Trustees Volunteer Roles

Amplify Barawak’s mission and enhance our public presence through strategic marketing and powerful advocacy. As the Marketing Outreach and Advocacy Vertical Lead, you’ll craft compelling narratives that engage and mobilize our community.
 

Understanding the Verticals at Barawak

Imagine Barawak as a living, thriving tree. Our verticals are like the main branches—each one strong and important, reaching out in its own direction but all connected to the same trunk, our community's mission. These four powerhouse teams each have a special job:

• The Fundraising and Financial Management vertical covers fundraising and money matters: This team is all about finding resources—like getting donations and grants—to keep our programmes strong and healthy.They will spend their time writing fantastic letters, sponsorship proposals and funding requests on behalf of Barawak as a whole, but also (supporting programme leads) to specific organisations for Barawak service lines.

• The Partnership Development and Collaboration vertical covers building bridges: They're the connectors, making friends with other groups, businesses, and everyone who can help us grow.

• The Volunteer Engagement vertical covers welcoming our helpers: This bunch is in charge of gathering our most valuable resource—people like you who want to volunteer and make a difference.

• The Marketing Outreach and Advocacy vertical covers spreading the word: They tell our story far and wide, making sure everyone knows what we're up to and how they can join in.

Each vertical team works in two distinct ways: the first way is for Barawak as a whole, and the second way is in support of each Barawak service, feeding our programmes, like roots bringing water and nutrients to the branches. Whether it's Poverty Relief, Education, Employment Support, Community Engagement or Sports and Wellness, these verticals give the support each programme needs to blossom and bear fruit. Working together, they make sure we're all pushing in the same direction—towards a future where our community stands tall and proud.

Introduction to the Marketing, Outreach, and Advocacy vertical Lead role:

The Marketing, Outreach, and Advocacy Lead is the driving force behind Barawak’s communication, its brand identity and public presence. This strategic role involves developing and implementing marketing and outreach initiatives to amplify Barawak's mission and to advocate for the Afro-Hebrew community. It requires collaboration with trustees and programme leads to ensure consistent messaging and effective advocacy.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Marketing and Outreach:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive marketing and outreach strategy that promotes Barawak’s mission, programs, and events.

• Utilize a multi-channel approach, including social media, local press, and community events, to raise awareness and engage diverse audiences.

2. Advocacy Campaigns:

• Craft and lead advocacy campaigns that support Barawak’s strategic objectives and service lines, ensuring the community's voice is heard on critical issues.

• Build relationships with media outlets and influencers to enhance Barawak’s visibility and impact.

3. Support to Trustees:

• Provide the Board of Trustees with strategic marketing insights and advocacy support, enabling informed decision-making.

• Ensure trustees are kept informed of marketing and advocacy efforts and outcomes, aligning with Barawak’s governance and strategic plans.

4. Programme-Specific Outreach:

• Tailor marketing and advocacy efforts to support the unique goals of each Barawak programme, from Poverty Relief to Sports and Wellness.

• Collaborate with programme leads to highlight success stories, key initiatives, and opportunities for community involvement.

5. Brand Management:

• Oversee Barawak’s brand identity and messaging across all platforms, ensuring consistency and alignment with organizational values.

• Develop marketing materials and campaigns that resonate with the community and stakeholders.

6. Performance Analysis:

• Monitor and analyze the effectiveness of marketing and advocacy initiatives, using data-driven insights to refine strategies.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Experience in marketing, public relations, or advocacy within the nonprofit sector.

• Strong creative and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to develop compelling narratives.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with proficiency across various media platforms.

• A collaborative spirit, adept at working with diverse teams and community groups.

In the role of Marketing, Outreach, and Advocacy Lead, you will be the storyteller and voice of Barawak, shaping the way the world sees and understands our mission and the community we serve.

Important: This advert is for a voluntary role, which is unpaid and not subject to reimbursement of expenses. Any agreement with the successful candidate is not intended to be a legally binding contract between us and may be cancelled at any time at the discretion of either party. By applying for the role, candidates agree that neither of us intend any employment relationship to be created either now or at any time in the future.

Join our Board as Treasurer as we continue our ambition to support more disadvantaged families and help transform their lives with the anticipation, enjoyment and memory of a holiday.

Location: 7-14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR

Applications close at 9 a.m. Monday 4th November.

Who we are

Family Holiday Charity helps families get time away together, often for the first time ever.

There are more than 2.5 million families with dependent children in the UK who cannot afford to have a holiday. Not a fancy holiday at an all-inclusive resort but a holiday that would cost about £600.

In fact, it’s around a third of families for whom this kind of holiday is simply out of reach. We know that the very same families are often dealing with mental or physical ill-health, domestic abuse, bereavement, a disability or are kinship or young carers.

They NEED a holiday more than most.

About the role

Family Holiday Charity is seeking a Treasurer to work alongside the Finance Director, Senior Leadership Team and other Trustees to guide the charity’s financial strategy and ultimately ensure the charity delivers its mission and vision.

The Treasurer will also chair the Audit and Risk Committee, collaborating with fellow trustees to manage risk, support income generation and align financial strategy with the charity’s mission.

The Treasurer ensures that the Board have oversight of the charity’s financial affairs, promoting its financial viability and compliance with legal obligations.

Who we are looking for

We’re looking for someone who shares our passion for supporting all families to get time away together.

You’ll have a strong background in financial management and commercial income generation, as well as an appetite to explore new opportunities to diversify our income and grow our impact. Prior involvement in charity finance, fundraising, or pension schemes would be helpful but isn’t essential.

You’ll be comfortable chairing meetings and will promote a collaborative team environment.

We welcome applications from people with a broad range of backgrounds and from all sections of the community.

Time commitment

We’ll ask you to participate in four two-hour Board Meetings per year, either in person at our office in London, which has a lift, or remotely. They are in Feb, May, Aug and Nov on Thursday evenings from 5-7pm.

We also get together for a strategy day in September which is held on a weekday in London, and you’d need to attend that in person. We can support with any access needs for in-person meetings.

The Audit and Risk committee also meets four times a year, two weeks ahead of the Board meetings. Meetings are virtual and scheduled for two hours.

Please click 'Apply via website’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 4th November.

Catalyst Support works to promote the mental health and well-being of people in Surrey, improving lives in terms of stability and well-being, with the aim of reducing harm to themselves, their families and the community. This is achieved through a wide range of projects, many carried out in partnership with other agencies, across the county.

This is an important time for Catalyst Support, having grown significantly in the last five years, with a turnover that now sits at around £5m. Our work is more vital than ever in a world where consideration of our mental health and well-being is so important.

Catalyst Support is now seeking a new Chair and Trustee (Finance) as both post holders are retiring at the end of the year. We are seeking individuals who are genuinely committed to the mission and values of the charity.

For the Chair we are seeking a strategic thinker with:

• Proven experience in a leadership or governance role, demonstrating the ability to lead and inspire a diverse group of trustees and stakeholders.
• Experience of chairing and facilitating meetings of a strategic and/or business nature, and monitoring that decisions taken and agreed by others are implemented.

Catalyst Support is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from all members of the community. 

If you are interested in supporting mental and physical wellness across Surrey, please see further information via the dedicated microsite which can be found on the Prospectus website by clicking 'Apply via website'.

Expenses
These roles are unremunerated but reasonable expenses incurred in the execution of trustee duties will be reimbursed.

Recruitment Timetable
Deadline for applications: 10 November
Interviews with Prospectus:  w/c 18 November
Interviews with Catalyst Support:           w/c 2 December
 

Chair of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee

About the role

We are looking for a Chair of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee (“FRAC”) who is passionate about mental health service provision and public protection, to join the Board of Trustees. You will become a charity trustee (company director) and ensure that the public interest and charitable objectives run through all that we do.

This is a particularly exciting time to join the organisation as we will be launching our three-year strategy “psychotherapy in a changing world” in the Autumn of 2024. We want to work with you to craft an achievable delivery plan to sit alongside this strategy, which will be accompanied by a medium-term financial plan.

Leading the Board’s oversight of charitable funds, you will be pivotal in ensuring the organisation demonstrates excellent stewardship of resources and is financially sustainable for the future. Your background in financial leadership will be an ideal experience to chair the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee and provide support to our finance team.

About you

This is a role for an individual who is open to new ideas and embraces innovation, who is motivational, pragmatic, and demonstrates sound commercial and business acumen.

You will enjoy the opportunity to support an important cause where there is a growing demand in society for greater choices of high-quality mental health service provision. You’ll work alongside colleagues from diverse backgrounds and collaborate with staff and practitioners. There’ll be scope for professional development as well as personal reward in running the charity and mentoring the executive. In short, it is an opportunity to make a real difference.

About the organisation

The organisation is the leading professional body for psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors. We represent training organisations and over 9,000 individual therapists - working privately or in the NHS or voluntary sector - offering a wide variety of psychotherapeutic approaches or modalities.

Our charitable objectives are to promote:

• the art and science of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling for the public benefit;
• research in psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling and to disseminate the results of any such research;
• high standards of education and training and practice in psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling
• the wider provision of psychotherapy and psychotherapeutic counselling for all sections of the public

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a covering letter explaining why you would be suitable for this role to the governance team.

Closing date: 9am Monday 11th November 2024

Purpose of the role

To conduct research and apply for grants and funding that Rebuilding Lives UK are eligible for.  To contribute to fundraising strategies and share and implement fundraising ideas.

What you will be doing

We are looking for fundraiser volunteers to join our team to: 

• Lead research for grants and funding that the charity is eligible for.
• Prepare information about grants, trusts and foundations, advising the CEO and Trustees of the requirements for the applications, the deadlines being worked towards and the final outcomes.
• Write and tailor content for grant applications as required.
• Support with the grant application process and build relationships with trusts and other stakeholders.
• Share ideas for fundraising.

What are we looking for?

The following skills and experience would be helpful for this role:

• Experience in grant applications is essential
• To understand content, requirements and strategy needed for applications.
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail
• The ability to deal with information in a confidential manner and respond with sensitivity
• Proficiency in using email and Microsoft Office
• Commitment to the values of Rebuilding Lives UK
• Able to work independently as well as collaboratively in a team

Time commitment and expenses:

• 3-7 hours per week, either in or out of office hours.
• We request a minimum commitment of 3 months volunteering.

What difference will you make?

Joining our team will give you the opportunity to:

• Use and share your expertise.
• Learn new skills.
• Gain valuable experience for those who are looking for a job in fundraising.
• Be part of a friendly team of people
• Make a big difference to the charity and the lives of our beneficiaries.

BPS Assessments and Awards Limited wishes to appoint an independent director. The successful applicant will be required to attend quarterly online board meetings and up to one additional strategy session per year. This is a voluntary role.

We are interested in candidates with skills and experience in the following areas:

• Knowledge of apprenticeships,  with a particular interest in the health sector.
• Experience of end-point assessment organisations, or assessment of apprenticeship.
• Evidence of strong commercial knowledge and business development expertise.
• Ability to express opinions, while respecting the thoughts and opinions of others.
• Dynamic in thinking and approach with a drive and passion to make a substantial impact.
• Other areas of interest may include finance, social media, brand development and marketing or public sector commissioning.

BPS Assessments and Awards Ltd is a trading subsidiary of The British Psychological Society (BPS). BPS Assessments and Awards Ltd has been approved to act as an End Point Assessment Organisation (EPAO) to provide end-point assessment services to providers, employers, and their apprentices. Its current directors are either trustees of BPS or employed by BPS, therefore the company wishes to appoint an independent director.

We encourage applications from people with a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds to ensure the board truly represents the people they serve. 

The Dipex Charity helps millions of individuals and professionals learn about the experience of health and social care. Through our websites healthtalk .org and socialcaretalk .org we publish people’s real stories, as collected by academic researchers.

We cover more than 100 different health and social care issues and help people feel less alone and better prepared for what they’re going through. Our resources are also used as teaching resources all over the world and in training professionals working in health, social care and the public sector. 

About the role

Due to our current Treasurer’s term of office reaching an end in December 2024, we are seeking a treasurer to join the Trustee board of a small online health charity that helps millions of people each year.

The charity is at an exciting time, expanding our ways of working and developing new revenue streams. As a Treasurer you will provide support with financial accounting and reporting. In addition, as a trustee you will provide guidance, expertise and support to the team and help ensure that the charity is meeting its aims. There will be opportunities to get involved in discrete projects and you may be asked for ad hoc advice or input from time to time. 

We are looking for someone who can commit to meet with the rest of the trustee board and leadership team four times a year. Meetings last for around 3 hours and usually take place in Oxford on a weekday afternoon.  The Treasurer will also be required to meet with the CEO and finance team (online), prior to each trustee meeting, to finalise quarterly finance reports. 

What are we looking for?  

We are a small and friendly organisation, committed to our charitable aims and to continuous improvement. We welcome applications from all backgrounds. New ideas and perspectives are very important to us. The Treasurer should have good experience and knowledge of management accounting, financial management and organisational governance.

It would also be advantageous if you have experience of one or more of the following: 

• Charity or non-profit governance 

• Business development 

• Health and social care 

• Academia (particularly qualitative health and social care research) 

• Teaching resources 

The treasurer role is unremunerated, but we will provide administrative support and full induction for the appointee. 

YSS enables people to be emotionally resilient, to thrive and feel they belong to a community. We uphold people’s rights and responsibilities and enable them to exercise these with dignity and respect. 

We are looking for volunteers to work with our central functions to support our teams deliver incredible services across west merica and warwickshire. We are happy to consider candidates with experience of any of the below duties of the role and full support and training will be given to support all volunteers. If you would like to arrange a chat to discuss the opportunity further please click apply and we will be in touch.

Main duties of the role

· Hold a portfolio of work across a range of resourcing areas for the charity.

· Collaborate closely with the Head of Resources, providing information, insight, and guidance for the effective delivery of key strategy objectives across finance, HR, Governance, fundraising and IT operations.

Key Responsibilities

 Finance

· To provide financial information including management accounts with analysis, forecasting and insightful commentary to internal and external stakeholders.

· To support the annual budgeting process.

· To maintain financial procedures and controls.

· To support managers to make decisions based on forecasts and budgets, providing challenge and financial expertise where necessary.

HR

· Undertake and deliver all HR transactional administration including recruitment, selection, appointment, induction and exit interviews.

· Support production of HR reporting to Senior Management Team and Trustees on a regular basis including staff sickness, diversity, complaints, grievances, disciplinary, turn-over, training, appraisal etc.

· Support Head of Resources on welfare support to staff to include internal promotion of staff benefits and liaison with external providers.

Governance

· Support the preparation and circulation of Board meeting papers and packs.

· Provide organisational and administrative support to the Senior Management Team and be the single point of contact for the Trustees.

Other Duties

· Assist as required with the co-ordination of YSS events.

· To take responsibility for keeping own knowledge up to date on relevant legislation and strategies that affect YSS services.

· To understand and actively promote the vision, values and profile of YSS.

· To uphold the highest standards of professionalism at all times, ensuring that EDI principles are adhered to.

· To maintain continuity of cover for holidays and sickness.

· To ensure all work is carried out in a safe and appropriate manner and in accordance with YSS policies and procedures e.g. lone working, health and safety, child and adult protection, risk, confidentiality etc.

· To undertake any other tasks of a similar level of responsibility as requested by the Head of Resources.

Be responsible for finding funding opportunities for the charity and writing professional proposals to earn grant money, whilst raising awareness and building relationships with donors and supporters alike. 

What will you be doing?

- Develop and manage fundraising events.

-  Work with the marketing team to develop and produce fundraising communication material.

-  Prepare presentations and manage meetings.

-  Support the CEO and Trustees to create a fundraising strategy.

What are we looking for?

• excellent knowledge of proposal submission and fundraising processes
• ability to study and understand programmes and funding requirements of the organisation
• excellent multitasking, organisational and time management skills
• excellent written and verbal communication skills
• the ability to deal with information in a confidential manner and respond with sensitivity
• proficiency in using email and Microsoft Office
• commitment to the values of Rebuilding Lives UK

Time commitment and expenses:

• 1-3 hours per week, either in or out of office hours.
• We request a minimum commitment of 3 months volunteering.

What difference will you make?

- Increased confidence.

- Development of new skills.

- Make new connections.

- Changing the lives of those who need it the most.

Tender works first and foremost with young people, meaning our work is always varied and constantly evolving. We are therefore lucky to receive the support and guidance from our Youth Board, who meet monthly to develop Tender’s activities and direction, and explore innovative ways of engaging young people in a way that stays relevant to them. 
 

What is the Tender Youth Board?
 

Tender’s Youth Board is an advisory group that supports the on-going development and delivery of Tender’s work. As a youth-based organisation, the board play a vital role in guiding how we engage young people in conversations around healthy relationships, domestic abuse and sexual violence, and promote the issue to wider society. We do this by getting young people to work closely with members from every department of the Tender team and its Board of Trustees. 
 

The Youth Board support Tender’s work by:  
 

• Developing and delivering awareness raising campaigns and blogs 
• Contributing ideas for projects and resources  
• Reviewing Tender’s activities that are used in workshops with young people 
• Discussing current events and policy happening in the Violence Against Women and Girls sector 
• Contributing to Tender’s recruitment processes 
• Reviewing bids that Tender submit to funders for new work 

Time Expectations 
 

We ask our Youth Board members for a commitment to volunteering for a minimum of 6 hours every three months. The ways members can engage are listed below: 
 

• Meetings will be typically held twice a month on Wednesday, 5:50 – 6:30pm. It is important that you can attend the majority of these online meetings. 
• Twice per year, in March and October, a meeting is held in person at Tender’s London office – travel and food expenses are covered. 
• Volunteering time at public events to promote Tender’s cause, such as panels or fresher’s fairs. 
• Carrying out other tasks that come up outside meetings, such as blog writing, or being on steering groups for specific projects.  
• Engaging with flexible work experience opportunities in various teams across the charity. 

At Tender we also understand that schedules can change, and other responsibilities can get in the way of volunteering sometimes, so if you are unable to meet this requirement, we can have a chat with you and look at next steps together. For some, this might mean arranging other volunteering tasks that can be completed remotely or making a flexible arrangement.  
 

How we support you 
 

Three members of the Tender team support the Youth Board by running the interactive and creative meetings, and planning  the year’s activities. They will be available during your time on the Youth Board to ensure you get the most out of volunteering with us. 
 

At Tender we believe in the importance of giving back to those who volunteer their time with us. You will be given a full induction to the Youth Board so that you understand our work and your role as a Youth Board member. As an active member of the youth board, you will be offered opportunities and rewards, such as:  
 

• Free masterclasses from external organisations (topics have included: working with children and young people, facilitation, drama, domestic and sexual violence prevention, and more!) 
• Free training sessions  
• Free tickets to theatre productions, exhibitions and other public events 
• Opportunities to build your CV through campaigning, masterclasses, events and work experience. 

To make sure we’re supporting our Youth Board members, we carry out a survey of new members to better understand what you wish to gain from the Youth Board, and endeavour to offer opportunities to develop in ways that will support your future plans and ambitions. This could even include working at Tender – a number of our employees started their journeys at Tender on the Youth Board! 

At Makani, we work with refugee women through the arts to overcome trauma, fight for their rights, and to transform their lives and the world around them. Our vision is a world of freedom, dignity and equality for all displaced women and girls.

We work in Lebanon with Syrian and Palestinian refugee women, and in the UK with refugee women from all over the world. In both countries we run therapeutic arts projects including theatre and craft therapy, filmmaking and feminist embroidery. In addition, in Lebanon we also help women through economic empowerment and income generation, access to training and education, and we are responding to the humanitarian crisis with emergency support for displaced families.

Makani was founded in 2022, building upon years of work supporting Syrian and Palestinian refugee women in Lebanon by our co-founders, one of whom is a displaced woman herself. We were officially registered as a charity in June 2024.

We are a small but ambitious organisation that is already transforming the lives of over 100 refugee women and their families in Lebanon, and dozens in the UK. We have rapidly grown over the past two years, with the accompanying rapid increase in income. We are driven by our passion for a better world for marginalised refugee women.

POSITION: Treasurer 

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Treasurer to join our Board of Trustees. The Treasurer will play a crucial role in ensuring the financial management, health and sustainability of the organisation, contributing to the strategic direction and decision-making process.

DETAILS

Location: Home-based, with occasional meetings in London.

Remuneration: This is a voluntary position, expenses covered.

Hours: Variable but generally up to two days a month.

• Board meetings: Quarterly 

• Additional time commitment for strategic planning and financial support to the Senior Leadership team

Deadline: Friday 15 November, midnight

ROLE OUTLINE

• Financial Oversight:

  • Provide financial leadership and guidance to the Board.

  • Oversee the development and implementation of financial policies and procedures.

  • Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.

• Budgeting and Forecasting:

  • Collaborate with the Senior Leadership Team  to develop and monitor the annual budget.

  • Provide financial projections and recommendations for strategic planning.

• Financial Compliance:

  • Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations and reporting requirements.

  • Oversee the preparation of financial statements and reports for annual accounting, and any potential future audit.

• Risk Management:

  • Identify and assess financial risks and propose strategies to mitigate them.

  • Work with the Board to develop and implement risk management policies.

• Fundraising Support:

  • Collaborate with the Chair of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team to develop and implement fundraising strategies.

  • Provide financial insights to support grant applications and donor relations.

• Financial Training:

  • Educate and guide board members on financial matters, ensuring a collective understanding of financial responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Professional qualification in finance, accounting, or a related field.

• Proven experience in financial management, preferably in the non-profit sector.

• Familiarity with charity governance and compliance requirements.

• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Passion for the organisation's vision, mission and values.

• An understanding of the challenges faced by small start-up organisations, and a supportive and solutions-focused approach to meeting these.

Desirable but not essential:

• Arabic language skills

• An understanding of the issues faced by refugee women in the UK and/or Lebanon.

TO APPLY

Please send your CV and a cover letter outlining your experience and suitability for the role via CharityJob.

Makani is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply.

Spotlight YOPD are looking for a volunteer Administration Assistant to assist with the efficient functioning of the charity by maintaining workplace functions and handling administrative tasks on behalf of the Executive team.

Can you help us to bring in the funds we need to make the food bank a success? 

We are looking for a volunteer Fundraising Lead to play a significant role in shaping a fundraising strategy, help raise awareness of Bounds Green Food Bank (BGFB) and generate income through events, projects and fundraising activities.

We currently raise money through grants, individual donations and community projects. We would like to broaden our fundraising initiatives and are looking for someone to raise funds, meet fundraising targets, raise our profile with key funding partners, and inspire relevant groups to support us.

About Bounds Green Food Bank: 

Open since June 2020, we serve over 1,500 children and adults in the community. We are committed to improving lives by providing food and essential household items and helping alleviate household food insecurity. We strive to promote social inclusion by supporting people and families in crisis situations and needing assistance.

The role: 

• Work with the Board of Trustees to agree a fundraising strategy, including setting annual fundraising targets

• Help to develop a fundraising team

• Identify income-generating opportunities and develop projects

• Build, develop and maintain relationships to secure funding

• Provide guidance to other teams that support fundraising initiatives e.g. the Grants Writing Team, Events Team and the Communication Team

Person specification: 

• Passionate about food insecurity and reducing social isolation

• Experience working in a fundraising role, including grants, trusts and foundations

• Ability and willingness  to work to financial targets 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and attention to detail

• Able to work flexibly and under pressure

• Ability to be creative and entrepreneurial in order to find new ways to raise funds

Benefits:

• Gain access to free workshops for volunteers and upskill on a range of topics (conflict resolution, mental health first aid, arts and crafts, and more)

• Join free social events for volunteers (such as picnics, walks, creative workshops and celebration events)

• Give back to the community - one of the NHS’ 5 Ways to Wellbeing!

• Gain a sense of community and meet the huge team of volunteers

About Foster Care Matters

Foster Care Matters is a brand-new fostering agency with a therapeutic emphasis which is being set up as part of the Adoption Matters family.  We will assess, train, approve and support foster families and the children placed with them in conjunction with our Centre for Fostering and Adoption Support (CFAS).

Adoption Matters is a registered children’s charity and one of the largest voluntary adoption agencies (VAAs) in the UK. We recruit, train and support individuals and families as adopters and offer them ongoing support and training for as long as they need it.  We also provide support to birth families and adopted adults. Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ since 2008, the ONLY adoption service in the North of England rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted 5 times in a row. 

For more information on the management team and our board of trustees, visit the Adoption Matters Website. 

Volunteer Adoption Panel Members 

We are looking for voluntary panel members for the central list of our brand-new fostering service, Foster Care Matters.  You will need either personal or professional experience of foster care/residential care or adoption. If you have experience as a panel member that is great but not essential.

Foster Care Matters panels are held regularly both in person and remotely online via Teams. The panel reviews every fostering application and makes a recommendation to our Agency Decision Maker regarding the applicant’s suitability to foster. This is part of the legal process to be an approved foster carer.

At Foster Care Matters, we want to make sure that our panels are warm, friendly and approachable and we know how much prospective adopters appreciate the sense of their applications being considered by people similar to themselves. We also recognise that we place children with a wide range of needs from a huge variety of backgrounds. As such, we encourage expressions of interest from all areas of the community. Under adoption regulations, people who have adopted need to wait at least 12 months after the making of any adoption order before they can join a panel.

Please be advised that our panel members are volunteers and as such while travel expenses can be claimed, it is an unpaid role