Volunteer Roles in East Midlands

Can you commit to volunteering for a minimum of 2 years? 

Do you have 2 to 4 hours spare a month? 

Do you live in Bristol?

Would you like to befriend a child or young person in care and make a long-term friendship with them? 

If yes, then volunteering for Reconstruct may suit you.

An Independent Visitor is an adult volunteer who befriends a young person in care and develops a long-term friendship with them. This often involves helping young people develop new interests, skills and hobbies or going on outings such as to the cinema, bowling or just a walk in the park.

You must be 21+, available for flexible working and able to commit to a minimum of 2 years. As a volunteer, you would spend about 2-4 hours every month with your allocated child.

Each volunteer is carefully matched with a child or young person in care in their local area who shares similar interests.

WHAT DO INDEPENDENT VISITORS DO?

• Visit a child monthly and becomes a trusted adult friend to them.
• Provide a consistent and reliable adult with a view to building a trusting and positive relationship with the child.
• Provide a child with the opportunity to try new activities and spend time with them away from their placement. This in turn can enhance progress and resilience of children, by building self-esteem, strengthening mental health, and opening new social relationships outside of the care system.

WHAT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE DO YOU NEED?

• Interpersonal Skills – Ability to easily build rapport an identify with children and young people.
• Communication – Excellent communication skills, good report writing skills.
• Committed – Willing to commit to a child for at least one year and preferably two years.
• Role Model – A good role model for a child or young person who may have experienced difficult times during their childhood.
• DBS Check – We will carry out safer recruitment checks and you will be required to have an Enhanced DBS check.

Examples of activities can include:

• Sports
• Play football 
• Cinema
• Bowling
• Go to the library

You will be allocated a budget for each visit for your activity, and payment of your expenses, are paid so you are not out of pocket. These include, travel costs, and parking.

As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be required to attend necessary training for the role. Interviews will be arranged in due course thereafter.

We want to ensure that volunteering with us does not feel too daunting, so the

exact tasks might vary depending on your circumstances.

However, some typical tasks may include:

� Helping with event preparation

� Manning checkpoints

� Walking support

� First-aid support

� Marshals

� Support drivers

� Helping with community stalls

We are looking for people who are: 

� Warm and non-judgemental

� Willing to learn about the work of YBTC

� Able to communicate with a range of different groups

�Good team players, able to work with other staff/volunteers

� Reliable and able to commit to agreed requirements

We can offer you the following: 

� Induction and ongoing training

� Ongoing support and supervision in your role

� The opportunity to learn new skills

� YBTC commitment to health and safety

Background

Founded in 2003 and originally named Andrea's Gift and later Brain Tumour Research and Support Across Yorkshire (BTRS), Yorkshire's Brain Tumour Charity (YBTC) is Yorkshire and Humber’s leading brain tumour charity.  Offering practical, financial and emotional support to both adult and child brain tumour patients, together with their families.

We fund brain tumour research in Yorkshire; we hope this research, dedicated to identifying new approaches to the discovery and treatment of brain tumours, will improve outcomes for patients. 

At YBTC we are a small team growing to meet the needs of those affected by a brain tumour in Yorkshire. Around 15 new cases of primary brain tumours are diagnosed in the region every week. 

Our charity values are

� Integrity, � Compassion, � Community & � Ambition. 

Our Vision/Mission 

To improve the lives of people impacted by brain tumours in Yorkshire through local support and research. 

Trustee (Fundraising specialist)

• Voluntary position. Reasonable expenses incurred will be reimbursed
• Hours: Up to 8 hours a month – flexible
• Location: Reading, Berkshire or home

About the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre

The Berkshire MS Therapy Centre (BMSTC) supports people with MS and their families, friends and carers. We provide a range of specialist therapies and a friendly, inclusive community. Although our modern purpose-built centre is situated in Berkshire, we also welcome people living in adjoining counties and offer online services.

Role

We are seeking a Fundraising specialist to bring their skills and expertise to our Board of Trustees.

To support our MS community, the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre currently needs to raise

£650,000 every year to provide our current level of services. After launching our charity strategy in 2023, we have ambitions for the future and we need to grow our income to fulfil these plans.

To support our charity strategy, we have launched a fundraising strategy and a communications strategy. Recognising the importance of growing income, we have recently invested in fundraising.

You will play a vital role as you use your direct experience of fundraising to support our fundraising team and strengthen our Board’s expertise.

As a member of the Trustee board, you will also be involved in setting the charity's strategic direction and ensuring that it is run in a compliant and efficient manner. It is expected that trustees will attend the majority of monthly meetings and the annual AGM either in person or online.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the fundraising strategy.
• Assess the risks and threats currently facing fundraising and highlight these to the Board.
• Understand the ‘Best Practices’ of Fundraising and ensure they are followed at the charity.
• Help develop the fundraising capability within the charity.
• Advise the Board of the challenges and successes of fundraising and what this may mean for current/future plans.
• Advocate for the fundraising team at trustee meetings.
• Represent the charity with key stakeholders.
• Work with the fundraising team to access and develop new ideas.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of BMSTC's strategic plan.
• Ensure that the charity is run in a compliant and efficient manner.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Senior fundraiser experience at strategic and operational level, ideally across a number of different fundraising areas.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to think strategically and plan long-term.
• Ability to work collectively with other Board and management team members.
• Computer literacy: competent using Email, Excel, Word.
• Empathy with BMSTC's mission and members.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Experience of charity trusteeship.
• Experience in a similar size/local charity.
• Knowledge of MS and the challenges faced by people with MS.
• Experience in marketing.
• Good communication skills and experience of team working.

Benefits:

• The opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of people with MS.
• To develop new skills and knowledge.
• To work with a passionate and committed team of trustees and staff.
• To be part of a well-established and respected charity.

Are you interested?

If you have the skills and experience to become our Fundraising Trustee and support our local MS community, we want to hear from you!

In the first instance, please get in touch with the BMSTC Chairman, Neil Dawkins for an informal chat to find out more.

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.

Can you commit to volunteering for a minimum of 2 years? 

Do you have 2 to 4 hours spare a month? 

Do you live in Milton Keynes?

Would you like to befriend a child or young person in care and make a long-term friendship with them? 

If yes, then volunteering for Reconstruct may suit you.

An Independent Visitor is an adult volunteer who befriends a young person in care and develops a long-term friendship with them. This often involves helping young people develop new interests, skills and hobbies or going on outings such as to the cinema, bowling or just a walk in the park.

You must be 21+, available for flexible working and able to commit to a minimum of 2 years. As a volunteer, you would spend about 2-4 hours every month with your allocated child.

Each volunteer is carefully matched with a child or young person in care in their local area who shares similar interests.

WHAT DO INDEPENDENT VISITORS DO?

• Visit a child monthly and becomes a trusted adult friend to them.
• Provide a consistent and reliable adult with a view to building a trusting and positive relationship with the child.
• Provide a child with the opportunity to try new activities and spend time with them away from their placement. This in turn can enhance progress and resilience of children, by building self-esteem, strengthening mental health, and opening new social relationships outside of the care system.

WHAT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE DO YOU NEED?

• Interpersonal Skills – Ability to easily build rapport an identify with children and young people.
• Communication – Excellent communication skills, good report writing skills.
• Committed – Willing to commit to a child for at least one year and preferably two years.
• Role Model – A good role model for a child or young person who may have experienced difficult times during their childhood.
• DBS Check – We will carry out safer recruitment checks and you will be required to have an Enhanced DBS check.

Examples of activities can include:

• Sports
• Play football 
• Cinema
• Bowling
• Go to the library

You will be allocated a budget for each visit for your activity, and payment of your expenses, are paid so you are not out of pocket. These include, travel costs, and parking.

As part of the recruitment process, candidates will be required to attend necessary training for the role. Interviews will be arranged in due course thereafter.

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.

Charity Trustee required for a *New start up* Mental Health Charitable Organisation in Devon & Cornwall.

Looking for a kind soul with working or peer experience within the mental health field, who may be interested to learn more about becoming a Charity Trustee.

This relates to a new Charitable Organisation, which is being set up to support people struggling with their mental health, to the degree that it negatively impacts their home and physical surroundings, by providing services and grants to improve their living conditions, and as a result, their quality of life.

Based in Tavistock, and covering Devon & Cornwall it is important that you live within this region and have access to a laptop and phone.

You will be provided with a charity email address where the charity manager will report to you on a monthly basis regarding charity activities, and financial reporting. 

Charity board meetings will take place remotley every 1-3 months. Important decisions will be made by voting, only by trustees, at board meetings.

You may be invited to in person meetings occasionally, this will be within the Devon & Cornwall region and reasonable expenses will be covered for costs incurred.

You will be one of a total of three trustees as is the requirement for Charities in the UK.

Responsibilities

Together, trustees will be responsible for:

• Ensuring the charity is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit

• Complying with the governing document, and the law

• Act in the charities best interests

• Manage resources responsibly

• Using reasonable care and skill

• Ensuring the charity is accountable

Qualifications

No qualifications are required, but a genuine interest in supporting vulnerable individuals who are struggling to manage their household, possible previous experience working within the mental health field, or peer experience with an understanding of mental health disorders would be fantastic.

Please note, upon successfully appointing this trustee role, we will then register the charity and begin promoting its services and actively fundraising. You are joining us at the very beginning of this exciting journey.

About:

Changeworks is seeking Trustees with leadership experience that demonstrates strong strategic thinking, an entrepreneurial mindset, and an understanding of the complexities of governance within the charitable sector.

The Organisation:
Changeworks has a long history of delivering significant impact. By working with individuals, households, businesses, and other organisations, it prevents hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions from damaging the planet each year.
In 2020-21, Changeworks’ efforts resulted in a reduction of £2.2 million in heating and electricity bills for people, alongside the installation of over 3,000 energy efficiency measures in homes.
Changeworks’ fuel poverty advice service also makes a tangible difference. Each year, it removes over 200,000 tonnes of lifetime carbon, creating a lasting impact on both people’s lives and the environment.

To learn more about Changeworks’ work, visit the website: Changeworks

The Role:
The purpose of these roles is to serve as statutory Trustees, providing strategic leadership, guidance, and governance oversight of Changeworks and its subsidiary organisations. Board members act individually and collectively to support the organisation’s strategic direction, ensuring it delivers on its mission to decarbonise Scotland’s homes and uphold its environmental and social values.

Person Specification
Senior Leadership Experience:
We are looking for individuals with leadership experience that demonstrates strong strategic thinking, an entrepreneurial mindset, and an understanding of the complexities of governance in the charitable sector. This could include:

- Senior management, executive, or non-executive roles in mission-driven organisations
- Experience serving on boards or committees in any sector
- A track record of leading teams through organisational transformation and growth
- Experience working with diverse stakeholder groups, including but not limited to social housing, local government, or minority groups
- Strategic Growth and Risk Management:

Candidates should demonstrate expertise in at least one of the following areas:

- Driving or enabling organisational growth and development
- Understanding risk management in complex organisations
- Good governance in regulated organisations
- A proven record of success in purpose-driven organisations

This is a strategic time to join the Board of TLM Great Britain (TLMGB).  We have a strong and committed group of trustees but sadly some members have completed their tenure.  We are seeking to appoint three trustees during 2025.  We would particularly welcome applications from candidates who are passionate about International Development with skills in charity fundraising, finance or digital marketing / communications.

TLMGB is an explicitly Christian charity, we are seeking a committed Christian with a willingness to engage and at times lead the organisation in prayer, uphold the Christian values and ethos of the organisation and able to demonstrate involvement in their Christian community.  TLMGB is committed to diversity and welcomes those who have been underrepresented in INGO leadership positions, especially African, Asian, Latin American and Caribbean leaders, women and those with a disability.

The Leprosy Mission is the world’s largest leprosy-focused organisation, a pioneer in our field, with over 150 years’ experience tackling this ancient disease. As a leading international Christian development organisation we operate as a Global Fellowship comprising members from 30 countries.  We work with people of all faiths and none to bring about the defeat of leprosy and transformation in the lives of people affected. TLMGB works in 9 countries across Africa and Asia.  We raise funds, promote research and innovation, and support our partners to strengthen health systems, provide life changing health care services, skills training and opportunities for those who have been excluded and rejected by society.

As an organisation we are seeking transformational growth.  Our goal is to see a leprosy-free world.  Our vision is for ‘leprosy defeated, lives transformed’, meaning a world with zero transmission, zero disability and zero discrimination.

Trustees are individually and collectively responsible for leading the organisation and each trustee should be prepared to use their specific skills, knowledge, network and experience to help the Board reach sound decisions. In addition to scrutinising board papers, this may also involve leading discussions, providing advice and guidance on new initiatives or other issues in which the trustee has special expertise.

TLMGB has a zero-tolerance policy towards any abuse, neglect and exploitation of all people.  Successful candidates are expected to understand, sign and comply with all organisational policies, including our code of conduct and safeguarding policies.  Recruitment to roles within TLMGB includes, in particular, criminal record checks/screening and the collection of relevant references. 

Trustees have over-arching statutory duties in respect of governance, details of which can be found in the recruitment information pack on our website along with more information about the role and our work.

To apply, please visit our website where you will be asked to upload a summary CV, together with a covering letter outlining how you will contribute to the Board.

Closing date: 9am on Friday 28 March 2025.

Preliminary Interviews (virtual): To be agreed.

In-person Interviews (Peterborough office): To be agreed.

Registered Charity number 1050327

Get Golfing CIO is seeking new Trustees to join our Board of Trustees.

Our purpose, why we exist, is to improve lives through golf. Our vision, where we wish to be, is for our venues to be central to the communities we serve, and our mission, what we do daily, is to make our courses and clubhouses accessible to all.

We believe that golf is more than just a sport; it’s a community, a passion, and a platform for inclusion. Through our outreach programmes, we work with local communities to provide equipment, coaching, free meals, and support to those who may face obstacles in not only joining traditional golf clubs but in life. We believe that by being inclusive we can enrich lives, promote health and wellbeing, and foster a sense of belonging for all.

This is an exciting opportunity to serve on the Board of a thriving and dynamic charity which manages and operates 13 sites with 7,000 members and over 160,000 visitors each year. 

 The successful candidates will help oversee the future planning and continued impact of a £21m revenue charity, employing circa 400 people which reinvests profits from its operations into its venues, courses, the development of its people, and importantly, community oriented charitable initiatives local to its sites.

Our model is to maximise revenue through memberships, golf days, events, functions, and F&B to allow us to make golf more inclusive, accessible and a force for good. We say that “our courses are for golfers while our clubhouses are for everyone”.

We would be particularly interested in hearing from candidates that would strengthen our Trustee cohort in the following areas: 

• Legal & Governance 

• Finance 

• People & Culture 

• Leisure & Hospitality

As a Trustee of Get Golfing CIO, you will ensure that the charity's purpose is carried out, its assets are well-managed, and its work is in line with its vision. You will play a vital role in helping to develop strategic direction and work collaboratively with fellow trustees, the Executive Team, and other stakeholders to ensure the charity achieves its goals. 

Key Responsibilities: 

1. Governance & Strategic Oversight: 

• Ensure the charity adheres to its mission, values, and legal obligations. 

• Contribute to the development and review of strategic plans, ensuring they align with the charity’s objectives. 

• Monitor the charity’s financial performance, ensuring resources are used efficiently and effectively to deliver on its mission. 

• Assess and mitigate risks, ensuring robust policies and practices are in place for all charity operations. 

2. Financial Stewardship: 

• Scrutinise and approve annual budgets and review financial reports, ensuring accountability and transparency. 

• Support fundraising efforts, including engaging with donors, sponsors, and other stakeholders to secure resources for the charity’s programs. 

3. Program Development & Impact: 

• Offer insights and guidance on how to develop and enhance charitable programs that address the physical, emotional, and social needs of participants. 

• Evaluate the charity’s impact on communities and individuals, ensuring that programs effectively contribute to improving lives through golf. 

4. Fundraising & Networking: 

• Actively contribute to fundraising efforts, including making personal connections, attending fundraising events, and helping to secure financial support. 

• Use your personal and professional network to advocate for the charity’s work and expand opportunities for collaboration. 

5. Support and Collaboration: 

• Provide mentorship and guidance to the charity’s leadership team. 

• Work collaboratively with fellow trustees to ensure good governance and effective decision-making. 

• Attend trustee meetings (quarterly) and participate in relevant sub-committees when required. 

6. Advocacy & Representation: 

• Represent the charity at key events, conferences, and with external stakeholders. 

• Advocate for the charity’s mission and programs in the wider community, building relationships with local and national organisations, government agencies, and other charity leaders. 

7. Culture & Wellbeing 

• Ensure that the organisation fosters an inclusive, ethical, and supportive environment where employees, members, and stakeholders feel valued and respected. 

• Advocate for diverse representation and equality within the organisation, ensuring that policies and practices reflect these values. 

• Align cultural values with the organisation's mission and vision, ensuring that these values are reflected in all activities and decision-making. 

• Hold the Executive Team to account in identifying and addressing risks to the wellbeing of the organisation’s stakeholders, including mental health concerns, workplace bullying, and burnout. 

Requirements

The general requirements for the Trustee role are outlined below. 

• Commitment to the Mission: A strong passion for using golf as a tool to improve lives, promote inclusion, and encourage personal development. 

• Experience in Governance: Previous experience in a governance or leadership role, ideally within a charity or non-profit setting. 

• Strategic Thinker: Ability to think long-term and make decisions that balance financial sustainability, mission-driven outcomes, and stakeholder interests. 

• Financial Acumen: Understanding of financial oversight and the ability to review financial reports, budgets, and financial strategies. 

• Interpersonal Skills: Strong communication, collaboration, and networking skills to work effectively with trustees, staff, partners, and stakeholders. 

• Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: A commitment to ensuring the charity’s programs and services are inclusive and accessible to people from all walks of life. 

Time Commitment: Approximately 4-6 hours per month (including meetings approximately every 2 months, preparation, and ad-hoc activities).  There is an expectation to attend charity activities at sites that we allocate to trustees, these are shared amongst the trustee group.  There could be ad-hoc requirements to do trustee training days (1-2 days per year).

We are also looking for Vice Chair to help us with our succession planning.  We would be interested to hear from candidates who have experience of serving on Finance and Risk Committees. 

Benefits 

• An opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and communities through golf. 

• Work alongside a passionate and dedicated group of trustees and professionals. 

• Enhance your own leadership skills and gain governance experience in the charity sector. 

• Opportunities for networking and building relationships with other charity leaders, stakeholders, and the broader golf community. 

• This is an unpaid, voluntary role but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. 

If you are passionate about the power of sport, particularly golf, to improve lives and are committed to helping a charitable organisation thrive, we would love to hear from you. Join us as a trustee and help to impact lives and communities, through golf.

Join our Board - Help us Save Lives

About MedicAlert

MedicAlert has been providing life-saving support for 60 years. As the only UK-registered charity offering personalised medical IDs and a 24/7 emergency helpline, we empower individuals with medical conditions to live confidently. Our records are nurse-verified, ensuring accuracy and trust.

About the role

Following a period of successful transformation, we are expanding our Board with individuals who bring diverse skills, experiences and perspectives. If you are passionate about making an impact, we want to hear from you!

We welcome all applicants, regardless of background. We are especially keen to hear from individuals with expertise in:

• Human Resources
• Charity fundraising

Additional skills that would be valuable:

• Strategic leadership and organisational growth experience
• Senior external representation, advocacy, and partnership-building
• Strong teamwork and motivation skills
• Willingness to leverage personal networks for awareness-raising
• Board experience (beneficial but not essential)
• Healthcare sector knowledge (especially urgent/emergency care) welcomed but not required

Trustees are expected to uphold and adhere to the Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles): ensuring they act in the best interests of the organisation and its beneficiaries at all times.

Why Join Us?

• Make an impact – Help protect thousands with medical conditions.
• Strategic influence – Play a key role in shaping MedicAlert’s future.
• Join a trusted organisation – The UK’s only charity providing medical ID services.
• Collaborate with experienced leaders – Work alongside a dedicated Board.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, fostering an inclusive environment where all Trustees feel valued and respected. We are committed to an accessible and equitable recruitment process and are happy to provide reasonable adjustments as needed.

Closing date: 28th March
Interviews: Starting from w/c 28th April

To Apply

If you are excited about this opportunity and believe you can contribute, we would love to hear from you!
Please click the apply button to head to our website for an information pack and details of how to apply.

No agencies please.

St Barnabas Hospice are looking for Trustees!

Our Hospice within Lincolnshire wishes to recruit new members to their Board to of Trustees.

• Do you have a passion and commitment for shaping and influencing palliative and end of life care for to the people of Lincolnshire?
• Would you like to have a positive impact on end of life care for the people?
• Would you like to help enrich the lives of the people of Lincolnshire?
• Would you like to share your knowledge and expertise?
• Would you like to develop your own skills?

We are looking for new Trustees who understand how health and care services work, or who can contribute their business knowledge on areas including but not limited to finance, marketing, information technology or community engagement. We are also looking to expand our Board awareness of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Environmental Sustainability, and welcome applicants who have an interest in these areas.

If you have not been appointed to a Trustee role before, we encourage you to apply and we will provide mentorship and training to ensure you can fulfil the role. 

In addition to expanding our Board of Trustees, we are also looking to appoint a Chairperson Designate. This role will spend a period of time shadowing our current Chairman with a view to taking on the role as Chair of our Board of Trustees in 2026.

Please read our Candidate Packs for further details about being a Trustee, or our Chair of the Board.

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions and if you think this could be for you.

Appointment process

Following receipt of your application, we will invite prospective Trustee members to have an interview with our CEO, Chairman and current board members, and if successful we will take up references.

Application Instructions

Please send a CV and covering letter explaining why you are interested in being a Trustee or Chair Designate by midnight on 30th April 2025.

We look forward to hearing from you!

For further details please contact:   Lisa Phillips, Director of People and Education

Closing Date:   30th April 2025

Interview Date:   Early June 2025

Please Note:

• St Barnabas Hospice is an Equal Opportunities Employer it believes in treating everyone with dignity and respect and encourages applications from all sectors of the community.
• We reserve the right to extend, withdraw or close vacancies where necessary.
• Please be aware that if you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted via the email account you used to register on this site. Please check your spam folder.

Do you want to gain professional writing skills and have your named work viewed by thousands? Do you have a passion for great literature or fine art or classical or contemporary music or history or archaeology or something else in the humanities? Do you love to learn about other cultures, their cuisine, customs and language? Do you want to join a vibrant community of writers? Then write for us!

The Cultural Me is a platform for arts and culture with a focus on discovering practical solutions for mental wellbeing, leisure and travel.

We are looking for writers to research and write micro-articles (roughly 750 words), on selected subjects, for example, a piece on Tolstoy, or Early Renaissance to Contemporary Art, or Latin American magic realism to Postcolonial Literature, or Sri Lankan culture, or Beethoven, or Film... You will also be involved in editing contributions from other writers.

If you have never written professionally before, then don't worry: all we ask for is a Bachelor’s Degree in the Arts and Humanities. We are also happy to consider you if you have alternative qualifications — provided you can demonstrate specialist subject matter knowledge in one or more areas in the arts and culture (and you love reading). The articles we produce (unlike popular media) are to the best academic standards. The ideal person, therefore, should enjoy writing articles that are well-researched yet written in an accessible format suitable for the public at large.

Here is what you can expect from us in return for your voluntary work:

• Detailed and friendly, one-to-one editorial feedback on almost every line you write.
• How to write for a busy mainstream reader: developing a story.
• A language and style guide reflecting modern trends in mainstream media.
• The chance to develop a deeper understanding of the arts, history, philosophy...
• Publication of your work to a global audience on a fast-growing platform.
• A link to your writing portfolio to include in your CV.
• A chance to join our diverse community of writers in our active chat space with the option to contribute to our growing social feed on the Cultural Me website.

In addition, if you provide The Cultural Me as a reference for a potential job, we will provide a personalised reference based on your portfolio. Our writers have secured jobs with organisations such as the Red Cross, Kobalt Music, Oxford University Museums, amongst others.

This is a brilliant opportunity for someone with a passion for the arts and culture to join a community on a worthy mission. If you love the idea, then please email Emma by clicking on ‘Apply’ and writing a short cover letter explaining what you like about the role.

COMMENTS FROM OUR WRITERS

Claire Woods — MA Creative Writing, Open University

‘The editors have a keen eye for detail, and I’m learning so much already!’

Florence Gildea — MPhil Sociology, University of Cambridge

‘The level of support, the attention to detail and the encouragement I experienced while writing for The Cultural Me was absolutely unprecedented in all my years of writing. Editing is an underappreciated skill these days, as people are keen to publish content as quickly as possible. It is a testament to the commitment of the Editors at The Cultural Me for producing resources of the highest quality that they put so much time and effort into working with writers like me. I felt both stretched and valued.’

Zoe Willis — BA French and German, University of Bristol

‘Working on The Cultural Me micro-articles really made me interrogate what I was writing, making sure the subject was absolutely clear for those reading it. At university, you are never told to examine each sentence as to how it fits in with your argument.’

Elise Czyzowska — BA English Literature & Language, University of Oxford

‘Writing for The Cultural Me has allowed me to continue practising my analytical reading from university, and given me the opportunity to share my thoughts on the literature I know and love.’

Nicholas Benton — BA English Literature, University of Sheffield

‘The Cultural Me provided me with a detailed commendatory reference that helped me secure a place on a master’s degree at the University of Birmingham.’

Tom Mackinnon — BA History of Art, University of Cambridge

‘Since starting to write for The Cultural Me, I’ve actually learned a lot about writing for mainstream readers. At the same time, I really enjoy being able to keep in touch with the topics I love. I do recommend this experience to anyone wanting to pursue a career in writing, curation or education.’

SAMPLE MICRO-ARTICLES

Please see the attachment.

SAMPLE WRITER PROFILES

Deepa — https://thecultural.me/people/Deepa-Srivastava-109829

Elizabeth — https://thecultural.me/people/Elizabeth-Hopkins-109782

Rami — https://thecultural.me/people/Rami-Barhoumi-109470

Gemma —  https://thecultural.me/people/Gemma-Unyereno-109538

Belinda —  https://thecultural.me/people/Belinda-Robinson-109600

Josef — https://thecultural.me/people/Josef-Steen-109610

Befriending Volunteer

You can make a difference…Age UK Wandsworth is a small, local, independent charity that has been working with older people in the area since 1963. We rely on your support to keep serving the older residents with in the Wamdsworth community. We have a dedicated team of experienced staff and a large network of dedicated local volunteers. Our aim is to enable everyone to age well in Wandsworth. We would love your help to be able to continue to support older Wandsworth residents.

Our Be-a-Friend service is one of our longest running services, matching people over 65, who live alone and have limited social contact, with a friendly local volunteer with similar hobbies and interests. The volunteer and their new friend set up a suitable time for them to meet each week for a chat and a cup of tea, which could be during the day, in the evening on the way home from work or even on the weekends . If you would prefer to volunteer from home, you can also be matched with an older person for telephone befriending. For many of our matched pairs, this is the beginning of a firm friendship. 

Befriending Plus

Befriending Plus is an extended version of the Be-a-Friend programme, for individulas needing help with life admin and small tasks as well as companionship. For Befriending Plus pairs, time spent together can include helping to use a phone or tablet, helping the client to organise their file, going out for a coffee or popping to the post office together. This support can help older people to stay independent at home for longer, as well as increasing their confidence to do these tasks when the volunteer is not there.

Students4Students is a member led national organisation which has c.100 members split across 4 branches. As a CIO it has a duty to engage with members and provide members the opportunity to elect trustees and hold the leadership to account for decisions at an AGM. Students4Students wants to improve the level of participation in our internal democracy and ensure that AGMs are appealing and relevant to all members.

We also want to increase engagement with its members, all year round, outside of the AGM. Students4Students is looking to build new channels of engaging with members, including developing an alumni programme for our volunteers who have graduated from our core programmes.

Responsibilities and duties

The post-holder will be responsible for engaging members in Students4Students internal democracy and ensuring the organisation meets its responsibilities as a CIO

• Organising the AGM
• Improving engagement in Students4Students internal democracy
• Improving engagement with the organisation’s members
• Improving dialogue between Trustees and members
• Promoting members interests within the organisation
• Owning and managing the processes for how S4S interacts with existing members of our alumni network
• Working with our community and events lead to create engaging events for alumni and current members.
• Design and execute a multi-year alumni network strategy.
• Overall, owning and overseeing communication between and to our members, ensuring their rights are upheld and they are kept informed and engaged with S4S operations

We are idealy looking for somebody with experience of member led organisations and and understanding of the processes associated with them. 

We are looking for somebody with experience and skills in people and project management, who are keen to get involved in desgning and implementing new programmes, and supporting organisation-wide communications.

Key requirements

i. Experience managing key relationships and stakeholders

ii. Experience with comms

iii. Experience running events

Optional requirements

i. Experience working in a non-profit setting

ii. Experience working in an educational setting

iii. Experience working with student volunteers (Preferred but not essential)