Journalist volunteer roles

The Student Publication Association (SPA) is recruiting charity trustees to assist its work in advancing the education of student journalists across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

As a small, student-led charity, we support more than 330 member publications around the UK and Republic of Ireland, offering advice, training, and recognition at both our regional and national awards.

Our trustee board plays a vital role in our governance, ensuring that we remain within the boundaries of charity law, protecting the charity’s long-term stability, and supporting our student executives.

For this round of applications, we are particularly keen to hear from applicants with expertise relevant to the journalism industry.

No previous experience in journalism or as a charity trustee is required — but we do ask that you share our commitment to the advancement of student journalism.

We strongly encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. This includes, but isn’t limited to BAME, LGBTQI+, disabled, and care-experienced communities.

About The Role

As a small volunteer-run charity, we anticipate the role would take up an average of 1-2 hours a week, although this may increase during busier periods for the SPA, such as around our annual national conference (SPANC).

As a trustee, you will be a collaborative and supportive team player who will:

• Attend monthly oversight meetings with the executive committee and other trustees;
• Attend other meetings and 1-2-1s as needed on an ad hoc basis;
• Offer guidance and support to the executive committee throughout the year to help them achieve their goals, particularly in your area of expertise;
• Ensure that the charity is carrying out its core purpose, that resources are managed responsibly, and that activities comply with our governing documents;
• Support the delivery of our national conference, including attendance at the weekend itself during the Easter university holidays;
• Where possible, attend our induction day, for new executive members each year.

This is a volunteer role, but all reasonable expenses will be covered. The term for these appointments will be three years.

You will be part of a trustee board of ten people; four elected trustees, four appointed trustees, and two ex-officio trustees from our student-led executive committee.

PR Volunteer for Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research
5 hours a week (hybrid)
Unpaid except expenses

Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research is a small independent charity based at the National Spinal Injuries Centre in Buckinghamshire. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people living with spinal cord injury. We fund research throughout the UK into the complications of spinal cord injury (SCI), funding projects tackling issues such as bladder & bowel, neuropathic pain, mental health and upper limb function.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and creative volunteer to join our small team as a PR Volunteer, ideally with experience of drafting and issuing media releases, sourcing and pitching promotional stories, and dealing with media/journalists. The role would not need to encompass social media which is already dealt with in-house.

This opportunity is perfect for someone passionate about PR, with a good level of skill and ‘know-how’ in how to help spread the word about our work in raising funds to support spinal cord injury research and the SCI community.
Ideally, we would like you to:

• Develop and implement publicity strategies to promote SMSR events, news, campaigns and general fundraising activities
• Be proactive in sourcing PR opportunities, both locally and nationally, as well as online
• Write and distribute press releases promoting our news, events, and campaigns
• Develop and nurture relationships with local media contacts and wider media
• Track and report on any PR/publicity efforts

Benefits:

• Gain valuable experience in public relations and working in a small, friendly charity team
• Add to your professional portfolio
• Network with media professionals and spinal cord injury influencers
• Be part of a small, yet dynamic, non-profit organisation based at the renowned National Spinal Injuries Unit, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury.

Expenses
This is a volunteer role. Travel expenses will be paid.

For more information, and to apply, please send your CV and a Covering Letter outlining your experience and what you could bring to the role to:
Charlotte Minoprio, Head of Development
Stoke Mandeville Spinal Research, National Spinal Injuries Centre, HP21 8AL  @lifeafterpara | Reg Charity No 1183744

Join Children with Voices as a Volunteer PR and Marketing Manager! In this role, you'll drive our PR and marketing strategies to amplify our mission and enhance community visibility. You'll be responsible for crafting compelling messages, promoting programs and events, and engaging with media and the public. This role is perfect for a creative and proactive individual with PR and marketing experience, eager to make a real impact and contribute to our growth. Bring your skills and passion to help us spread our message far and wide!

This is a hybrid role, 20 hours per week, with two days in-office and the rest remote. Thursday & Friday:11 AM – 4:00 PM. 

Your responsibilities will include:

- Develop and implement comprehensive PR strategies to boost the organisation's reputation and visibility.

- Cultivate relationships with media outlets, journalists, and influencers to secure press coverage and interviews.

- Write captivating press releases, media pitches, and materials to convey key messages and announcements.

- Plan, execute, and evaluate marketing campaigns to promote events, programs, and fundraising initiatives.

- Coordinate with internal teams to ensure consistent messaging and branding across all marketing materials.

- Craft compelling content for press releases, blog posts, social media, newsletters, and other marketing collateral.

- Develop engaging visuals, videos, and graphics to support marketing campaigns and storytelling efforts.

- Oversee the organisation's digital marketing channels, including website, social media, email, and online advertising.

- Monitor performance metrics and analytics to measure the effectiveness of digital marketing efforts.

- Develop promotional strategies and materials to drive attendance and participation in organisational events and activities.

- Develop and enforce brand guidelines to maintain brand identity and reputation.

- Serve as the primary point of contact for media inquiries and interview requests.

Qualifications:

- Bachelor's degree in public relations, marketing, communications, or a related field (preferred).

- Proven experience in public relations, marketing, or communications, with a focus on non-profit organisations or social causes.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and messages.

Benefits:

- Opportunity to contribute to the growth and impact of a non-profit organisation.

- Gain valuable experience in PR, marketing, and communications in the non-profit sector.

- Develop and enhance skills in strategic planning, media relations, and brand management.

- Make a meaningful difference by raising awareness and support for important social causes.

At Children with Voices, we believe in the power of communication to change lives. Join us on this exciting journey! We cover transport costs and provide nourishing meals for our dedicated volunteers. Apply now to be part of our warm and welcoming family.

Together, let's make a positive impact!

Who are Open Briefing 

People and communities around the world have the solutions to social injustice, authoritarianism, and the climate crisis. But repressive governments, corrupt corporations, and armed groups use violence and oppression to try and silence them.

By building resistance and resilience among those challenging unaccountable power, Open Briefing supports a shared vision for a world where communities and ecosystems can thrive.

Our dual approach allows us to work at every level of civil society, from the grassroots to the global. As a mission-driven nonprofit, we join forces with grassroots activists, community groups, and social movements at risk. Working together, we strengthen their physical security, digital resilience, and collective wellbeing.

As a social impact consultancy, we provide professional support and advisory services to global nonprofits and foundations seeking to bolster their risk management, data protection, and staff care.

"To describe Open Briefing as a caring partner would be an understatement. They have consistently been at the forefront, providing invaluable support whenever we have faced security threats. Open Briefing has stood by us, offering bespoke services that have enabled us to carry out our mandate with confidence and timeliness. Their support has given us the peace of mind necessary to operate fearlessly and effectively." 

Phyllis Omido, executive director of the Center for Justice Governance & Environmental Action, Kenya and Winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize 

Protecting people at risk 

The need for our work has never been greater. At least 300 human rights defenders and 91 journalists were killed in 2024. Many others were arrested, kidnapped, or forced into hiding. 

Last year, we worked with those around the world fighting for human rights and social justice, protecting the environment and defending their communities, exposing corruption and reporting the truth, and advocating for women’s rights and reproductive justice. We supported organisations and activists at risk in 100 countries across every inhabited continent, underscoring the global scale of the challenges we face.  

The number of requests for our support increased by 20% on the previous year to 575 in 2024. This represents 11 new cases every week. In response, our international team provided over 6,000 hours of direct support, a 32% increase on 2023. Roughly a third of the cases that we worked on were with individual defenders or informal collectives and 33% of all cases involved those defending their land and rivers or demanding climate action. We also trained 1,014 defenders in 112 workshops.

“I came out of my work with Open Briefing stronger. I know that because of the work I do, the security risks I face won’t go away, but I’m not as fearful. I used to doubt and question myself, but now I know what to do. I know how to manage the risks we face.” 

Director, women-led human rights organisation, West Africa 

Our efforts delivered measurable impact. We reduced perceived risk by 15% and achieved a remarkable 25% improvement in individuals' stated capacity to manage those risks - significantly enhancing the safety and resilience of those we served. An inspiring 84% approval rating from clients and grassroots partners underscores the meaningful difference we made, reaffirming the effectiveness and importance of our work in this complex and challenging field. 

I fled into exile after being arrested and torture by police and people close to me were murdered. Open Briefing helped me when no other organisation could. I had lost hope, but their support saved my life.” Investigative journalist, Rwanda

The wider impact of our work was captured in an external impact evaluation commissioned by a donor last year, which concluded that: “The different issues around which the activists had sought support from Open Briefing were profound, serious, and challenging. The scale of the risks is such that it would not be possible for them to operate without this kind of support. The nature of the support that Open Briefing has provided is therefore highly important, and has allowed activism to continue in contexts where it might not otherwise be able to.” 

Becoming fundable and findable 

With demand for our support up by 66% in the past two years, we need to ensure that we have the funding and resources to direct our support wherever we are needed most. 

We are proud to have built long standing partnerships with a small community of foundations who have been crucial to our success so far. But we can’t meet the current surge in demand for our support without growing this community. We need more people to know about the threats facing grassroots activists, human rights defenders, and indigenous communities around the world. We need more people to understand why physical security, digital resilience, and collective wellbeing is vital in helping them continue their work. We need more people to know about Open Briefing. 

“Open Briefing's expertise has been revolutionary for our organization. They have helped us develop the tools we need to better safeguard our team and respond to safety and security risks. All of this was done in a way designed for our organisation and considering our own limitations. Doing this kind of security work should be inherent to any organisation like ours that works in vulnerable communities and sensitive areas; however, it's not always within reach.” Dylan Terrell, Founder and Executive Director, Caminos de Agua, Mexico 

In May 2026, Open Briefing will come to the end of our current strategy cycle and will be looking ahead to where we need to scale our work and strengthen our impact. We need to make sure that we have the funding and resources to protect even more people, effect systemic change, and ensure the eyes of the world are on the perpetrators of attacks and reprisals. 

This means we need to be findable and fundable. To date, Open Briefing has largely operated behind the scenes, building a solid reputation as a trusted ally and critical friend to grassroots activists, movements, and foundations across the globe. 

Going forward, we must build our profile and widen our support base. We need to pursue innovative and creative approaches to communicating who we are and the human stories behind our work. We need to reach new audiences in order to engage and influence a wider network of donors, allies, and philanthropists across the globe. And crucially, we need to translate this work into new donations and unrestricted funding.

Key to this will be the formation of our first Development Board. We are looking to achieve a step change in our fundraising, help us build our audience, develop exciting communications and support us in ways we haven’t even thought of yet! 

Could this be you? 

• Are you passionate about bringing your skills, expertise, and networks to a dynamic global non-profit? 
• Are you excited about collaborating with us to help protect people and communities on the frontlines of the fight against social injustice, authoritarianism, and the climate crisis? 
• Do you have bold ideas for how Open Briefing could be more findable and fundable? Can you help us translate your ideas and our ambitions into creative, impactful strategies that could lead to new funding and resources for our security and wellbeing work? 
• Are you disinterested in ‘talking-shop Boards? Are you looking for an opportunity to use your skills, creativity, voice and connections in a way that will directly power our fundraising and communications work - making introductions to your network, brainstorming around key challenges, and executing dynamic profile-raising events and campaigns?  

We are looking for 3 - 5 people to join a dynamic, passionate and action-orientated Development Board. Previous experience as a Trustee or on a non-profit Board is not required.  We are particularly interested in people with experience from the following industries: 

• Communications, design, and media
• Technology
• Venture capital
• Strategy consultancy
• Fundraising, philanthropy, events, and giving circles.

We are asking potential members to commit to an initial one-year term and to be available to meet online on a monthly basis, with engagement between as necessary. 

If this sounds like you, please tell us what makes you excited about the role and upload your CV. If you have any questions, please reach out to us.

We would love to talk! 

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.

We are seeking to recruit a Vice Chair and four Trustees to join us to help us achieve our ambitious goals for a fairer and more effective criminal justice system.

The Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) is a network of 200+ organisations and academics working towards a fair and effective criminal justice system. Working with our members, the CJA brings together a broad and diverse range of expertise across the sector, championing and elevating the voices of those directly impacted by the criminal justice system. 

We are in an exciting time of growth and development as we continue our ambitious and much-needed work, focusing on systemic change, constructive criminal justice journalism, race equity and lived experience leadership. 

The CJA is committed to achieving greater diversity in its trustees and staff, particularly as there are issues affecting individuals from non-majority backgrounds across the criminal justice system. We actively encourage applications from minority ethnic communities and people with protected characteristics. We also welcome applications from younger people and from first-time trustees.

This is a voluntary role without remuneration. However, travel expenses as well as other reasonable and necessary costs incurred (including childcare), as part of official Trustee business, will be reimbursed. We will also provide suitable training and mentorship for first-time Trustees.

For more information about the role, please see CJA Trustee Appointment Brief.