generation
• Employee & volunteer support/HR
• We also are looking for ‘general’ trustees who are interested in our mission and services

If you are unsure your abilities or experience fit our needs, please ask: we’re flexible how people can contribute to our charity. If you can think strategically and plan long-term, you have the primary skills needed by our trustees; you’ll also need to be able to work collectively with other Board members. Support from our paid employees is always available, as they deal with the day-to-day running of the organisation.

We are a charity not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds to join our Board, and want to expand the diversity of our board, in all meanings of the word, strongly welcoming applications from people from less-represented groups. 

We ask for up to five hours of your time per month, less at some times of year, which includes all meetings, discussions, etc.  You will need access to digital communications, as some of our charity’s business is run that way, with quarterly Board meetings face-to-face in Bracknell.

How to apply  

This appointment is being managed for us by inVOLve Community Services, a charity-support organisation, who offer a no-obligation discussion by video or phone, and assistance with your application. A detailed Role Description and Person Specification can be made available to you upon request.

Trustee appointments are subject to satisfactory references and completion of a Safeguarding course. 

Your CV or similar will be read by our existing trustees, and an interview offered as soon as mutually convenient.

I need to know more 

Contact Mike Allen via Quick Apply below, for more information and arrange to have a no-obligation initial informal discussion (Teams/Zoom/phone)

Mountain Rescue England & Wales (MREW) is looking for a Finance Director to join the Trustees. The finance director will play a key role as MREW embarks on a new and exciting phase of organisational development.

The Finance Director is a member of the Trustees Board of MREW, the national charity representing and supporting the work of our highly respected Mountain Rescue teams. 

The Finance Director will help deliver MREW’s strategic goals by ensuring the provision of consistent, robust, and expert financial advice to the Management Committee and the Trustees; providing an effective financial management service to the charity; and acting as the leading interface between management and trustees on financial matters.

The successful candidate will be an experienced individual, with a background of working in the financial sector. 

Qualifications

Qualified or Part Qualified Accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA CIPFA) or equivalent experience (ideally including experience working with a charity). 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Finance

• Contribute to the implementation of the charity’s strategic plan developing annual work programmes with the Management Committee as appropriate

• Provide timely advice on new and current income generation initiatives and develop the analysis of performance

• Ensure the provision of robust accounting services for use by Officers in planning and controlling the income and expenditure of the charity

• Plan and manage cash flow

• Ensure accurate records are maintained to meet external legal and tax requirements

• Ensure the statutory annual accounts for the charity are prepared for consideration by the Trustees

• Provide timely submission of all external reporting e.g. Charity Commission

• Be the authorised official for the charity for HR Revenue and Customs

• To develop, operate and provide monitoring systems for forecasting, re-forecasting, contingency

  planning and early indicators

• In close consultation with the Chief Executive, establish a relationship with the trustee board so that

  they have an opportunity to understand fully the key financial issues confronting the charity.

• Be responsible for the compilation of the annual budget of the charity and its presentation to Trustees

  for financial forecasting to support the planning process

• Ensure the appropriateness of the key assumptions included in the charity’s annual budget proposals.

  Provide advice to Officers on these matters

• Ensure the provision of regular accurate and timely management information to the Management

  Executive Team

• Maintain the financial policies, procedures and guidelines to guide the charity’s financial decision- making

• Identify ways to improve the finance function and work proactively with the team to deliver these

• Keep up to date and be involved in wider organisational issues and share these as appropriate

Corporate Governance

• In close consultation with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), establish a relationship with the trustee board so that each individual has an opportunity to understand the key financial issues confronting MREW.

• Keep up to date with good/best practices and developments relating to finance and the charity sector and ensure that policies procedures and practices develop in line with these.

• Provide input into the risk management register by identifying risks in conjunction with the Management Committee and Board and establishing suitable plans to reduce/manage risk

• Maintain and report on the Declaration of Interest register to ensure that any conflict is minimised in decision making

Management

• Attending and contributing to Board of Trustees and management meetings

• Provide reporting to the meetings

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the strategic plan, developing projects with the

  management team as appropriate

• Deputise for other officers when necessary

Outputs

• Statutory accounts for charity

• Annual Returns for charity

• Annual Budget for charity

• Regular management reports with financial variance reports

This role description should not be regarded as a definitive list of duties and responsibilities.

What to Expect

• This is a voluntary role within MREW, re-elected annually; it is expected that the applicant will serve a term of 5 years, with a possible extension of a further 5 years

• Travel during with working day to attend meetings, with occasional absence from home overnight.

• Out of pocket expenses can be reclaimed in line with the MREW Expenses Policy

Values

• Upholds, promotes and demonstrates the Charity’s values by working positively as part of a team to create a culture of equality and diversity where all are valued and encouraged

Experience

• Previous experience of working in a comparable role

• Working constructively as part of senior leadership team

• Experience of working with and advising Board of Trustees

• Experience of developing, delivering and monitoring financial strategy

• Experience in the preparing, monitoring and reporting of budget and financial management information

Knowledge and Understanding:

• An awareness of the issues affecting MREW and the voluntary sector

• Knowledge and awareness of relevant legislation

• Knowledge of accounting systems and Microsoft

• Knowledge of risk management procedures

Skills and Abilities

• Have open discussions which are clear, respectful and honest in order to resolve issues which may be impeding success

• Evaluate opportunities and make decisions that are economically sound

• Overcome challenges and obstacles, demonstrating resilience

• Constructively challenge negative attitudes internally and externally

• Excellent IT skills and report writing skills

• Excellent communication skills and presentation skills

Competencies/Behaviours

• Outgoing personality who is able to pro-actively support and guide non-finance individuals and provide clear explanations of complex financial data

• Able to work under pressure, to tight deadlines and adapt to change.

• Approachable – Will be open minded and value diversity.

• Non-judgemental – will focus on the potential not the past.

• Inspiring – will lead by example.

• Empowering – will enable positive change.

• Passionate about MREW’s goals and delivering excellence.

Meetings, Representation and Reporting

The Finance Director will typically join a mixture of Face to Face, Online and Hybrid meetings
• MREW Annual General Meeting (AGM) and National Business Meetings (2 meetings per year) • MREW Management Business Group Meetings (up to 11 meetings per year)
• MREW Management Operations Group Meetings (as required 1 or 2 times a year)
• MREW Trustees Meetings (4 - 5 a year)

The role will require written reports to support:

• MREW AGM and General Business meetings • MREW Management Meetings
• Other meetings as agreed 

The Organisation

Victim Support is an independent charity. We are dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales, and we put them at the heart of our organisation. Our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.
We provide specialist services to help people manage after crime and to empower them to ensure their voices are heard individually and collectively at a local and national level.
Our services help people affected by all types of crime and we provide free confidential support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for people affected by crime and traumatic events — regardless of whether they have reported the crime to the police or when it occurred.
Most of our services are delivered locally through skilled staff and volunteers who are deeply rooted in their communities. We adapt our services to meet local need and pride ourselves on being responsive to local demands. These services are closely linked into the National Homicide Service providing a dedicated, comprehensive service for those bereaved by murder and manslaughter and our national Supportline.
We are an independent charity, and our unrivalled national overview gives us the ability to share best practice and innovate in our services as well as champion victims’ rights from a strong evidence base.

More information about Victim Support can be found on our website.

The Role

We are looking for a qualified accountant with financial experience in the Charity sector. This person will sit on FARC, along with the Treasurer and other members of the Board.

Person specification

• Charity sector finance experience in either a staff or Trustee capacity.
• A qualified accountant and someone who has operated in a senior capacity previously.
• Committed to developing your knowledge and understanding of how VS is run, including engagement work with local or national services.
• Committed to supporting and promoting VS’s purpose, vision and mission.
• Understand and believe firmly in the work that we do and our values.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills.
• A creative thinker and help VS develop innovative new areas of work.
• Committed to supporting VS values and equality, diversity and inclusion policy.
• An active member of the board, committing the time and thought needed.
• Understanding of how a large organisation works.
• Experience or understanding of management.
• Experience of working or engaging with more senior members of an organisation (perhaps at Board or senior management level).

Please download the Candidate Information Pack for further information.

How to Apply

If you would like to apply for this fantastic opportunity, please provide the following with your application:

• An up to date CV with details of two referees (we will not contact them without your prior permission).
• A support statement (no longer than two A4 sides) which addresses how you meet the main criteria and explains your motivations for applying.

All applications should be sent to Trustees Unlimited - see website.

If you have any difficulty uploading your application or if you would like to have an informal and confidential discussion about the role, alternatively please contact Melissa Baxter:

Closing date for applications: Monday 2nd September 2024
Interviews with Victim Support: Friday 13th September 2024 [online].

While not essential, we particularly encourage applications from individuals who are currently underrepresented on our Board, including those from LGBTQ+ communities, diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, and people with disabilities.

We look forward to receiving your application. 

Could you be our Chair of Age International and a Trustee of Age UK?

This unique dual role offers the opportunity to lead both Age International and Age UK in improving the lives of older people around the world, as they work together to achieve our shared vision of a world where every older person is included and valued.

Age International is a charity which responds to the needs, and promotes the rights, of older people, focused on those facing challenging situations in low and middle-income countries. Striving for a world where older people are respected and valued, their voices are heard, their contributions are recognised, their needs are met, and their human rights are realised.

Age UK is the country's leading charity dedicated to helping everyone make the most of later life. Ageing is not an illness, but it can be challenging. At Age UK, we provide services and support at a national and local level to inspire, enable and support older people. We stand up and speak for all those who have reached later life, and also protect the long-term interests of future generations.

Age International and Age UK are leading organisations focussed on older people.

In a rapidly aging world, where the over 55s make up the fastest growing group in society, our shared work on improving attitudes towards older people and their rights is more important than ever. We focus on enabling older people to access health and social care, and a sufficient income for a dignified life, in the UK and across international emergency and long-term development contexts.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds who meet the essential criteria and are passionate about our cause. This could be shown through working, or volunteering, in the international development sector or through involvement in advocating for older people’s rights.

Age International has a Board of nine Trustees, who bring a range of relevant skills and experience, including a Vice Chair and Trustees who lead on specialist areas such as Safeguarding. Age UK has a Board of thirteen Trustees, committed professionals with skills spanning advocacy, social care, health policy, fundraising, change management, finance, housing, brand and marketing, international development, digital transformation, strategy and business management.

Please see the attached role description for further information, a full version of the role requirements is also available on the Age International and Age UK websites.

Terms of appointment:

This role will be appointed for a period of two years, after which the role-holder may be re-appointed for a maximum of two further terms of three years. The position is voluntary, but all reasonable expenses will be reimbursed by the charities. Each Board meets four times a year (quarterly), usually in London, and it is possible to join some meetings online. The overall time commitment is anticipated to be, on average, 2 days per month plus preparation time. 

We are only able to consider candidates based in the UK for this opportunity.

Must haves:

• Experience as Chair of a Board of Trustees or as a Trustee
• A commitment to the vision, mission and values of Age International and Age UK
• Commitment to and passion for improving later life in the UK and around the world
• Experience in the UK international development / humanitarian sector
• Capacity to absorb complex information presented orally and in writing
• Capacity for strategic and critical thinking, objectivity, impartiality
• Ability to act as a team player and commitment to debating issues openly and challenging colleagues and executives appropriately
• Ability to recognise and handle appropriately potential conflicts of interest.
• Ability to make high quality decisions based on a clear line of sight into the organisations
• Ability to uphold the highest standards of integrity and probity
• Ability to provide coherent oversight and leadership, including representing the charities and understanding the views of our stakeholders
• Willingness to commit the time required
• Ability to travel to visit the programme work supported by Age International in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

Great to haves:

• Leadership experience in a large organisation
• Previous skills and experience relating to matters impacting older people
• Ability to understand charity finances.

Additional Information: 

All applications will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role with Age International.  Please note that our system is unable to anonymise cover letters, and we would therefore ask that to support the work we are doing on making our recruitment selection process fairer and more unbiased, that you remove any personal information from your cover letter/supporting statement, including your name before uploading this.  All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us once you are invited for an interview.

Age International is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.

The IMechE Finance Board is seeking to appoint up to three individuals with strong financial and business skills. One will serve as Deputy Chair of the Finance Board and be co-opted to the Trustee Board (see Term of Office and Obligations below). The others will be appointed to serve as members of Finance Board.

Applications are sought from Corporate Members of the Institution and from members of other Professional bodies. These roles will support the transformation of IMechE’s financial and commercial practices, and the appraisal/assurance of significant investments. It is envisaged that the successful candidate will assume the role during the autumn of 2024.

IMechE's Finance Board

The IMechE Finance Board was set up in October 2019 as a result of the recommendations from the Finance and Governance Review Committees. It contains both internal and external members with high levels of financial and business expertise.

The overall purpose of the Finance Board is to assist the Trustee Board in its duty to supervise the broad direction of IMechE’s financial affairs. Within this broad remit, there are three main areas of accountability:

• Review of the financial plans and performance of the Institution as a whole.
• Oversight of the commercial activities of the Institution.
• Review and direction of investment policy and evaluation and approval of individual investment decisions.

Finance Board Member - Specification

The member will ideally have a combination of the following characteristics and be able to contribute to a non-executive capacity, bringing their fresh, independent perspectives to Board decision-making through:

a) transferable financial, commercial and business experience relevant to the scale, functions and international reach of IMechE, including its trading subsidiaries;

b) interpersonal and communication skills that will allow them to inspire confidence and productive relationships at all levels; to challenge and support the Executive constructively; and to influence effectively across diverse stakeholder communities;

c) for the Deputy Chair (co-opted Trustee) role, an IMechE member with proven business leadership in the private, public or voluntary sectors, with board-level experience in an organisation of comparable scale and complexity. This would include experience of chairing meetings or committees.

These skills may have been demonstrated through your involvement with a range of organisations (e.g., work, academic, charitable, professional bodies etc.).

It is anticipated that the role of Finance Board Deputy Chair (and co-opted Trustee) will require a time commitment of 3-4 days per month and the Ordinary Member of Finance Board will require a time commitment of 1 – 2 days per month.

Term of Office and Obligations

1. Finance Board Members will have an initial term of up to 3 years, after which time they will either step down or may be considered for a further term of office.

2. The Deputy Chair will be co-opted to the Trustee Board in accordance with Trustee Board Regulation 1.4. The term of the co-option shall last until the Annual Meeting of the Institution in 2025 and may be considered for one further term of co-opted office. A period in office as a co-opted Trustee shall not count towards the eligibility criteria for elected Trustee positions.

3. Applications are open to the full IMechE membership and current members of Council are encouraged to apply. Applications are also open to non-members of IMechE who have relevant skills and experiences.

4. Meetings shall be held a minimum of four times per year on dates proposed by the Chair. Board members may request additional meetings in writing to the Chair if they consider it necessary. Meetings may be held in person or virtually.

5. Candidates must have sufficient availability of time to devote to the responsibilities outlined in the role description above.

Applications for Deputy Chair (co-opted Trustee) of Finance Board and Ordinary Member of Finance Board are now open.

We’re recruiting a Treasurer to provide strategic leadership over our continued financial growth to support our ambitious new strategy to be launched in 2025.

We’re seeking a Treasurer to join our board of trustees and work with our CEO to ensure the financial stability and growth of Camcycle. You will be a committed and enthusiastic supporter of cycling in and around Cambridge and a member of Camcycle. This does not mean you need to cycle very far, very often or indeed at all, but rather that you understand the benefits large-scale everyday cycling can have for our society and environment. (If you are not currently a member you can join in advance of submitting your trustee nomination form).

Ideally, you will have a formal accountancy qualification and/or practical experience with charity finances. You will also understand the dynamics of a small high-performance organisation, and be able to work with a variety of stakeholders including staff, other trustees, volunteers, members, donors and other partners. Our Treasurer will not be expected to get involved in day-to-day financial operations.

If you would like to learn more about the role of Treasurer or express interest in the position please get in touch. We will arrange a conversation with our CEO, Chair of the Board or Chair of our Finance Subcommittee to discuss the role.

Who we are and what we do

Camcycle (Cambridge Cycling Campaign) is a high-profile and influential local charity working for more, better and safer cycling, for all ages and abilities, in and around the Cambridge region, where half the population cycles at least once a week. We are democratic and member-led, with over 1,700 members and many volunteers.

Our funding is derived from membership subscriptions, donations, grants from grant-making bodies, corporate partnerships, advertising and merchandise sales. We have five permanent members of staff, periodic interns and freelancers and many active volunteers including our board of trustees. In 2025/2026 we expect to complete our transition to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Our Finance Subcommittee of trustees and staff oversees the financial processes and operations of the organisation. Our CEO and Finance Assistant run our day-to-day finances and we have plans to add a Finance Director or similar role to the team in the near future.

Camcycle’s work includes:

• Responding to planning applications and public consultations.
• Organising events including our Cambridge Festival of Cycling, the Reach Ride with 1,000 participants, stalls at community events, workplace information sessions and campaigning meetings.
• Publication of print and digital cycling advocacy materials including leaflets for students, our quarterly magazine and blogs and social media posts.
• Making representations to the media and public bodies such as the council in the interest of a wide diversity of people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities who are cycling for general transport purposes in the greater Cambridge region.

Read more about our work and our finances in our latest annual reviews and find out more about becoming a Camcycle trustee.

Our values

Camcycle is: Inclusive, Informed and Influential

Our work is: Positive, Practical and Professional

We are seeking a collaborative new Trustee that can be a champion and guide for Bucks Culture as it evolves from a fledgling charity into its next phase. 

Buckinghamshire Culture has two Chairs at the same time, who share the role and jointly support our Director, by joining us you would be entering into a partnership with our charity and our other Co-Chair. 

As Chair of Buckinghamshire Culture for three years from Autumn 2024, activities would include:

· Being a champion for culture in Buckinghamshire, the Buckinghamshire Cultural Partnership, the and resulting projects/programmes;

· Defining and articulating the Buckinghamshire Culture vision, acting as an ambassador and maintaining close relationships with key decision makers at a local, regional and national level;

· Ensuring an effective and appropriate model of governance for the charity that is fully compliant with governance requirements;

· Supporting the Director and staff of Buckinghamshire Culture, providing strategic leadership, support and challenge;

· Chairing the Board of Buckinghamshire Culture effectively and efficiently, bringing impartiality and objectivity to the decision-making process;

· Advocating for and championing the Buckinghamshire Cultural Strategy;

· Ensuring that the Board of Buckinghamshire Culture fulfil their duties and responsibilities and work together to provide a clear strategic direction;

· Ensuring, with the Director, that the Board of Buckinghamshire Culture are provided with  information so that they are able to fulfil their duties, including being  able to regularly review major risks and associated opportunities, and satisfy itself that systems are in place to take advantage of opportunities, and manage and mitigate the risks;

· Developing the knowledge and capability of the Board of Buckinghamshire Culture, addressing and resolving any conflicts, and appraising the Board’s performance;

· Driving forward planning and a fundraising strategy to enable a sustainable future for  Buckinghamshire Culture;

· Representing the Buckinghamshire Culture at external functions, meetings and events;

· Addressing any potential conflicts within the Partnership and with external stakeholders.

Person Specification

Qualified by experience, the Chair is likely to have/have had a role(s) at a senior decision-making level in other relevant organisations, and ideally will have been a Board member.  They will have;

· A passion for culture and creativity and the transformative role it can play in people’s lives;

· Commitment to the purpose and values of Buckinghamshire Culture and the role of culture for societal good;

· Proven and demonstrable leadership skills;

· Enthusiasm, integrity, strategic vision and good independent judgement;

· A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort to their duties as Chair;

· An ability to take strong decisions for the good of Buckinghamshire Culture;

· Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;

· Tact and diplomacy;

· Willingness to speak their mind as well as listen to the views of others;

· An ability to work effectively as a member of a team of experienced and independent individuals giving their time as Trustees.

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 expertise and support we will achieve so much! 

We need volunteers who have expertise in Legal and GDPR matters to help us manage the Branch effectively and within legal limitations. You will get new skills and experience whilst enabling us to help more animals. 

Overview of the Branch Trustee opportunity

We are looking for an enthusiastic and passionate person, with a legal background, who could devote their time to volunteer as a trustee at our Preston & District Branch and support us with GDPR compliance.

Alongside passing on your expertise, this opportunity will give you 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, alongside fellow trustees, in the running of the Branch and setting out both the short and long term aims.  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!

The RSPCA Preston & District Branch

Over 80% of the animal welfare work of RSPCA is carried out through local branches, which are run by staff & volunteers who have the support of the National Society of RSPCA.

The Preston & District Branch is part of a network of  140  branches, and one of only 8 in the North of England with an animal centre. We are a separately registered charity looking after animals in our local area and engaging with the local community. Our mission is to provide safe homes to abandoned, neglected or abused animals, to nurse them back to health, rehabilitate them and find them their forever home.

RSPCA Preston is a well established branch with approximately 20 members of staff and 75 volunteers across 4 locations. The main activity of our branch is providing a rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming centre within the Preston area (close to JCN 31 of the M6). To continue helping animals in need we also operate 3 charity shops in Longridge, Chorley and Penwortham which bring in a regular income to keep our animal centre open. 

Take a look at our website to see a little more about the work we do.

Primary responsibilities of the Branch Trustee – Legal and GDPR

• Assist the Branch in ensuring that activities are GDPR compliant and reviewing and updating the Branch processing activities register.
• Support the Branch in developing and updating Branch policies, particularly the Branch privacy notice and internal data protection policy, to make sure they are compliant.
• Support the Branch when liaising with external specialist providers such as HR and health and safety specialists. 
• The Branch may occasionally enter into new leases with regards to its charity shops; so, liaising with external specialists for advice if it does not fall under your area of expertise. 
• To assist the Branch when developing new schemes, such as providing welfare assistance to those on low incomes, to ensure any new schemes are GDPR compliant.

Core Branch Trustee responsibilities

• 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.
• 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 and regional conference.
• Be aware of the outcome of regional board meetings and support regional initiatives.
• Actively promote and advertise the society in an ongoing programme to recruit new branch trustees and volunteers and welcome new members.
• 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.

What we are looking for in a volunteer:

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.

Alongside legal and GDPR compliance experience, we are looking for someone who is committed to the RSPCA’s charitable objectives and shares our passion for animal welfare. You would be creative, innovative, bring a fresh perspective, and can put ideas into action. 

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.

How to find out more about being a Branch Trustee

For more information on becoming a Charity Trustee, and to ensure it is the right decision for you there is some information on the RSPCA website about Branch Trustees, and we have an online session about Becoming a Branch Trustee, which should hopefully give you more of an idea of what the RSPCA Branch Trustee role will involve.

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.

Creative Support is a national social care and supported housing provider with charitable status. We offer high quality, personalised care and support services for younger adults and older people with a wide range of needs, including learning disabilities, autism, mental health needs and physical disabilities. We also deliver innovative preventative services for people at risk of homelessness and social exclusion. We support people to overcome challenges and live their best lives.

Creative Support is one of the largest not-for-profit providers of social care in the UK. We are proud to have been providing great services since 1991. We currently support over 6,000 people a year in 70 local authorities across England and employ around 5,000 dedicated staff. Creative Support has an annual turnover of over £160 million. We are registered as a provider of social housing, with a supported housing portfolio of over 1,000 homes. We own significant housing assets, all of which are dedicated to providing great homes for the people we support.

We have recently completed an extensive external governance review which concluded that ‘Creative Support is a high performing and effective organisation which is well led by the Board and the Executive.’ We are embarking on a new 3 year strategic plan to build on our success and further develop our activities.

We are now seeking to recruit new trustees to the Board. We are seeking well motivated people who have an enthusiasm for our work and can offer a commitment to our charitable purpose, person-centred values and to co-production with the people we support. We require trustees who can demonstrate vision, knowledge, skills and relevant experience. Prior experience in a trustee or governance role is not essential as we will provide personalised training as required.

We are particularly keen to attract applicants who have senior operational management experience in social care. We are also pleased to receive applications from people from other professional backgrounds or with personal or family experience of using support services and we welcome applications from people with transferable skills and experience gained in the charitable, public or private sectors.

You will contribute to the effective governance and oversight of our organisation and to developing our strategic direction. This will involve attending at least 6 evening Board meetings per annum (held bi-monthly), the Annual General Meeting and occasional planning days.

You will be expected to contribute to a committee relevant to your area of interest and expertise (currently these are Finance & Audit, Housing, People & Performance and Quality & Practice Development). Committee Meetings are also held bi-monthly. Board meetings are held in our Head Office in Stockport, situated close to the mainline train station, whilst committee meetings currently take place on-line.

You will be encouraged to attend events, visit services and to meet with our staff, our tenants and the people we support.

In return for your valuable time and expertise we can offer you the opportunity to enjoy a rewarding role and to contribute to the future success of a thriving national charitable social care organisation with a strong person-centred purpose and ethos.

Creative Support is an Investor in People ‘Gold’ employer and Stonewall Diversity Champion. We are a welcoming and inclusive organisation, committed to increasing the representation on the Board of people from BAME and LGBTQ+ groups and those with a disability. We have zero tolerance for racism and discrimination.

The role of trustee is a voluntary position for which we pay reasonable expenses. We also support trustees with induction and on-going training.

We can send you a copy of our most recent Annual Report & Accounts - available via the FCA Mutuals Website, type in Creative Support and search under ‘documents’. You will find all previous annual reports and accounts listed and these can be viewed or downloaded at no cost. 

Please note that Creative Support is a Community Benefit Society with charitable status registered with the FCA, not a company or registered charity so you will not be able to access information about Creative Support via Companies House or the Charity Commission.

Applications will be considered when they are received.

Our Mission

Creative Support promotes independence, inclusion, and wellbeing. We do this by working with the people we support, their families and others to meet individual needs and aspirations in a person-centred way. We provide high quality homes and support, enabling people to say:

· I live my best life in a place I call home

· I feel listened to, respected and valued

· I enjoy choices and rights and have control over my life

· I am supported to feel safe

· I am doing the things that matter to me

· I enjoy relationships with others

· I am connected to my community

· I am supported with my wellbeing

· I feel able to reach my full potential

We Care Values

Our We Care values underpin everything we do at Creative Support. We are:

Welcoming
Empowering

Compassionate

Aspirational

Respectful

Effective