Blind Volunteer Roles

About our charity

Everyone deserves to live their life to the full, with maximum choice and control.  Our purpose is to make that a reality for young people with vision impairment and complex needs.  They face a multitude of barriers because of the combined impact of a vision impairment with other disabilities and support needs.  We enable each person to find their unique pathway towards their very best life, using our specialist expertise and knowledge.

Our charity is now looking to recruit new trustees to help shape this vital work.

Plans to develop our board

We are specifically seeking one or more trustees with a good knowledge and experience of adult social care.  As well as the normal duties of a trustee, you would take a specific interest in our adult care service provision – St Davids House (residential care), Jigsaw (day service) and our Supported Living service.  You would scrutinise the quality and operation of our care services for adults and offer advice and challenge to our staff team as a member of our Adult Care Advisory Committee.  You will liaise closely with the Director of Care and Support.

You may have been a senior manager in an adult care service or have been a commissioning manager within the NHS for people with complex care needs.  You will have a passion for great person-centred care.  Experience of CQC would be an advantage.

The Board meets seven times a year and is also invited to all events and celebrations which is optional.  Trustees are warmly encouraged to attend meetings in person, but if required can attend some meetings online.  Expenses are paid for travel and overnight accommodation can be arranged for those not local to Devon.

Don’t have the time to become a full trustee?

Don’t have the time to become a full trustee?  We also have a role of Advisory Member on all our committees.  Advisors are appointed by the Board.  This role allows us to access knowledge and experience about running a charity, specialist SEND education and adult social care, but you do not have to take on the full role and responsibility of a trustee.  If you would be interested in finding out more about this role, please contact us.

Community researchers wanted to help East London Waterworks Park ensure our community-owned park is inclusive and welcoming for all.

East London Waterworks Park is a volunteer-led charity that has won a 2024 New London Architecture award and raised £2m towards buying land from the Department for Education to transform the 14-acre Thames Water Depot on Lea Bridge Road on the border of Waltham Forest and Hackney, into a new biodiverse park with natural swimming ponds, forest schools and community spaces. 

We are looking for community researchers specialised to contribute to our community-led working circle who are working on on a listening project to ensure often underrepresented voices in conservation and environmental projects are heard and centred. 

There is opportunity to lead on projects and facilitate the direction of the working circle.

The Inclusivity Circle currently meets monthly on a Wednesday evening on Google Meet and spends voluntary time outside of the meeting completing agreed tasks remotely.

While your experienced research skills are crucial, we also value your ability to engage with the community and build partnerships. Experience in conducting community-based research or working with community organisations is important. A strong understanding of community dynamics and the ability to collaborate effectively will be invaluable in ensuring your research findings are relevant and impactful. Our roles are quite flexible. We hope that people bring radical imagination, peace with nature, and courageous inclusiveness to the role. 

Contribute to the creation of a new biodiverse community-owned park with free access natural swimming ponds. Your research expertise will be vital in shaping our new biodiverse park. By conducting listening research on community needs, and potential park uses, you'll help us create a sustainable and inclusive space. Your findings will inform our design, programming, and outreach efforts, ensuring the park meets the needs of our community and contributes to biodiversity conservation.

Chair of Governors & Trustee – Education Specialist

We are looking for a skilled educationalist to become a Chair of Governors & Trustee to drive impactful change for leading charity.

Position: Chair of Governors & Trustee - Education Specialist
Location: North of England (with travel for Board meetings)
Expenses: Unremunerated, however reasonable expenses will be paid.

Are you passionate about transforming lives and making a lasting impact? This is your opportunity to play a pivotal role in the governance of a leading charity that empowers individuals with sight loss and other disabilities to achieve greater independence and fulfilment.

About the Role:

This charity, with over 185 years of heritage, is seeking an experienced and dedicated individual to join its Board of Trustees and Chair their board of Governors. As Chair of Governors and Trustee, you will contribute your expertise to oversee the implementation of the strategic plan, provide valuable advice to the senior leadership team, and ensure the organisation continues to deliver on its life-changing mission.

This is a voluntary position that offers an unparalleled opportunity to develop your leadership skills, expand your professional network, and give back in a meaningful way.

What We Are Looking For:

We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with a strong background in education and an understanding of OFSTED standards. You will:

• Offer strategic guidance while assessing organisational risks.
• Commit time to attend Trustee Board meetings and contribute effectively to discussions.
• Demonstrate good, independent judgment and the ability to work collaboratively as part of a diverse team.
• Embody the charity’s values: being informed, sharing, proactive, inspiring, compassionate, and empowering.
• Knowledge or experience of physical or learning disabilities is desirable but not essential.

Your Impact:

You will directly influence initiatives such as:

• Specialist education programmes empowering young adults with special needs to achieve their goals.
• Innovative arts and crafts centres fostering creativity and social inclusion.
• Sight loss support services that transform lives.

Our client is committed to building a diverse and inclusive Board. Applications are particularly welcomed from individuals with visual impairments, disabilities, or relevant lived experiences.

What Will an Engagement Support Volunteer Do?

It’s simple—your role is to bring joy and support to our weekly sessions! You’ll help welcome people, set up session rooms, serve refreshments, play games, run quizzes, support attendees, and make sure everyone feels comfortable and included. It’s a mix of activities, and you’ll be supported by the BCF staff while making new friends along the way. Our sessions run Monday to Friday, so you can volunteer around your other commitments.

We have a variety of fun groups you can volunteer with - here are just a few examples:

• Breakfast & Browsers

• Lunch Club

• Cooking Club

• Dance Sessions

• Women's Group

• Travel with Confidence

• Telephone Befriending

• Home Befriending

• Men's Group

What Experience Do You Need?

You need to be a UK resident. We are not accepting overseas applications. None at all! We’re not looking for any previous experience. All you need is a positive attitude, a desire to help, and a willingness to get stuck in. We’ll provide the rest!

Tasks and responsibilities

• Welcome Members - Make sure members feel warmly welcomed when they attend
• Set Up & Pack Down - Help with setting up and packing down the group(s)
• Serve Refreshments - Assist with serving refreshments and checking in on members
• Facilitate Activities - Play games, run quizzes, or assist with group activities
• Provide Encouragement - Offer a listening ear, positive reinforcement, and motivation during activities

What Will a Call Companion Do?

As a Call Companion, you'll offer friendship and support over the phone to members who are feeling isolated or lonely. You’ll provide a friendly ear, chat with them, and help them feel connected. Your calls will last anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, giving your member something to look forward to each week!

Key Tasks:

• Make calls to members on Thursday afternoon

• Provide companionship and help meet social needs

• Work with BCF staff, share information, and keep members safe

• Complete necessary paperwork and report any concerns

• Respect members' dignity, privacy, and choices

• Attend training and meetings as required

What Experience Do You Need?

You need to be a UK resident. We are not accepting overseas applications. No experience necessary! All you need is a positive attitude, a willingness to help, and the desire to make a difference. We’ll provide all the training you need. We're based near the city center, with great transport links.

Tasks and responsibilities

• Be the friendly ear they can count on!
• Spark up conversations and keep the chat flowing
• Chats that could be a quick 10 minutes or an hour
• Kickstart fun conversations, build a friendly bond, and give your befriendee something to look forward to every week
• Jot down all your chats in the logbook

Vista is changing.

Join Our Team as a Volunteer Financial Advisor

Do you have a deep understanding of charity finances, but don’t want to be tied to a trustee role? By joining Vista for the next 12 to 24 months as a Volunteer Financial Advisor, you'll play a crucial role in supporting Vista transform. Your financial expertise will help us:

·Enhance Services: Ensure we have the resources to provide vital services to those in need.

·Empower Individuals: Support programs that empower individuals to lead better lives.

·Strengthen Our Impact: Help us reach more people and make a lasting difference in our community.

Ready to use your financial skills for a great cause? Apply today and join our dedicated team at Vista! Together, we can transform the lives of people affected by sight loss.

Location: Mostly remote; head office in Leicester with regular video calls.

Compensation: This is a voluntary role, but we will reimburse reasonable expenses.

Time Commitment: Attend monthly online meetings, regular calls with finance leaders, and additional meetings as needed.

Read the role description in the attachment below. We are reviewing CV’s as they come in. Send a CV and a few lines on why you wish to be considered for this role as soon as possible.

Join Usher Kids UK as our fundraising trustee, and help us empower the next generation living with Usher syndrome (a progressive form of deafblindness). With your help we can make sure every child, young person and family has access to the information, support and connections which enable them to thrive. We can guarantee huge satisfaction and enjoyment working with our team and community, and the opportunity to make a real and lasting difference. 

Key responsibilities:

•  To assist the Board of Trustees to develop a comprehensive fundraising strategy for the charity.
• To report to the Trustees on a quarterly basis giving an update on fundraising achievements, plans, and progress.

What we’re looking for in our fundraising trustee:

• Someone with substantial background as a senior charity fundraiser with a sound understanding and experience of charity fundraising, and diverse income generation practices, at strategic and operational levels.
• A good understanding of fundraising within a small charity and the challenges facing small charities.
• Someone able to commit approximately 8 hours per month, and bring their skills and qualities to actively contribute to our friendly and dedicated team of trustees.

Interested in joining our mission? View our application pack and role description for more details.