Network Committee Member Volunteer Roles in Edinburgh

Background:

Established in 2011, Kaleidoscope Trust is a UK-based charity fighting to bring about positive legislative, policy and social change for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and gender diverse (LGBTI+) people across the Commonwealth and beyond. We fund, fight for, and empower those upholding the human rights of LGBTI+ people by working with governments, changemakers, and civil society organisations to effect meaningful and lasting change in the lives of LGBTI+ people.
 

At this exciting time for Kaleidoscope Trust, we are looking to find a candidate who can take on the role as Chair of the Board of Trustees to build on the charity’s momentum, while handling the evolving opportunities and challenges of the organisation. The Chair provides strategic leadership of Kaleidoscope Trust in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and the Chief Executive Officer.
 

Overall purpose:

To provide Leadership of the Board as a team, to facilitate and drive the governance and strategic direction of Kaleidoscope Trust and to communicate its values, mission, aims, and objectives.
 

Key Responsibilities:

- Working in Partnership with the Chief Executive Officer

- Fundraising & Acting as an Ambassador

- Governance & Strategic Direction

- Communication and Culture

- Board Meetings
 

The post holder will seek to remain both well-informed about the opportunities, challenges, and risks facing the association’s services and will aim to contribute specialist knowledge/expertise to debate and decisionmaking.
 

The Chair of the Board is responsible for ensuring that the Board is effective in setting and implementing the strategic direction of the organisation and can act as a leading ambassador for Kaleidoscope Trust.

We know that diverse boards are the most effective, they can think creatively and hold each other to account, therefore we are particularly looking for applications from trans people, women, People of the Global Majority, people without a degree, working class people and people of faith.
 

Please refer to the Job Description attached for more information on the role.

Join us as Dog A.I.D.'s new Honorary Secretary and you would be joining the Board at an exciting time as we have launched the charity’s Strategic Plan with a new CEO supported by a small but strong team, which we will be building further this year. As Honorary Secretary you would be using your skills and experience to support the leadership and strategic direction of our charity as we look to achieve ambitious strategic growth targets over the coming years, becoming a larger, more robust charity with increased profile and reach.

Dog A.I.D. empowers physically disabled people by coaching them to train their own pet dog to become an accredited Assistance Dog. By focusing on the existing pet/owner bond, outcomes for our clients include:

 · increased independence and self-confidence

· improved mental well-being

· reduction in social isolation

· reduced reliance on family members and/or carers.

· increased opportunities, with many of our clients being able to return to work or education, supported by their accredited Assistance Dog.

We are looking for an active and well-organised Secretary who can provide support for our governance functions. You will be required to attend and minute online quarterly Board meetings and other ad-hoc meetings and strategic discussions.

Trustee - International House London (English Language Teaching or Legal Background preferred)

International House Trust Ltd (trading as International House London, (IH London), a registered UK charity is seeking passionate and dedicated new Trustees to join their Board and help drive the mission of delivering high-quality language and communication training that unlocks human potential. As a global leader in language teaching, teacher training, and trainer development, IH London is committed to creating meaningful change in the world by fostering effective communication.

We are particularly committed to creating an inclusive environment and are actively seeking applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds, including women and individuals from underrepresented communities, to ensure that our Board truly reflects the communities we serve. Your unique perspective and expertise will help us expand our impact and create lasting change.

Vision: Do you want to be part of an ambitious, forward-thinking organization that brings people together and acts as a force for positive change? If so, we want to hear from you!

Location: Remote

Report to: Chair of Board of Trustees

Time commitment: Quarterly Board and Committee Meetings (normally remote), ad hoc issues etc.

Remuneration: This is an unpaid voluntary role, with reasonable expenses reimbursed

Responsibilities: As a Trustee, you will play a vital role in shaping the future direction of IH London.

Key responsibilities include:

• Contributing to the strategic and long-term direction of IH London
• Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and aligning resources with objectives
• Protecting and promoting the reputation of IH London and acting in the best interests of the charity
• Ensuring financial stability, sustainability, and effective risk management

Person Specification:

We are looking for candidates who can bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to provide oversight at a senior level to join our strong and committed Trustee Board including:

Proven leadership skills - You will display a record of leadership and a proven track record of working at strategic and senior levels, with an ability to provide sound governance and oversight alongside objective, independent judgment.

Strategic thinking ability - You will demonstrate a proven ability to think strategically, analyse complex concepts and actively contribute to the strategic direction setting of IH London, both over the long and short term.

Communication skills - Demonstrable effective written and oral communication skills, the ability to influence others and to advocate on behalf of IH London.

Specific Expertise: We are actively seeking for candidates with specific expertise in the following areas:

• ELT Expertise: Experience in English Language Teaching to offer strategic oversight on language training programs.
• Legal Expertise: Legal qualification ideally with experience in commercial law to provide legal advice and guidance.

Application process:

If you are interested in joining the Board of one of the world’s most respected English Language educational brands, please submit a CV and a brief covering letter explaining your interest in the role and how your skills can contribute to our success.

Applications should be sent by 5pm 21st March 2025.

The selection process for shortlisted candidates will include an online conversation with the Chief Executive and a meeting with a group of Trustees.

We have a fantaastic opportunity for you to join our Board of Trustees in a growing and expanding organisation that makes a difference in the lives of women and girls, preventing exploitation and trafficking and advocating for a life of freedom, dignity and empowerment.

Emerge Worldwide is a humanitarian organisation whose purpose is to advocate and raise awareness against sexual exploitation and sex trafficking, focused on women and girls. Our activities provide interventions, tools and resources in prevention work, as we seek to end it everywhere. 

We help and support those suffering trauma, and who are victims of sexual exploitation and sex trafficking and empower survivors of this horrific crime, to go on and live independent successful lives.

We are looking for people willing to bring energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the role, and who will broaden the diversity of thinking on our board. 

We are seeking passionate individuals to join our Board of Trustees, who will partner with us in our dedication and fight to combatting this heinous crime. We are keen to receive your application if you have human rights, fundraising, or sexual exploitation / sex trafficking experience.

We are keen to receive applications with experience in any of the following areas:

• human rights

• fundraising / income generation

• asylum seekers / refugees

• sexual exploitation / sex trafficking

Your experience will help to support Emerge Worldwide to engage in high-level discussions and actions, which will position and promote our voice and impact, create positive change within the humanitarian and modern slavery sectors and deliver on our purpose to end sexual exploitation and sex trafficking everywhere.

Duties

• Support and provide advice on Emerge Worldwide’s purpose, vision, mission, goals and activities. 

• Approve operational strategies and policies, and monitor and evaluate their implementation.

• Oversee Emerge Worldwide’s financial plans and budgets and monitor and evaluate progress. 

• Ensure the effective and efficient administration of the organisation.

• Ensure that key risks are being identified, monitored and controlled effectively.

• Keep abreast of changes in Emerge Worldwide’s operating environment.

• Contribute to regular reviews of Emerge Worldwide’s own governance. Attend Board meetings and adequately prepared to contribute to discussions.

• Use independent judgment, acting legally and in good faith to promote and protect Emerge Worldwide’s interests, to the exclusion of their own personal and/or any third-party interests.

• Contribute to the broader promotion of Emerge Worldwide’s objects, aims and reputation by applying your skills, expertise, knowledge and contacts.

As a small charity, there will be times when the trustees will need to be actively involved beyond Board meetings. This may involve scrutinising board papers, leading discussions, focusing on key issues, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives, presenting externally, or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

Personal skills and qualities

• Enthusiasm and commitment to Emerge Worldwide vision, mission, purpose and work.

• Willingness and ability to understand and accept their responsibilities as trustees and to act in the best interests of the organisation.

• Ability to think creatively and strategically, exercise good, independent judgement and work effectively as a board member with good governance.

• Effective communication skills and willingness to participate actively in discussions. 

• Good independent judgement.

• A strong personal commitment to equality and diversity.

• Willingness to lead according to our values.

• Fulfilling the criteria of a charity trustee the essential trustee 

Terms of office

• Trustees are appointed for a minimum of 2 years of office

• This is a voluntary position, but reasonable expenses are reimbursed.

Time commitment

• Attending quarterly Board meetings annually - currently meetings are held remotely.

• Trustees are encouraged to attend all staff in-person meetings which run 3 times annually plus any relevant training days.

You will be part of a professional, friendly and skilled Board of Trustees.

We are a welcoming organisation, dedicated to creating a positive and engaging experience where you’ll feel valued, inspired, and empowered to bring your ideas to life.

Apply and help us end sexual exploitation and sex trafficking for good!

Application:

To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your motivation for the role and how your skills and experience make you a good fit. 

If you do have any questions, our HR Manager can arrange to speak with you or communicate with you by email.

Please note that we will request references, and a DBS check will be required due to the nature of our work.

The Organisation
Tearfund is a Christ-centred INGO, founded in 1968. We have a huge vision: to see all people freed from poverty, living transformed lives and reaching their God-given potential. Tearfund’s role is to be a highly effective, servant-hearted partner of local churches. We currently support 31,000 churches in more than 50 of the world’s poorest countries, and our aspiration is to equip 250,000 churches to be transformation centres for their communities and countries. As we do this, we are seeing extraordinary and sustained change at both individual and community level, across a wide range of countries and contexts. The church is the largest civil society organisation on the planet, and we believe the church is the most powerful agent of holistic, transformational change in the world.

To find out more about the work Tearfund do, visit the website.

The Role:
In addition to the specific requirements for the Digital Trustee set out below, the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they:

• Are a committed Christian, actively involved in their local church and willing to affirm Tearfund’s statement of faith, with some understanding of the evangelical constituency of the church in the country and region in which they live;
• Have an understanding of good governance and some governance experience, and are able to contribute on the wide range of governance issues that the Board may address;
• Have a reasonable understanding of the developmental and theological issues relating to Tearfund and a strong commitment to justice for people living in poverty.

Person Specification:

• Proven experience in digital strategy and transformation, including areas  such as digital innovation in fundraising and development work, agile transformation, service design, data transformation, and horizon scanning  future trends.
• Ability to communicate complex digital concepts in an accessible way, fostering a culture of shared digital responsibility across the board.
• A strong understanding of the ethical and social implications of digital innovations, ensuring that Tearfund’s digital strategies remain consistent with our Christian values and commitment to justice.
• The ability to communicate complex digital concepts effectively to non- specialists, fostering a collaborative and inclusive governance environment.
• Desirable: Strong knowledge of risk management, cybersecurity, and disaster recovery planning, with a track record of implementing effective strategies in these areas.

Further Information
For comprehensive information about Tearfund, the role responsibilities and the person we are looking for, please download the Candidate Information Document.

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

• An up-to-date CV
• A supporting statement of no more than 2 sides of A4, detailing why you would like to be considered, your relevant experience and expertise and what you think you can bring to the role, and confirmation that you can affirm Tearfund's statement of faith.

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

All applications should be sent to Trustees Unlimited.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Melissa Baxter, Managing Partner - Charities.

Closing date for applications: Friday 21st March 2025
Interviews with Tearfund: Early April 2025 (date tbc)