Prison Volunteer Volunteer Roles
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Could you lead the local SSAFA services in your area? You don’t need a military background for this role, but you should be empathic to the needs of the armed forces community, have some experience of managing people and possess good I.T. skills. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.
What is a Branch Chair?
There are SSAFA branches throughout the UK and overseas. Many are further divided into local areas called divisions. Each branch has a Chair to oversee all aspects of the branch. Ultimately accountable to the Chair of the Board of Trustees, through the National Chairman your role is to ensure that the branch is running in line with SSAFA’s Royal Charter Rules, Regulations, and policies. Also, to ensure that clients and volunteers are safe, all services provided are appropriate and effective and that the branch is financially sound. You will be the public face of SSAFA in your branch area.
Why do we need you?
We’ve been supporting the Armed Forces community since 1885. Our clients come from all backgrounds and age groups and may have served in WW2 or in a more recent conflict like the Falklands or Afghanistan. More people than ever are contacting SSAFA for financial, practical and emotional support. To do this we need local branches and volunteers who can coordinate people, ensure the local population know about SSAFA and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.
Our branches support local volunteers to deliver services to veterans, serving personnel and their families. Some branches are divided into smaller divisions to ensure the best local service delivery. Each branch has a team of volunteer caseworkers, support volunteers, executive roles, and fundraisers.
When would you be needed and where would you be based?
This role is about leadership, coordination, and administration. As part of your local branch, you might have access to an office, but many volunteers are based at home. The role requires an ongoing time commitment, usually about 2-3 days per month. In addition, you would need to organise and attend regular meetings throughout the year.
What would you be doing?
- Providing leadership to the Branch and ensuring that all activities comply with SSAFA regulations both directly, and through the Branch Secretary, other Branch Officers, and Divisional Officers.
- Providing support and guidance to volunteers in office holder roles, and support with recruitment of volunteers into these positions to ensure the sustainability of the branch.
- Ensuring the financial integrity of the Branch, including the appointment of Treasurers and a local fundraising programme to meet branch running costs.
- Ensuring that all data is processed and held in accordance with SSAFA’s data management policies.
- Monitoring volunteer numbers against the demand for support and working with other volunteers, regional and central office staff to attract and recruit new volunteers as required.
- Ensuring that all volunteers are recruited, inducted, supported, and managed in line with SSAFA policies, such as the Volunteering Policy, Volunteer Code of Conduct, Data Protection Policy, and Safeguarding Policy.
- Building relationships with regional and central office staff, local voluntary organisations and, if applicable, SSAFA Service committees, local military establishments, prisons etc.
- Overseeing an appropriate programme of awareness raising so that potential clients, volunteers, and supporters know how to contact the branch.
- Providing timely reports and information to SSAFA’s Central Office
- Overseeing a programme of meetings including an AGM, branch meetings, committee meetings, training etc.
- Supporting any salaried branch staff and ensuring that their line management arrangements are working appropriately.
- Resolve any complaints that are suitable for local resolution in accordance with SSAFA’s Complaints Policy and procedures, referring upwards any that are not suitable for local resolution.
The remit of this role may change over the next 12-18 months depending on the outcome of a trial currently being undertaken.
What could you gain from this volunteering role?
- Gain experience of holding a key local role with oversight of all SSAFA activity in the local area
- Use your skills, knowledge, and life experience to benefit others.
- Support from your local SSAFA branch and the wider SSAFA community
- Experience, training, and skills that you can highlight on your CV and in job interviews.
- Better physical and mental health – studies show that volunteers live longer and experience lower levels of stress and depression!
What training and support would you receive?
- Role specific training to prepare you for your voluntary role – caseworker training, caseworker IT system training, volunteer management – attracting, recruiting, and inducting volunteers.
- Mandatory on-line training modules to complete at home, so you are up to date on how to keep clients, their families safe and personal information safe.
- Local orientation as well as meet and greet sessions with key Central Office and regional teams.
- Access to a range additional e-learning courses as well as local opportunities for your personal and professional development.
- Support from Regional and central staff and peer support from fellow Chairs in neighbouring branches.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses
- Volunteers will be covered by SSAFAs Public Liability Insurance whilst carrying out the role.
What are we looking for?
- Friendly and approachable people of any age (18+) with some experience of coordinating people and admin
- Willingness and ability to lead and manage a team of volunteers.
- Respectful and non-judgemental approach with beneficiaries, their family, other agencies and SSAFA colleagues
- Willingness and ability to learn basic digital skills. Ability to send and receive emails – you will receive your own SSAFA email address which you will be required to use when exercising your role.
- Willingness to use our on-line case management system (this is covered in the training course)
- Ability to understand and keep within the boundaries of the role for which training will be given.
- Reliability
- Practice confidentiality and data protection in line with SSAFA policies.
- Willingness and means to travel to meetings or events as required.
- Good written and spoken English.
We welcome volunteers of all backgrounds, abilities, races, sexual orientations, socio-economic backgrounds, and of all faiths and none. SSAFA are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support volunteers with disabilities, so they have access to the same opportunities and experiences as volunteers who do not.
Minimum Age: 18
Safer Recruitment: SSAFA undertakes a systematic approach and utmost care at every step of the process of volunteer recruitment, selection, and retention to ensure that those recruited are suitable and appropriate. Measures taken at points along this journey work together to make volunteering at SSAFA a positive and safe experience.
References Required: Yes. We will ask for two character references, this can be a former employer or someone that know you well (other than a relative)
Is a criminal record check required? No
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Criminal justice charity Belong provides hope, rehabilitation and recovery for victims and perpetrators of crime through mentoring, restorative justice and psychotherapy interventions, in prisons and communities.
Me Time is a new service for people with criminal convictions from Global Majority Ethnic backgrounds, which aims to improve wellbeing and reduce re-offending amongst participants. Me Time offers short-term emotional well-being support and medium-term community and through the gate creative psychotherapy to people who are under probation supervision in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. The programme is open to male, female, gender diverse, and transgender individuals of all ages, from Global Majority Ethnic backgrounds. Priority will be given to referrals for people facing multiple and complex disadvantages.
This 1 day per week role provides an exciting opportunity for a reliable, organised, resilient volunteer psychotherapist to join Belong's committed, specialist team. The successful applicant will be a qualified counsellor and/or be working towards a Masters qualification in e.g. Art psychotherapy, dance movement psychotherapy or integrative psychotherapy. They will deliver one to one psychotherapy interventions to people accessing Me Time at HMP The Mount, Hertfordshire Probation Units, Bedfordshire Probation Units, and/or remotely.
Applications for this position are particularly welcomed from people from Global Majority Ethnic backgrounds, with lived experience of the criminal justice system, and/or with current enhanced prison security vetting.
The successful applicant will offer people the opportunity to engage in psychotherapy using verbal and non-verbal, creative techniques such as movement, visual arts, creative writing and drama. They will integrate psycho-dynamic and psycho-educational techniques into sessions, tailor support to individuals needs, be responsive to risk and safeguarding issues and use an assets based approach. Working as part of Belong's multidisciplinary team, they will engage proactively in regular reflective practice, clinical supervision and line management sessions.
Please apply for this position through CharityJobs, with a CV and a detailed covering letter outlining how you meet the skills, experience and knowledge requirements outlined in our Job Description and Person Specification document. We are unable to consider applications received without a detailed covering letter. Please submit your application as soon as possible as we will be shortlisting and interviewing applicants on an ongoing basis. Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert if a successful applicant is appointed before the closing date.
Place of work: HMP The Mount, Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire Probation Units, depending on participant locations.
Hours of work: 1 day per week, including occasional evening and weekend work
Pay scale: This is a voluntary role with reimbursed travel expenses to/from community locations.
Contract term: 6-9 months minimum
Reports to: Lead Psychotherapist
National Security and DBS Vetting Required: Enhanced (the successful applicant will be supported to apply for this)
Responsibilities
➢ Provide specialist one to one psychotherapy interventions, over 12 weeks, and tailored well-being support sessions over 3 weeks, as part of the Me Time service to people with criminal convictions from Global Majority Ethnic backgrounds.
➢ Work flexibly at HMP The Mount and/or Herts/Beds probation units, depending on participant locations, holding a case load of 3 to 5 participants depending on number of days worked.
➢ Support participants to improve their wellbeing and to identify and tackle issues related to their offending behaviour e.g. relationship problems, substance misuse issues, adverse childhood experiences and racial trauma.
➢ Maintain detailed, high quality records of psychotherapy sessions in accordance with Belong, HCPC and UKCP guidelines and standards.
➢ Build excellent working relationships and communicate effectively with other members of Belong’s team, and with members of prison and probation teams.
➢ Model and encourage the use of non – verbal, creative methods e.g. visual arts, music, movement and writing as part of psychotherapy to enable participants to process their thoughts and feelings.
➢ Integrate several approaches to psychotherapy including psychodynamic and psycho-educational models and if appropriate, a mentalization - based approach in order to meet participant's needs.
➢ Manage difficult and demanding clinical situations including exploring complex, sensitive and disturbing personal issues with participants.
➢ Apply evidence based practice in being attune to and assisting participants to process transference and counter-transference feelings, for example in relation to daily experiences, creative work produced, the therapist, and others.
➢ Write progress reports at the end of each participant's engagement with psychotherapy, for reference during participants parole hearings and sentence planning processes.
➢ Share risk and safeguarding information appropriately with other professionals.
➢ Assess participant's mental state and identify any significant risk and protective factors, collaboratively undertaking and contributing to risk assessments with other professionals.
➢ Actively participate in relevant meetings e.g. team meetings, line management meetings, clinical supervision meetings, service reviews with participants.
➢ Ensure that participant's records and any art work produced are adequately stored and, if necessary, transported in line with Belong, Prison and Probation Service, and HCPC guidelines.
➢ Carry out administrative and evaluation tasks as required for the sustainability and smooth running of the service, actively encouraging participants to participate in evaluation and service development activities.
➢ Exert physical effort in moving equipment and furniture, e.g. when setting up a room for one to one work.
➢ Implement the professional standards and policies of Belong, the Prison and Probation Service and the HCPC.
➢ Keep abreast of new developments and research in Psychotherapy and Forensic Psychotherapy.
➢ Undertake any other duties as may be appropriate to the level and nature of the post as determined by Belong’s Management and Trustee Board.
Required Qualifications
➢ Good honours degree (2.2 or above) in psychology or equivalent.
➢ Undertaking training at Masters Level in Psychotherapy and/or completed Counselling qualification
Required Experience and Knowledge
➢ At least 1 year experience of working with people with criminal convictions or facing other significant disadvantages.
➢ At least 1 year experience of working within the criminal justice sector, the prison service or a related sector.
➢ Commitment to integrating several approaches to psychotherapy including psychodynamic and psycho-educational models.
➢ Willingness to manage difficult and demanding clinical situations including exploring complex, sensitive and disturbing personal issues with individuals.
➢ Good understanding of the issues faced by people who have committed offences and the specific issues faced by people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Backgrounds in contact with the criminal justice system.
➢ Good knowledge of peoples' emotional and mental health needs.
➢ A strong understanding of the principles of confidentiality and of instances when this should be breached.
➢ Strong awareness of appropriate boundaries to be maintained with service users and of personal safety issues.
Required Skills and abilities
➢ Ability to form therapeutic relationships with people who have committed offences and are serving prison sentences or sentences in the community.
➢ Ability to apply a variety of models and theories to work with individuals.
➢ Ability to work with participants psychological, non-verbal and symbolic expression and consider these as meaningful communications where appropriate.
➢ Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with participants and to manage personal safety whilst working in prisons and probation units.
➢ Ability to be attune to and process transference feelings and work with emotional projections from people to aid individuals understanding and communication of conscious and unconscious processes.
➢ Ability to work effectively under pressure of the psychological impact of highly charged situations eg. disclosure of sexual or emotional abuse and maintain the capacity to think clearly in these conditions.
➢ Excellent interpersonal, communication and listening skills.
➢ Good organisational skills.
➢ Basic artistic skills in using a variety of art materials and media in a variety of styles.
➢ Ability to work well with members of Belong’s multi-disciplinary team, members of the Probation and Prison Service and key stakeholders.
➢ Ability to produce and file high quality, detailed records of work completed.
Required Personal attributes
➢ Honest
➢ Resilient
➢ Hard working
➢ Organised
➢ Self-motivated
➢ Confident
➢ Non-judgmental
➢ Flexible
➢ Reliable
➢ Committed to confidentiality and equal opportunities
➢ Willing to learn and develop
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Chair of Trustees – Switchback
Transforming Lives, Changing Systems
Switchback is seeking a passionate and experienced Chair of Trustees to lead its Board during an exciting and pivotal time in the charity’s development. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of an innovative organisation that supports young Londoners leaving prison to build stable, rewarding lives and champions systemic change in the justice system.
About Switchback:
Since 2008, Switchback has supported hundreds of young men leaving prison, providing intensive one-to-one mentoring and real work training through its dedicated team of Switchback Mentors. Our pioneering approach has led to remarkable outcomes: while nearly half of prison leavers nationally reoffend within a year, only 9% of Switchback Trainees do, with over half moving into long-term work. In 2024, 68% of our Trainees achieved “Real, Lasting Change”-a fundamental shift in mindset and lifestyle. But Switchback is more than a charity; it’s a movement for change. We aim to expand our reach, influence national policy, and build a resettlement landscape that is effective, equitable, and rooted in lived experience.
About the Role:
As Chair, you will lead a dynamic and diverse Board of Trustees to support Switchback’s strategic ambitions. Working closely with our CEO, you will guide the charity’s growth, ensure strong governance, and champion our mission and values. You will be an advocate for justice reform, helping to open doors and build partnerships that enable sustainable, systemic impact.
Key Responsibilities include:
* Governance and Strategy: Ensure adherence to best governance practices, lead the implementation of a new strategic plan, and ensure EDI is embedded in all aspects of governance and delivery.
* Leadership: Build and lead an inclusive, high-performing Board that supports the CEO and staff team in achieving Switchback’s goals.
* Advocacy and Fundraising: Act as an ambassador for Switchback, leveraging your networks to advance the charity’s reach and influence.
Who We’re Looking For:
We’re seeking a compassionate and experienced leader who is ambitious for Switchback and shares its belief in the dignity and potential of its Trainees.
Essential Attributes:
* Experience as a Trustee, ideally with Chair experience or at a larger organisation.
* A collaborative, empowering and coaching approach to leadership.
* Strong alignment with Switchback’s mission, values, and goals.
* An understanding of the justice system or lived experience that connects you to the challenges faced by our Trainees.
* Strategic insight, with a track record of leading organisations through growth and change and an ability to balance managing risk against innovation
* Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to inspire and unite stakeholders.
Time Commitment:
Approximately two days per month, with flexibility for key periods such as strategy development or major events. The initial term is three years, renewable for up to six further years.
Remuneration:
This is a voluntary position. Travel and other reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.
Timeline:
A Q&A webinar session will be hosted by Switchback, where further insights will be shared as well as answers to any additional questions you may have. Please register your interest in attending this webinar with your consultant and we will send you a link. This will take place on Tuesday 11th February, 6-7pm.
Application deadline: Monday 24th February
First round interviews: Friday 28th March
Informal call with CEO: Wednesday 3rd April
Final interviews: Wednesday 23rd April
How to Apply:
Charity People Ltd is acting as a recruitment agency advisor to Switchback on this appointment. Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV and request a candidate pack. Alternatively, please download a copy of the pack under Application Resources. For an informal conversation about the role or if you have further questions prior to applying, please contact Fabrice Yala at Charity People.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so we can help make the application process work for you.
Charity People actively promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion. We match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for the charities with which we work.
Our Change Grow Live, Dependency & Recovery service in Stoke on Trent is looking for Group Work Support volunteers to help out at our group sessions in Hanley and Newcastle under Lyme. If you're passionate about supporting others to change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential then please get in touch.
Probation Community Rehabilitation Services
Volunteering in Dependency and Recovery Projects
We are a specialist service dedicated to supporting people on probation impacted by substance misuse.
Our Dependency and Recovery Coordinators deliver psychosocial interventions to people on probation 1 to 1 and in group sessions. The interventions cover
- alcohol and drug use
- harm minimisation
- offending behaviour
- consequential thinking
- developing positive coping strategies
As a Group Work Support Volunteer, you will play an instrumental role in supporting the Coordinators in the planning and preparation of the groups. This will include promoting groups to service users, reminding them of up-and-coming sessions and engaging with those who do not attend. You will be provided with training and supported to eventually be able to take the lead in delivering some of the groups and provide one to one support to service users within the group setting.
We are looking for volunteers that can support on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays 10am - 11.30am
To find out more about this role please read the attached role description.
Our mission Our mission is to help people change the direction of their lives, grow as individuals, and live life to its full potential.
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The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for volunteers from across the East Midlands.
User Voice, a charity run by and for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system, in partnership with the NHS, have a fantastic opportunity for people with experience of prison and/or NHS Liaison and Diversion services in the last 12 months, currently living in the East Midlands.
Successful applicants will join our existing Lived Experience Panel, working alongside liked minded peers, working in both prison and community settings, to embed lived experience into the evaluation, design and commissioning of health justice services across the East Midlands.
Panel members will have full training, which includes Peer Research Skills, Research Methods, Safeguarding Adults, Mental Health Awareness, Equity Diversion & Inclusion and General Data Protection Requirements (GDPR).
The Panel needs people who are committed, passionate about helping others and looking to gain skills and experience to help them progress.
Tasks include:
• Attending monthly panel meetings in person or online.
• Undertake a range of activities to support the panels progress.
• Engaging and communicating with service users in prison and the community.
• Collecting information on common issues faced by service users and staff.
• Presenting identified issues and suggested solutions to the NHS.
• Making sure that identified key issues are prioritised.
• Ensuring that the service user population is kept up to date with the panels progress.
• Contribute to the recruitment, onboarding, and training of new panel members.
• Effective, safe, and secure data collection for monitoring purposes
• Promote the value of lived experience to all stakeholders.
Benefits of role
• Full induction and accredited training to help you in your role (and future roles).
• Out of pocket expenses paid (travel and subsistence).
• The opportunity to contribute to making a real change in health and justice services across the East Midlands.
• Support and encouragement from User Voice Staff.
• Peer support from fellow panel members.
• The opportunity to use your skills and learn new ones.
• The chance to engage with other peers.
• Support in your personal and professional development
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Samaritans is here for anyone struggling to cope – day or night, 365 days a year. We take action to prevent people reaching crisis point, helping people find ways to cope and learn the skills to be there for others. We operate from a medium sized building consisting of a dozen or so rooms in New Cross. We need someone to help us keep the building safe and comfortable for our volunteers and visitors. There would be some DIY and maintenance tasks such as changing light bulbs and testing alarms. We would also like you to deal with third party contractors, utility providers and other suppliers.
Currently, this role is shared between a couple of our listening volunteers and doesn't take up more than a few hours each week. The hours are very flexible based upon your availability.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are seeking a new Director to the IJP Board who, together with their overal Board membershp responsibilities, has specific Business Develpment experience in order to help us expand our client base, to secure partnerships, and to identifhy new opportunities for growth. We believe this is an exciting opportunity for someone with extensive experience in business development and who is eager to contribute to delvering meaningful social change within a professional business environment.
Inside Job Productions reinvests film profits into mental health projects, raising awareness and creating jobs for those facing barriers to employment
CSW is looking to recruit 3-5 new trustees to ensure that CSW remains true to its calling and is accountable to its stakeholders for its impact. Successful candidates will be strategic thinkers, who are able to review, advise on and shape organisational plans, and are comfortable offering new ideas, perspectives and solutions. They will need to demonstrate a commitment to the Christian faith and to CSW’s vision of a world free from religious persecution, where everyone can practise a religion or belief of their choice.
About CSW CSW’s team of specialist advocates work on over 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, to ensure that the right to freedom of religion or belief is upheld and protected. Our vision is a world free from religious persecution, where everyone can practise a religion or belief of their choice. CSW seeks to challenge and change the laws, behaviours and policies which lead to abuses of the right to freedom of religion and belief. We have over four decades of experience advocating for freedom of religion or belief around the world.
Key Responsibilities As a trustee, you will be responsible for championing CSW’s vision, maintaining CSW’s Christian ethos, and safeguarding the organisation’s reputation.
You will support in:
- Setting or approving policies, plans and budgets to achieve CSW’s charitable objectives, and monitoring performance against them.
- Setting and maintaining a framework of delegation and internal controls.
- Making decisions on matters which might pose significant risk to the organisation, financial or otherwise.
- Actively contributing to the strategic direction of the charity, and evaluating performance.
- Ensuring the solvency, financial resilience and effective administration of the organisation.
- Representing CSW positively to external communities (e.g. the Church, charity sector and public bodies ).
- Fulfilling the statutory responsibilities of a trustee as set out by the Charity Commission.
Commitment required Trustees are usually elected to the Board for an initial three-year term, with the possibility of re-election for two further three-year terms. As a CSW trustee, you will be required to participate in:
- Three Board meetings each year
- An annual Board of Trustees Away Day
- One of CSW’s subcommittees – up to three additional meetings each year
Most Board and Committee meetings are held in the evening, starting at 7.30pm or 8pm, and take place online. In addition, ad-hoc advice may be sought from trustees between meetings, as required.
Essential Qualities Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate the following:
- They are a committed and mature Christian, able to demonstrate an understanding and acceptance of CSW’s Statement of Faith (The Apostles’ Creed).
- A personal commitment to Jesus Christ, reflected in their devotional life and involvement in a Christian community, including an individual commitment to prayer and a willingness to uphold CSW’s work in prayer.
- An ability to analyse information, think creatively and, when necessary, challenge constructively.
Desirable Qualities CSW is particularly keen to hear from candidates who possess one or more of the following:
- Expertise in or experience of:
o Charity law
o Fundraising or income-generation
o Advocacy
- Personal and/or lived experience of issues relating to freedom of religion or belief; or an association with someone who has first-hand experience of discrimination, harassment or persecution on the basis of their religion or belief.
- Experience of working in or volunteering with a faith-based charity, or the Church.
Although we are particularly looking for trustees who meet one of the above criteria, we will consider all applications we receive.
Diversity and inclusion CSW affirms that everyone is made in the image of God. We therefore honour the perspectives of people from diverse racial and denominational backgrounds, particularly those with closer cultural or lived proximity to the contexts where our advocacy focuses on. We strongly welcome applicants from a diversity of diasporas to apply.
We recognise that across the UK., younger people are underrepresented on boards. CSW believes that trustees of all ages have something meaningful to offer to our work and have two positions reserved for those under the age of 30. We particularly encourage people in this age bracket to put themselves forward for consideration.
Terms The role of Trustee is unpaid, but all reasonable travel, accommodation, subsistence and childcare expenses will be met. Trustees are usually appointed for an initial term of three years, which may be renewed for a further two periods of up to three years each.
Applicants must not be disqualified from being a trustee according to Charity Commission guidelines.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.